The Naval History of Great Britain; From the Year MDCCLXXXIII to MDCCCXXII. Volume 1 - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1825 edition. Excerpt: ... the entrance of these ports, and by which they were enabled to avoid the dangers of the neighbouring coast. The Governor at first threatened resistance. Lord Falkland, captain of the Quebec frigate, had prepared to attack it; but when Admiral Russel approached in the Majestic, of seventy-four guns, a capitulation was immediately signed, a British governor was appointed, and the island now continues in our possession. The Channel fleet continued under the command of the Earl of St. Vincent, until the month of February, when his Lordship retired on account of ill health. Sir James Saumarez was ordered out in a frigate to assume the temporary command in the absence of Sir Charles Cotton. The French fleet remained blocked up in their ports; and so successful had been our squadrons on the coast, that the trade of the enemy was nearly annihilated: capture or destruction awaited them, with very few exceptions, wherever they appeared, between one port and another; the little capital of their merchants was embarked under neutral flags, and as we have before observed, not unfrequently insured, though at an enormous premium,; in London. The war was transferred from the ocean to the courts of admiralty, and, from the very circumstance of the insurance, the gentlemen of the long robe reaped a better harvest than those of the sword. The orders in council were attacked and defended with as much violence as the commerce of the enemy. Napoleon, before he declared England in a state of blockade, should have provided a navy to execute his commands. The number of seamen voted for the service of the year 1807, was one hundred and twenty thousand, to which by a subsequent vote ten thousand more were added; not because the King of Holland, following the...