The circumstance of his entering upon a seafaring life is variously reported. By one account we are assured that his situation at home being so unpleasant, he became so thoroughly disgusted with his father’s house, that he left it clandestinely, and went on board the first vessel in the harbour of Annan that was willing to receive him. By his anonymous and unfriendly biographer, it is said that he was promoted to the rank of an apprentice to a coasting sloop of Maryport, commanded by Captain John Smith, and that soon afterwards he was again promoted to the rank of cook’s mate on board his majesty’s tender in the harbour of Liverpool. His uncle’s account, in the sketch of his life prefixed to the Journal of his Second African Expedition, is, that on leaving Mr. Downie, at the age of thirteen, he was, by his own desire, bound an apprentice to the owner of a vessel of considerable burden trading between Liverpool and North America: that after making several voyages in that vessel, he either left her or was impressed into his Majesty’s service, and put on board the tender lying at Liverpool. It is clear, from all these accounts, that Captain Clapperton commenced his naval career as a common sailor boy—a situation which implies hard duty and rough usage; yet, as is testified by the following well authenticated anecdote, this, with all he had previously endured, was unable to break his spirit, or to subdue the dignified feelings of a noble nature. As soon as he had joined the trading vessel in which he first sailed, he was told that one piece of duty which he had to perform on board was to brush his captain’s boots and shoes. This he positively refused to do, adding, that he was most willing to take his full share of the hardest work which belonged to the loading, the unloading, or the working of the ship; but to the menial drudgery of cleaning boots and shoes he certainly would not submit. After he had for a short time served on board several trading vessels, he was impressed into his Majesty’s service at Liverpool; and in 1806 he was sent to Gibraltar in a navy transport.[6] The idea, however, of having been placed on board a man-of-war by force, and retained there as a prisoner, was so galling to his nature—to a spirit panting and struggling to be free—that he formed the resolution (one most difficult to be put in practice) of deserting whenever the opportunity of doing so should occur: and such was the reckless daring of his disposition, that, watching the time when he was least observed by his messmates before the mast, he actually threw himself headlong overboard, and swam towards a Gibraltar privateer—a vessel of that class which, during the late war, were usually called rock scorpions by our sailors. He was taken on board the privateer, and so for a short time he was the associate of an abandoned and a lawless set of robbers. But he was soon disgusted with their regardless, savage and brutal manners, and so embraced the first opportunity of leaving them, and of going again into the merchant service. While, however, he was on board the Rock Scorpion, she had sustained an engagement, in which our hero was severely wounded by a grape-shot—an accident by which his body was seamed and scarred in a frightful manner, and which, had it happened to his face or his limbs, must have rendered him deformed or lame for life.
Sect. IV.—THE MANNER IN WHICH HE WAS PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF A MIDSHIPMAN IN THE ROYAL NAVY.
After he had left the privateer he was soon discovered, and brought back to the Renommée frigate as a deserter. It is mentioned in the “Sketch,” which says nothing of the rock scorpion adventure, that when Clapperton first joined the Renommée frigate, which was commanded by Sir Thomas Livingstone, having heard that his uncle, a captain of marines on board his Majesty’s ship Saturn, which had arrived at Gibraltar for the purpose of watering and refitting, he sent him a letter describing his situation on board the Renommée; that his uncle having previously been a messmate of her captain, Sir Thomas Livingstone, interfered with him in behalf of his nephew, and through his interest got him promoted to the rank of a midshipman.[7] All we can say to this statement is, that Clapperton himself, whose heart was most grateful, never spoke of a letter he had written to his uncle, nor that he was in any way indebted to that gentleman for his promotion in the navy. He seems never to have seen his uncle till he met him in London after he had engaged to go with Dr. Oudney to Africa. In a letter to a friend, dated London, 1st September 1821, he says, “my uncle has been to see me several times, and was truly kind. He is a perfect gentleman, without any nonsense.” Now, the correspondent to whom he thus writes, declares that Clapperton never mentioned to him that he had ever written to his uncle, soliciting his interest in his favour, or that he was in any respect indebted to him, in the first instance, for his promotion in the navy. But while he said nothing to his friend of his uncle in connexion with this matter, he frequently gave him a most circumstantial and graphic description of the manner in which this promotion took place. And as it is in keeping with the rest of the romantic and eventful life of our hero, and, above all, as it is his own account, we hasten to lay it before our readers.
