At dinner he was chearful as usual, very politely helped his friends, and drank their healths; but did not sit long at table. In the afternoon he frequently turned the conversation upon the place and manner of his execution next day, at times expressing some uneasiness that the place appointed should be the fore-castle: and perceiving that his friends avoided the subject out of complaisance to him, sometimes telling him they thought it improper, “I like to talk upon the subject,” said he: “It is not to be supposed I do not think of it; why then should it be more improper to talk of it?”
He frequently observed how the wind was, and wished it might continue westerly long enough for the members of his Court Martial, who were upon the point of sailing, to be present at the time the sentence passed upon him was put in execution.
About six he ordered tea, as usual, for himself and his company; and remarking that his friends took notice of his easy manner and conversation, “I have observed, said he, that persons condemned to die, have generally had something to be sorry for, that they have expressed concern for having committed; and though I do not pretend to have been exempt from human frailties, yet it is my consolation to have no remorse for any transaction in my publick character, during the whole series of my long services.”
One of his friends observed to him, that no man was exempt from human frailties; that what came under that denomination were not crimes cognisable here, or supposed to be so hereafter. He replied, “I am conscious of no crimes; and am particularly happy in not dying the mean, despicable, ignominious wretch, my enemies would have had the world believe me. I hope I am not supposed so now; the Court Martial has acquitted me of every thing criminal or ignominious.” One of his friends assured him, that none called or thought him so, but obstinately prejudiced persons, and his enemies, interested to deceive the world still; neither of whom would ever own themselves convinced by reasons: at which he seemed much pleased.
In this manner he passed the day, generally walking about the cabbin, as is customary on board a ship, to supply the place of exercise; and retiring for a few minutes into the state-room[1], sometimes with one friend, sometimes with another, when he had any thing particular to say to them.
In the evening his friends, desirous to be with him a little longer that night than had been permitted before, on purpose to entertain him, and enjoy his conversation for a last time, sent to Admiral Boscawen, requesting that indulgence; which was granted for as long as they pleased; but he himself desired they would not exceed the hour of eight, being then about seven: and added, that as they would be so obliging as to pass the evening with him, he must ask them to drink a glass with him. He then ordered a small bowl of punch to be made; and when all were seated round the table, he obligingly helped every one, and taking his own glass with a little punch in it, “My friends, said he, here is all your healths, and God bless you all: I am pleased to find I have some friends still, notwithstanding my misfortunes.” When he had drank, and set his glass down, he added, “I am to die to-morrow; and as my country requires my blood, I am ready to resign it, though I do not as yet know what my crime is. I think my judges, in justice to posterity, to officers who come after us, should have explained my crime a little more, and pointed out the way to avoid falling into the same errors I did. As the sentence and resolutions stand now, I am persuaded no Admiral will be wiser hereafter by them, or know better how to conduct himself on the like occasion.” Observing one of the company who had his eyes attentively fixed upon him, while he was speaking, “My friend,” said he, “I understand reproof in that grave look. It is a long time since I have spoke so much upon the subject, and you now think I say too much: perhaps I do so.” “Far from presuming to mean any reproof,” answered the gentleman, “I am all attention to what you say, Sir; and though all of us here are satisfied of these truths, yet we must be pleased to hear you make them plainer.” “Be it so,” replied he; “but I shall only add one remark more. I am supposed not to have relieved and assisted the van: who then did assist the van, and relieve the three disabled ships, who were upon the brink of being attacked by the body of the enemy? Though the enemy did fire upon them[2], there is but one witness who says they received damage at that time. May not that one witness be mistaken, who was on board the ship considerably the farthest removed from the enemy of the three, and who had dropt there out of her station, by being disabled before? And why did the enemy bear away from these ships, if it was not because my division was under sail close after them, in a regular line of battle?”
Here the Admiral stopt; and the conversation for a few minutes turning upon other subjects, he desired to be particularly remembered to several absent friends. The time he appointed for his friends to go ashore drawing near, he got up, and withdrew into the state-room with one of them at a time; and thanking each in a very pathetick manner, for their acts of friendship and services, he embraced them, and took his leave; with intention, as he told them, to spare them the disagreeable and painful office, as his friends, of seeing him next day. But they intreating leave to pay their last respects and services to him in the morning, he consented. One of them observing the Admiral softened into tears upon the occasion, said to him, “Pray, Sir, don’t suffer yourself to be discomposed.” He replied, “I have not a heart of stone; I am a man, and must feel at parting with my friends; but you will not see me discomposed to-morrow.” He then dismissed them all, wished them a good night, and desired they would come to him next day at nine; chusing to have the morning to himself.
He carefully avoided desiring any thing himself, that could look like a favour; but one of his relations waited upon Admiral Boscawen that evening, and represented to him, that appointing the fore-castle for the place of execution was an indignity to Admiral Byng’s rank, and hoped that he would change the place to the quarter-deck. Admiral Boscawen said, the order from the admiralty expresly appointed it so; but if it was his request, he would consider of it, and do what lay in his power. The gentleman replied, I do make it my request, Sir; and Admiral Boscawen, after considering a little, promised to give directions that the quarter-deck should be the place; which was done accordingly.
When the officers, who watched in the great cabbin with the Admiral, relieved each other in the night, the officer who was relieved, always made it a rule, at twelve at night, and at four in the morning, to go into the state-room with the other, to show that the Admiral was there, and deliver over his charge. They seldom found him awake at these hours; but that last night, in particular, they found him both times in a profound sleep.
It was his custom to rise early, and to banter the Marshal for being seldom up so early as him. He was up on Monday morning about five; and as soon as he saw the Marshal, about six, “Well,” said he, “Marshal, I think I have beat you at rising this morning.” Soon after, when he was shifting, as he constantly did every morning betimes, “Here,” said he to his valet, “take these sleeve-buttons, and wear them for my sake; your’s will do to be buried with.” Having directed that he should be put into his coffin with his cloaths as he died: recollecting himself, he added, “But hold—as these buttons are gold, my giving them to you may be doubted, and you may be drawn into a scrape.” Then desired the Marshal, and one of his servants, might be called to witness the exchange.