The Life of Thomas, Lord Cochrane by Earl of Dundonald Thomas Barnes Cochrane (best classic books to read .TXT) 📕

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Title: The Life of Thomas, Lord Cochrane, Tenth Earl of Dundonald, G.C.B., Admiral of the Red, Rear-Admiral of the Fleet, Etc., Etc.

Author: Thomas Cochrane, Earl of Dundonald

Release Date: September 2, 2004 [EBook #13351]

Language: English

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THE LIFE OF THOMAS, LORD COCHRANE, TENTH EARL OF DUNDONALD, G.C.B., ADMIRAL OF THE RED, REAR-ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET, ETC., ETC., COMPLETING "THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SEAMAN." BY THOMAS, ELEVENTH EARL OF DUNDONALD, AND H.R. FOX BOURNE, AUTHOR OF "ENGLISH SEAMEN UNDER THE TUDORS," ETC. ETC. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I.

Published 1869.

TO MISS ANGELA BURDETT COUTTS, WHOSE HONOURED FATHER WAS THE FIRMEST AND MOST CONSTANT FRIEND AND SUPPORTER OF MY FATHER, DURING A CAREER DEVOTED TO THE WELFARE OF HIS COUNTRY AND THE HONOUR OF HIS PROFESSION, AND WHOM IT IS MY HAPPINESS AND PRIVILEGE TO CALL MY FRIEND, THIS WORK IS DEDICATED, WITH ALL RESPECT AND REGARD, BY HER ATTACHED AND FAITHFUL SERVANT, DUNDONALD. PREFACE.

In these Volumes is recounted the public life of my late father from the period to which the narrative was brought down by himself in his unfinished "Autobiography of a Seaman." The completion of that work was prevented by his death, which occurred almost immediately after the publication of the Second Volume, eight years and a half ago. I had hoped to supplement it sooner; but in this hope I have been thwarted.

My father's papers were, at the time of his death, in the hands of a gentleman who had assisted him in the preparation of his "Autobiography," and to this gentleman was entrusted the completion of the work. Illness and other occupations, however, interfered, and, after a lapse of about two years, he died, leaving the papers, of which no use had been made by him, to fall into the possession of others. Only after long delay and considerable trouble and expense was I able to recover them and realize my long-cherished purpose.

Further delay in the publication of this book has arisen from my having been compelled, as my father's executor, to make three long and laborious journeys to Brazil, which have engrossed much time.

At length, however, I find myself able to pay the debt which I owe both to my father's memory and to the public, by whom the "Autobiography of a Seaman" was read with so much interest. At the beginning of last year I placed all the necessary documents in the hands of my friend, Mr. H.R. Fox Bourne, asking him to handle them with the same zeal of research and impartiality of judgment which he has shown in his already published works. I have also furnished him with my own reminiscences of so much of my father's life as was personally known to me; and he has availed himself of all the help that could be obtained from other sources of information, both private and public. He has written the book to the best of his ability, and I have done my utmost to help him in making it as complete and accurate as possible. We hope that the late Earl of Dundonald's life and character have been all the better delineated in that the work has grown out of the personal knowledge of his son and the unbiassed judgment of a stranger.

A long time having elapsed since the publication of the "Autobiography of a Seaman," it has been thought well to give a brief recapitulation of its story in an opening chapter.

The four following chapters recount my father's history during the five years following the cruel Stock Exchange trial, the subject last treated of in the "Autobiography." It is not strange that the harsh treatment to which he was subjected should have led him into opposition, in which there was some violence, which he afterwards condemned, against the Government of the day. But, if there were circumstances to be regretted in this portion of his career, it shows almost more plainly than any other with what strength of philanthropy he sought to aid the poor and the oppressed.

His occupations as Chief Admiral, first of Chili and afterwards of Brazil, were described by himself in two volumes, entitled, "A Narrative of Services in Chili, Peru, and Brazil." Therefore, the seven chapters of the present work which describe these episodes have been made as concise as possible. Only the most memorable circumstances have been dwelt upon, and the details introduced have been drawn to some extent from documents not included in the volumes referred to.

