EDWARD PELHAM BRENTON, Esq. CAPTAIN IN THE ROYAL NAVY. VOL. III. London : PRINTED BY J. F. DOVE, ST. JOHN'S SQUARE. PUBLISHED BY C. RICE, MOUNT STREET, BERKELEY SQUARE: SOLD ALSO BY Budd and Calkin, Pall Mall; W. Clarke, New Bond Street; J. Hearne, Strand; E. Stockdale, IN compiling and publishing a Naval History of Great Britain, during a period which may justly be termed the present day, many of the principal characters being still in existence, I was fully aware of the difficulties I had to encounter, and that I could not, consistently with the truth, relate each event so as to meet the approbation of all concerned; and I declared myself ready to admit that, notwithstanding the great opportunities I had enjoyed for obtaining the most correct information, I was still liable to error. Since the publication of my first volume, I have learnt, with sincere regret, that, in relating the transactions of 1794, I had wounded the feelings of Admiral Sir George Montagu, an officer for whose character and conduct I had, with many of my brother officers, publicly testified my respect. That such injury was unintentional, those to whom I am known will readily believe; and as I am convinced, by the publication of the orders under which he acted, that I have been led into error, I most cheerfully make that reparation which is due to Sir George Montagu, to the public, and to myself. In the first volume, p. 296, I have stated, that the Rear-admiral returned into port because he came close upon the track of the French fleet; and this I believed, until I was convinced to the contrary by the publication of official documents. Admitting this error, I must also assert, that neither did I at the time of writing this observation mean, nor can it, according to my present construction, imply, any censure on the Rear-admiral, even in the absence of such orders, for seeking a reinforcement when in proximity with a force so much superior, or endeavouring to communicate important intelligence to his Commander-in-chief. In p. 298, I have said, "that all in the British squadron expected the signal to engage, and that, though the Rear-admiral was not bound, with that disparity of force, to bring on a general action, other officers under similar circumstances might have done so." That the natural ebullition of feeling, so predominant in English seamen when in presence of an enemy, and unrestrained by any weight of responsibility, should have manifested itself on this occasion is not surprising, nor ought the relation of it to have inflicted any pain on the Admiral. Almost every officer has witnessed with delight this display of national feeling; although, as the brave Cornwallis expressed it, prudence would not admit of "letting loose their valour." Such was the impression on my mind in contemplating those by whom I was surrounded, and I am sorry that the mention of the circumstance should have led Sir George Montagu to suppose I meant thereby to impute blame to him; equally |
