Most truly and faithfully your’s,

H. RAIKES.

Chester, Sept. 30th.

CONTENTS.

Introduction.[1]
CHAPTER I.
Settlement of the Brenton family in America,—and descent.—Birth of the subject of the memoir.—Breaking out of the war and removal to England.—Education and introduction to Naval Service, in the Dido.—Passes for Lieutenant, and accepts an invitation to serve in the Swedish Fleet.—Adventures on way to join, and conclusion of service.—Appointed as Lieutenant to the Assurance.—Transferred to the Speedy, and sent in command of the Trepassey to Newfoundland.—Return to England and appointed to the Sybil.—Voyage homewards in the Cleopatra, and in a Spanish man of war from Cadiz.[34]
CHAPTER II.
Service in the Sybil.—Story of the Corfields.—Severe winter at sea.—Story of John Iceberg.—Invalided and comes ashore.—Applies for employment, and appointed to the Alliance.—Feelings on the subject.—Goes out to the Mediterranean.—Made known to Sir John Jervis, and appointed to the Gibraltar.—Storm and extreme danger of the ship.—Made First Lieutenant of the Aigle.—The Aigle being lost, he remains First Lieutenant to the Barfleur.—Interview with Lord St. Vincent and the subsequent decision.[55]
CHAPTER III.
Service in the Speedy.—Action with gun boats off Gibraltar.—Sent to Penon de Velez.—Action on the coast, and with gun boats.—His brother’s death from wounds received in action in the Peterel.—Letter to his father.—Made Post, and appointed to the temporary command of the Genereux at Port Mahon.—Sails to Genoa.[75]
CHAPTER IV.
Disappointment of promotion.—Applies to Lord St. Vincent, and through him appointed Captain to the Cæsar, under Sir James Saumarez.—Battle at Algesiras.—Exertions of Captain Brenton in refitting the Cæsar, and subsequent victory.—Tempting offer of going to England with dispatches declined.—Definitive treaty of peace signed.—Squadron at Gibraltar.[102]
CHAPTER V.
Returns to England.—Recollections on the Cæsar and the Chaplain.—Married to Miss Stewart.—Reflections on this event, made after her death.—Hostilities recommenced in 1801, and appointment to the command of the Minerve.—Dangerous accident and injury during the fitting out the frigate.—Sails for the coast of France.—The ship strikes off Cherbourg, and after a gallant defence is surrendered, July 3.[123]
CHAPTER VI.
Commencement of captivity.—Journey from Cherbourg.—Kindness of M. Dubois.—Arrival at Epinal.[151]
CHAPTER VII.
Removal from Epinal to Phalsburg, and thence to Verdun.—Sufferings of the people on the march, and efforts made for their relief and improvement.—The Rev. Robert Wolfe offers his services and assistance.—Mrs. Brenton’s arrival at Verdun.—Residence at Charni.—Illness, and permission granted to reside at Tours.—Conduct of the French Government towards the English prisoners of war.[172]
CHAPTER VIII.
The Rev. Mr. Wolfe one of the detenus—hears of the state of the prisoners at Givet, and resolves on going to reside among them.—Extract from his work entitled the “British Prisoners in France.”.[218]
CHAPTER IX.
Journey to Tours, incidents on the road and residence there.—Circumstances attending his exchange, and return to England.[255]
CHAPTER X.
Arrival in England, and application to the Admiralty.—Kindness of the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. Grenville.—Court martial, acquittal and appointment to the Spartan.—Sails to the Mediterranean.—Escape from capture.—Boat action with its unfortunate result, and court of enquiry ordered by Lord Collingwood.[289]
CHAPTER XI.
Cruize off Toulon.—Refits at Malta.—Storm off Sardinia.—Joins Lord Collingwood’s fleet.—Disaster.—Falls in with the French Fleet at sea.—Exertions to convey intelligence and to watch the enemy.—Returns to Toulon.—Service on the coast of Italy in company with Lord Cochrane.—Reflections.[319]
CHAPTER XII.
Removal from the Toulon station to the Mediterranean.—Cruize off Candia, and in the Adriatic.—Action at Pesaro; and official letters.—Co-operation with the Austrians in the Adriatic.—Letters from Lord Collingwood expressive of his entire satisfaction.[343]
CHAPTER XIII.
Return to Malta to refit.—Sudden offer of joining the expedition against the Ionian Islands as suddenly accepted.—Capture of Zante, Cephalonia, and Cerigo.—Approbation of Lord Collingwood.—Cruize on the coast of Italy.—Action off Naples, victory, and severe wound; carried to Palermo and Malta.—Letters on the subject, and extract from his personal memoranda.—Sails for England.[375]
CHAPTER XIV.
Joined by his family.—Slow recovery from his wound.—Fresh trials from the failure of his agents, and actions threatened by neutrals detained.—Friendly interference of Mr. Abbott.—Applies to the Admiralty for employment, and appointed to the Stirling Castle, 1812.—Compelled by the state of his wound to resign the command.—Made Baronet.—Appointed Naval Commissioner at Minorca.—Residence there.—Failure of Lady Brenton’s health.—The establishment at Minorca broken up on the conclusion of the war.—Return to England, and appointment to the Dorset Yacht.—Made Naval Commissioner at the Cape.[404]
CHAPTER XV.
Residence at the Cape.—Remarks on the advantages of Simon’s Bay as a Naval station.—Plans for the improvement of the liberated Negroes.—Rapid failure of Lady Brenton’s health and her death.—Reflections on it extracted from his private journal.[430]
CHAPTER XVI.
Reflections on the death of Lady Brenton.—Extracts from the private memoranda.—Sufferings from his wound, and remarks on the subject.[471]
CHAPTER XVII.
Narrative of a journey to the Mouth of the Knyzna, and remarks on the advantages of the Cape as a Colony.[491]
CHAPTER XVIII.
Benevolent exertions in favour of the Negro and Hottentot population.—Captain Edward Brenton’s plan for the restoration of juvenile delinquents.—Its connection with the Cape, and failure.—The establishment at Simon’s Town broken up at the death of Buonaparte.—Return to England.—Temporary appointment to the Royal Charlotte Yacht.—Marriage.—Made Colonel of Marines.—Appointment to the Donegal.—Appointment as Lieutenant Governor of Greenwich Hospital,—resigns the situation,—residence at Casterton,—at Elford.—Sickness and death.[611]

MEMOIR
OF
VICE ADMIRAL SIR JAHLEEL BRENTON, K. C. B.
BARONET.