There was no reason for abridgment in treating of my father's connection with Greece. In the service of that country he was less able to achieve beneficial results than in Chili and Brazil; but as, on that ground, he has been frequently traduced by critics and historians, it seemed especially important to show how his successes were greater than these critics and historians have represented, and how his failures sprang from the faults of others and from misfortunes by which he was the chief sufferer. The documents left by him, moreover, afford abundant material for illustrating an eventful period in modern history. The chapters referring to Greece and Greek affairs, accordingly, enter with especial fullness into the circumstances of Lord Dundonald's life at this time, and his connection with contemporary politics.

Eight other chapters recount all that was of most public interest in the thirty years of my father's life after his return from Greece. Except during a brief period of active service in his profession, when he had command of the British squadron in North American and West Indian waters, those thirty years were chiefly spent in efforts—by scientific research, by mechanical experiment, and by persevering argument—to increase the naval power of his country, and in efforts no less zealous to secure for himself that full reversal of the wrongful sentence passed upon him in a former generation, which could only be attained by public restitution of the official rank and national honours of which he had been deprived.

This restitution was begun by his Majesty King William IV., and completed by our present most gracious Queen and the Prince Consort. By the kindnesses which he received from these illustrious persons, my father's later years were cheered; and I can never cease to be profoundly grateful to my Sovereign, and her revered husband, for the personal interest with which they listened to my prayer immediately after his death. Through their gracious influence, the same banner of the Bath that had been taken from him nearly fifty years before, was restored to its place in Westminster Abbey, and allowed to float over his remains at their time of burial. Thus the last stain upon my father's memory was wiped out.

DUNDONALD. London, May 24th, 1869.

CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

* * * * *

CHAPTER I.

[1775-1814.]

Introduction.—Lord Cochrane's Ancestry.—His First Occupations in
the Navy.—His Cruise in the Speedy and Capture of the Gamo.—His
Exploits in the Pallas.—The beginning of his Parliamentary
Life.—His two Elections as Member for Honiton.—His Election for
Westminster.—Further Seamanship.—The Basque Roads Affair.—The
Court-Martial on Lord Gambier, and its injurious effects on Lord
Cochrane's Naval Career.—His Parliamentary Occupations.—His Visit to
Malta and its Issues.—The Antecedents and Consequences of the Stock
Exchange Trial - 1

CHAPTER II.

[1814.]

The Issue of the Stock Exchange Trial.—Lord Cochrane's Committal to the King's Bench Prison.—The Debate upon his Case in the House of Commons, and his Speech on that Occasion.—His Expulsion from the House, and Re-election as Member for Westminster.—The Withdrawal of his Sentence to the Pillory.—The Removal of his Insignia as a Knight of the Bath - 35

CHAPTER III.

[1814-1815.]

Lord Cochrane's Bearing in the King's Bench Prison.—His Street
Lamps.—His Escape, and the Motives for it.—His Capture in the House
of Commons, and subsequent Treatment.—His Confinement in the Strong
Room of the King's Bench Prison.—His Release - 48

CHAPTER IV.

[1815-1816.]

Lord Cochrane's Return to the House of Commons.—His Share in the
Refusal of the Duke of Cumberland's Marriage Pension.—His Charges
against Lord Ellenborough, and their Rejection by the House.—His
Popularity.—The Part taken by him in Public Meetings for the Relief
of the People.—The London Tavern Meeting.—His further Prosecution,
Trial at Guildford, and subsequent Imprisonment.—The Payment of his
Fines by a Penny Subscription.—The Congratulations of his Westminster
Constituents - 74

CHAPTER V.

[1817-1818.]

The State of Politics in England in 1817 and 1818, and Lord Cochrane's
Share in them.—His Work as a Radical in and out of Parliament.—His
futile Efforts to obtain the Prize Money due for his Services at
Basque Roads.—The Holly Hill Siege.—The Preparations for his
Enterprise in South America.—His last Speech in Parliament - 109

CHAPTER VI.

[1810-1817.]