When he was apprehended as a deserter, and brought back to his old birth on board the Renommée, his captain, Sir Thomas Livingstone, having previously observed that he possessed a strength of body, a robustness of constitution, and a fearless daringness of spirit, which might be turned to good account in the naval service, which, at that time required to be sustained and strengthened by attaching to it men of such mental and bodily qualities as these, asked the deserter, if he should pardon his delinquency, and raise him to the rank of a midshipman, would he give him his solemn pledge, that he would no more desert, but do his duty faithfully? Clapperton, with the bold and dauntless air and bearing of the captive British prince, who “had been the admiration, the terror of the Romans,” when led in triumph through the streets of the mighty capital, still “walked the warrior, majestic in his chains,” replied that he was not yet prepared to give a final and decisive answer to such a question, and therefore asked time to consider on what he should determine. “Are you not aware, Sir,” rejoined the captain, “that I can order you to be flogged as a deserter?” “That I know you can do, and I expect no less,” was our hero’s reply, “but still I am unprepared at present to decide on your proposal.” The result, however, of this extraordinary conversation was, that the captain ordered him into solitary confinement, with an admonition to lose no time in coming to a speedy determination as to the course which he should adopt. In this situation his reflections took a wise and a prudent turn, and led him quickly to resolve to give his generous captain the assurance of fidelity which he required of him; and, on doing so, he was promoted to the rank of a midshipman on board the Renommée frigate, where he had first served as an impressed sailor boy, and on the deck of which he had stood in the capacity of an apprehended deserter. Afterwards, on his own request, he was allowed to go on shore during a specified period of time, on his parole of honour. It is very true the account of his promotion through his uncle’s interference in his behalf accords better with the ordinary course of things in such proceedings than that stated above. But we think, that if Clapperton had been aware that he was indebted to his uncle on this occasion he would not have concealed the fact from his friends; and likewise we think, that the disparity of his condition as a common sailor, and that of his uncle as a captain of marines, would have been sufficient to deter him from making himself known to his uncle, or asking any thing from him. For though his feelings of honour sometimes rested on mistaken principles, they were always very sensitive; and so we are decidedly of opinion, that in the circumstances of this case he would have felt equally unwilling to expose his own servile condition to his uncle, and to compromise his uncle’s dignity by making the captain of marines appear the near kinsman of the common sailor. We happen to know a case in point which illustrates this view of the matter. During the late war, one of the sons of a gentleman in Argyleshire, absconded from his father’s house, and for a while it was unknown where he had gone, till he was discovered by one of his brothers, a captain in the army, as a common sailor on board a man-of-war. The captain instigated by fraternal affection, was anxious to procure an interview with his brother, and so sent him a note, informing him where he was, and expressing his earnest desire that he would endeavour to meet him on shore. The answer to this kind and brotherly invitation was an expression of wounded pride. “If,” said the sailor, “Captain M. has any business to transact with Donald M. let him come on board H. M. S——— and transact it there.” And we think Clapperton would have been apt to feel and act nearly in the same manner in the circumstances in which he and his uncle were relatively situated on board the Renommée frigate, and the ship Saturn; though at the same time, it is not unlikely that Sir Thomas Livingstone having discovered his deserter’s connexion with his old messmate, was disposed not only to remit his punishment, but likewise to give him the chance of retrieving his honour and of benefiting his country. Neither do we think it is the least unlikely that Sir Thomas and Captain Clapperton may have had mutual communications respecting our hero, but we can see no reason for believing that he was in any way made privy to them, but many to make us believe the contrary. Now raised to the rank of a midshipman, he performed some hard service on the coast of Spain, in which he was wounded on the head—a wound which, though it seemed apparently slight, afterwards gave him much annoyance. He remained on board the Renommée, and under the command of Sir Thomas Livingstone, to whom he was so deeply indebted, till the year 1808, when the frigate was brought to England and paid off.[8]
Sect. V.—HIS SERVICE IN THE EAST INDIES.
