Travels through Portugal and Spain, during the Peninsular War / by William Graham, Esq. ; with engravings.

  • Graham, William
Date:
1820
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Travels through Portugal and Spain, during the Peninsular War / by William Graham, Esq. ; with engravings. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    any complaint should be properly investigated, and the injured party indemnified as far as ])ossible. The whole crew seemed perfectly contented at the justness of this proceeding. It was evident that his men were fond of him : one of the sailors told me afterwards that he had sailed nineteen years under him, and never knew him to punish a man without the crew being convinced of the justice of it, nor did he ever punish cruelly. He was, however, when necessity compelled, very strict, and then he punished with severity. This kind of management made him respected and beiove{], both by tliose who were under his command, and those who were merely lookers on. His orders were obeyed with alacrity, more from esteem for his cliaracter than from fear. Many of our navy officers, I am sorry to say, tyrannize over their men, so that they tremble at an order, and fear actually prevents, in some degree, the punctual execution of it; whereas, on board this ship, every command was obeyed with ease, and the duty of the ship moved forw'ard without noise or confusion, just as if no order had been given. My baggage not having arrived, I was obliged to go on shore, and during my absence the fleet sailed, which put me to a serious inconvenience. I was in a lonely situation, without one single individual that I knew, and having changed my dollars at Cork for 6*s. 3(i. apiece, I was obliged to pay them away here at Bs. each. I met here, however, a friendly man, formerly a chief magistrate in Jamaica : he had been a planter, and, although nearly sixty years of age, he had come to Ireland, to marry a sister of Lord N. He was now on his return to Jamaica, to dispose of his property, meaning to live in Ireland with his young wife. He was very rich, and paid eighty guineas for his passage. I often dined on board his ship, with the captain, who invited me. Here I also met with an officer named Wrixon, and his family, who was going to Quebec to join his regiment, the 98th foot. Lieutenant W. went every day to Cork, and I was frequently invited to dinner with him. They were, indeed, a happy and virtuous family. Cove is pleasantly situated on an island, facing the entrance of the harbour, which is defended by Camden and Carlisle forts, one on each side. Spike island, almost in the mouth of the entrance, would blow any enemy’s ship out of the water, as it is well de¬ fended with four hundred great guns, and others were adding to it when I left it. This harbour, which is the general rendezvous for all ships and fleets bound w'estward, is sufficient to contain more than a thousand sail, with depth of water for any size, I met here an old school-fellow, going out as a volunteer after the 6th foot. His name was M. His brother Ralph was then a lieutenant in it.
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