The Antecedents of Lord Cochrane's Employments in South
America.—The War of Independence in the Spanish
Colonies.—Mexico.—Venezuela.—Colombia.—Chili.—The first
Chilian Insurrection.—The Carreras and O'Higgins.—The Battle of
Rancagua.—O'Higgins's Successes.—The Establishment of the Chilian
Republic.—Lord Cochrane invited to enter the Chilian Service - 137

CHAPTER VII.

[1818-1820.]

Lord Cochrane's Voyage to Chili.—His Reception at Valparaiso and Santiago.—The Disorganization of the Chilian Fleet.—First Signs of Disaffection.—The Naval Forces of the Chilians and the Spaniards.—Lord Cochrane's first Expedition to Peru.—His Attack on Callao.—"Drake the Dragon" and "Cochrane the Devil."—Lord Cochrane's Successes in Overawing the Spaniards, in Treasure-taking, and in Encouragement of the Peruvians to join in the War of Independence.—His Plan for another Attack on Callao.—His Difficulties in Equipping the Expedition.—The Failure of the Attempt.—His Plan for Storming Valdivia.—Its Successful Accomplishment - 148

CHAPTER VIII.

[1820-1822.]

Lord Cochrane's Return to Valparaiso.—His Relations with the Chilian Senate.—The third Expedition to Peru.—General San Martin.—The Capture of the Esmeralda, and its Issue.—Lord Cochrane's subsequent Work.—San Martin's Treachery.—His Assumption of the Protectorate of Peru.—His Base Proposals to Lord Cochrane.—Lord Cochrane's Condemnation of them.—The Troubles of the Chilian Squadron.—Lord Cochrane's Seizure of Treasure at Ancon, and Employment of it in Paying his Officers and Men.—His Stay at Guayaquil.—The Advantages of Free Trade.—Lord Cochrane's Cruise along the Mexican Coast in Search of the remaining Spanish Frigates.—Their Annexation by Peru.—Lord Cochrane's last Visit to Callao - 177

CHAPTER IX.

[1822-1823.]

Lord Cochrane's Return to Valparaiso,—The Conduct of the Chilian
Government towards him.—His Resignation of Chilian Employment, and
Acceptance of Employment under the Emperor of Brazil.—His subsequent
Correspondence with the Government of Chili.—The Results of his
Chilian Service. - 208

CHAPTER X.

[1823.]

The Antecedents of Brazilian Independence.—Pedro I.'s Accession.—The Internal and External Troubles of the New Empire.—Lord Cochrane's Invitation to Brazil.—His Arrival at Rio de Janeiro, and Acceptance of Brazilian Service.—His first Occupations.—The bad condition of the Squadron, and the consequent Failure of his first Attack on the Portuguese off Bahia.—His Plans for Improving the Fleet, and their Success.—His Night Visit to Bahia, and the consequent Flight of the Enemy.—Lord Cochrane's Pursuit of them.—His Visit to Maranham, and Annexation of that Province and of Para.—His Return to Rio de Janeiro.—The Honours conferred upon him. - 223

CHAPTER XI

[1823-1824.]

The Nature of the Rewards bestowed on Lord Cochrane for his first Services to Brazil.—Pedro I. and the Portuguese Faction.—Lord Cochrane's Advice to the Emperor.—The Troubles brought upon him by it.—The Conduct of the Government towards him and the Fleet.—The withholding of Prize-money and Pay.—Personal Indignities to Lord Cochrane.—An Amusing Episode.—Lord Cochrane's Threat of Resignation, and its Effect.—Sir James Mackintosh's Allusion to him in the House of Commons - 246

CHAPTER XII.

[1824-1825.]

The Insurrection in Pernambuco.—Lord Cochrane's Expedition to
suppress it.—The Success of his Work.—His Stay at Maranham.—The
Disorganized State of Affairs in that Province.—Lord Cochrane's
efforts to restore Order and good Government.—Their result in further
Trouble to himself.—His Cruise in the Piranga, and Return to
England.—His Treatment there.—His Retirement from Brazilian
Service.—His Letter to the Emperor Pedro I.—The End of his South
American Employments - 266

CHAPTER XIII.

[1820-1825.]

The Greek Revolution and its Antecedents.—The Modern Greeks.—The
Friendly