When Clapperton left the Renommée frigate, and his generous captain, Sir Thomas Livingstone, to whom he was indebted for his first step of promotion in the Royal Navy, he is said to have joined his Majesty’s ship Venerable, (or, as others say, the San Domingo,) which then lay in the Downs under the command of Captain King. But as this was a situation too monotonous and inactive for his enterprising spirit, he volunteered to go with Captain Briggs, to the East Indies, in the Clorinde frigate. Though, however, his services were accepted, he could not obtain his discharge in time to make his voyage to India in the Clorinde; and so he was deprived of the pleasure of getting acquainted, in the course of it, with those with whom he was ultimately to be associated as his messmates. But as tranships and convoys were frequently sailing from England to the east, he was ordered by the Admiral to have a passage on board one of them, and to join Captain Briggs on his arrival in India.
In the course of this outward voyage, he was ordered, during the raging of a tremendous storm, to go, in an open barge, to the relief of a vessel in distress. The barge was accordingly manned, but the mighty rolling of the billows chaffed and vexed with the furious raging of the tempest, was such, that Clapperton and many others on board the ship in which he sailed, were of opinion, that it was next to impossible an open boat could live during the blowing of so heavy a gale. In this emergency, Clapperton said, that it was not for him to dispute the orders of his superior officer, but that he was thoroughly convinced that in doing his duty he must sacrifice his life. Then, in serious mood and sailor-like fashion, he made his will, bequeathing any little property he had among his messmates—his kit to one, his quadrant to another, and his glass and watch to a third—adding, that in all probability they should never meet again, and requesting them to keep these articles, trifling as they were, in token of his affection for them. Then he jumped into the barge, which, in spite of all that the most skillful seamanship could accomplish, had scarcely left the side of the ship, when she was upset, and the greater part of her crew engulfed in the awfully agitated waters. Clapperton, however, and a few other individuals, still clung to the sides of the floating wreck; and though their perilous situation was distinctly seen from the ship, no assistance could be afforded to them, so long as the tempest continued to rage with so much violence. In the mean time, Clapperton, while he was careful to preserve his own life, did his utmost, and more than perhaps any other man would have ventured to do in like circumstances, to save the lives of his companions in distress. As they, one by one, lost their hold of the barge, and dropped off into the sea, he swam after them, picked them up, and replaced them in their former situation. He was especially anxious to save the life of a warrant officer, the boatswain of the ship, we believe. This man he several times rescued when he was on the point of sinking, and restored him to the barge. By these efforts, Clapperton’s strength, great as it was, soon became nearly exhausted, and while with difficulty he was bringing the boatswain back to take a fresh hold of the boat, and while at the same time he was crying, “Oh, what will become of my wife and children,” Clapperton coolly observed, that he had better pay some attention to his own safety at present, otherwise he must, however reluctantly, leave him to his fate. This man was drowned, as well as every one else who had left the ship in the barge, except Clapperton and the bowman, whom our hero cheered by saying, “Thank heaven neither you nor I is the Jonah,” intimating, by this marine proverb, that it was not for the punishment of their bad conduct that the tempest had been sent; and at the same time advised him to bob, that is, to lay himself flat, when he saw a wave approaching, so that he might not be washed off the barge.
Long prior to this signal occurrence, in which our hero showed so much of the boldness of determined courage, united with the gentle feelings of compassion, he had become a general favourite both with the officers and men. His stately form, his noble bearing, his kind, frank, and manly demeanour, had endeared him to all on board the ship in which he served. But a man is often the last to know the sentiments entertained of him by others to whom he is known; and indeed, seldom knows them at all, unless when they happen to be revealed to him by accidental circumstances. And hence, as Clapperton was hoisted on board the ship, in an exhausted state, after being rescued from the perilous situation in which he had so long struggled for his life, he had his feelings strongly excited, on hearing the wives of the Scottish soldiers on board exclaiming, “Thank heaven, it is na our ain kintryman, the bonny muckle midshipman that’s drownded after a’!”
It may reasonably be supposed, that the gallantry and humanity which Clapperton had so conspicuously displayed on this trying occasion, would tend to deepen the esteem in which he was held by all on board, and especially that it would be the means of securing for him the admiration, the affection, and the friendship of many kindred spirits connected with the navy—a service so long and so eminently distinguished for firmness of purpose and nobleness of disposition. Accordingly, when Clapperton arrived in India, and when his gallantry was made known, he received the greatest attention from Captain Briggs,[9] during the whole of the time he continued under his command; and among other friendships which he formed with officers of his own standing, was one of peculiar intimacy and tenderness, with Mr. Mackenzie, the youngest son of the late Lord Seaforth. It happened that this amiable and noble youth became, in that distant region, the victim of a dangerous disease; and during the whole of his illness, Clapperton, his newly acquired friend, unless when the avocations of professional duty called him hence, never left him; but continued to amuse and nurse him with the affectionate assiduity of a loving brother, till he was so far recovered as to be able to resume his public duty. After Mackenzie was in some degree restored to health, he continued to be depressed in spirits, and in that state became careless of his person and of every thing else, thinking, like most hypochondriacs, that death was fast approaching to deliver him from all his sufferings. When under the influence of these feelings—afflicted indeed both in mind and body—he was by no means a desirable companion, and in truth was shunned by most of the young officers on board the Clorinde. But Clapperton, whose benevolent heart would not permit him to witness a fellow-creature, and still less a countryman and a friend an object of unfeeling neglect, redoubled his attentions to the forlorn youth. He read with him daily such books of instruction and amusement as either of them had in their possession, or could procure the perusal of from the other officers. He endeavoured to inspire him with the sentiments befitting his rank as the lineal descendant of a noble family, and with a sense of the duties incumbent upon him as an officer of the British navy. He talked to him of Scotland, and relations, and home. He entertained him with amusing anecdotes, of which he possessed an inexhaustible fund, and by relating to him the numerous vicissitudes and strange adventures of his own early life. And such was the happy effect produced upon the health and spirits of his young friend, that he was able to resume his duty on board the Clorinde, and to enjoy and return the cordial friendship which he experienced from Clapperton.
Though we believe, that the officers of the British navy are, perhaps, more distinguished for simplicity of feeling and openness of heart, than the men belonging to any other profession whatsoever; yet, it would appear, that some of the officers of the Clorinde had given entertainment in their breasts to the green-eyed monster, Envy. And hence, when they observed the close intimacy which subsisted between Clapperton and Mackenzie, and the kind attention which, during his illness, the latter experienced from the former, they said among themselves, but loud enough to be heard by Clapperton, “The canny Scotsman knows what he is about, by attaching himself so closely to a sprig of nobility; he courts his favour that he may use him as his instrument for obtaining promotion.” The effect of these injurious whisperings upon the mind of our hero was, in the first instance, to cause him to make a great sacrifice of feeling to the injury both of himself and his friend. He withdrew all attention from Mackenzie, and ceased, not only to keep company with him, but even to speak to him when they met. Mackenzie, in utter ignorance as to the cause of the change which had so suddenly taken place in the conduct of Clapperton towards him, after having puzzled and perplexed his mind in conjecturing in what way he had given such deadly offence to his friend, as to make him behave in the manner he was doing, at last mustered courage, fairly to ask him, why he had of late treated him with so much coldness and distance? On this, Clapperton, with his feelings strongly excited, stated to his friend what had been said among their shipmates, of the interested motives which had been attributed to him, as the cause of what they had represented as pretended friendship on his part. “But,” he added, “my dear Mackenzie, I have been wrong to punish both myself and you, in listening to these most false and injurious speeches. And henceforth let the best of them beware how they use them in future; for the first man whom I detect doing so, must do it at the risk of his life.” As this hint was pretty publicly intimated on the part of Clapperton, his friendship for Mackenzie suffered no interruption afterwards, so long as they served together in the same ship. But the disease which he had caught returned upon him again, and after causing him to linger for some time as an invalid, he was sent to his friends, with little hope of his recovery; nor indeed had he been long at home, till he died. While, however, he lay upon his death-bed, he spoke with all the enthusiasm of sincere and warm friendship, of the kind attentions he had received from Clapperton when ill and far from home; and entreated his relations, and especially his mother, to discharge the debt of gratitude which he owed him, by treating him as a son, in requital of his having, so long as he had it in his power, treated him as his brother.