CAPTAIN RICHARD BUDD VINCENT, THE GALLANT COMMANDER OF THE ARROW SLOOP OF WAR, 1805. * "Captains of ships deserve more praise for any particular detached action with the enemy, than those Captains who are serving in a fleet, and only obey the orders and signals of their superior officer." TH (General Sith's Speech in the House of Commons, April 4, 1795.-Nav. Chron. Vol. XVI. p. 43.) HIS gentleman, who had the honour of serving under Lord Nelson, is a native of Newbury, in Berkshire, where his father is a Banker. Having when very young shewn a predilection for the British Navy, his father indulged his son's wish, by entering him, in the year 1781, on board the Britannia, of 100 guns, Vice-Admiral Barrington, Captain Benjamin Hill; in which ship he remained nearly two years, and had an early opportunity of seeing service, when the grand fleet under Lord Howe engaged the combined fleet of the enemy, after the memorable siege and relief of Gibraltar. At the conclusion of the war in 1783, we find him on board the Salisbury, of 50 guns, Vice-Admiral Campbell, Captain James Bradby, on the Newfoundland station; and also during the peace, in the Trimmer sloop, on the coast of Wales; and in the Pegase and Carnatic guard-ships. Upon the armament taking place against Spain in 1790, Mr. Vincent joined the Prince, of 98 guns, Rear-Admiral Jervis, Captain Josias Rogers; from which ship he was promoted, on November the Sd, in the same year, to the rank of Lieutenant; and was appointed to the Wasp sloop, Captain Thomas Lee, in the Channel. In the year 1792, he was appointed third Lieutenant of the Terrible, 74 guns, Captain Skeffington Lutwidge, then fitting at Chatham for the Mediterranean, whither she proceeded, with * Vide NAVAL CHRONICLE, Vol. XIII. page 222. ab. Chron. Wol.XVII. MM the squadron under Vice-Admiral Cosby, in May 1793. In this ship he was at the taking possession, and evacuation, of Toulon, and various services attending the siege of Corsica: during which time he rose to be first Lieutenant of her. The Commander in Chief, Lord Hood, soon after returning to England, fell in with the Terrible in his passage down the Mediterranean ; and was induced to remove Lieutenant Vincent into his own ship, the Victory, for promotion, and brought him home. In the following spring, however, in consequence of his Lordship's flag being unexpectedly struck at Spithead, Mr. Vincent, as being rated 10th Lieutenant, was discharged; and lost thereby that prospect of promotion, which, had the Victory with his Lordship's flag returned to her station, he had every reason to expect. It nevertheless appears that he was not long unemployed; being soon afterwards appointed second Lieutenant of the Triumph, of 74 guns, Captain Sir Erasmus Gower; and was present in her at the celebrated retreat of Admiral Cornwallis from the French fleet off Belleisle, on the 17th of June, 1795. The Triumph was afterwards employed on a cruise off the Western Isles, and in the North Seas, attached to a squadron under Lord Hugh Seymour. During the mutiny in 1797, the Triumph was for some time entirely under his charge, during which he considerably repressed the spirit of insubordination that prevailed. Lieute nant Vincent was unfortunate in leaving the Triumph (being then senior Lieutenant) only a few days previous to Lord Duncan's engagement with, and signal victory over, the Dutch fleet on the 11th of October, 1797: for having removed to the Zealand, Captain T. Parr, at the Nore, at the particular application of Admiral Lutwidge, Lieut. Vincent lost both the honour of sharing in the glory of that celebrated and important victory, as well as in the promotion that succeeded. A circumstance, however, soon after seemed to promise him a recompense for this disappointment: for being senior Lieutenant of the: Zealand, then the flag-ship at the Nore, at the time His Majesty expressed his intention of visiting the Dutch prizes at Sheerness; he was flattered with the expectation of that pre ferment, which had been usual on such occasions; but here again his hopes were destroyed by a gale of wind, which came on at E. N.E. and blowing right up the Thames, rendered it totally impracticable for His Majesty to fulfil his intention on the day appointed the Visit was accordingly relinquished, and thus Lieutenant Vincent had the mortification to experience a second disappointment. Admiral Lutwidge being after this removed to the Downs station, Lieutenant Vincent left the Zealand, and followed him. to his flag-ship the Overyssell, and sailed in her on the expedition to Holland; where another instance of precarious hope occurred, arising from an expected engagement with the Dutch fleet in the Texel; but the enemy surrendering at the very moment of action, no promotion took place.-The Overyssell resuming her station in the Downs, Lieutenant Vincent continued in her, until she was paid off in January, 1802; and afterwards followed Admiral Lutwidge's flag to the Amazon, and St. Alban's until the conclusion of the war. In the naval promotion which took place on the Peace, Lieutenant Vincent was made Master and Commander, April 29, 1802; and on the 17th of May following, he was appointed to the command of the Arrow sloop, at Sheerness, to cruise in the Channel, aud was stationed on the coasts of Dorsetshire and Devonshire, under the orders of Captain O. Maysfield, of the Atlante, for the purpose of suppressing smuggling, &c. But the peculiar construction of the Arrow in her external appearance, soon became an object of caution to smugglers, who easily recognised her at a distance. He was then appointed to the Downs station, but unable to cruise for want of men, the prejudices of seamen preventing their entering on board a ship, which bore an appearance unlike every other vessel; independent of her interior construction, which was novel throughout. In February, 1803, she was sent to Portsmouth, and paid off. On the 1st of March following, Captain Vincent was reappointed to the Arrow, but she not being a ship to attract volunteers, he obtained permission from Lord Gardner, the Port Admiral, to send his officers out in the offing, in Revenue cutters, to procure men; by which he picked up some serviceable hands. He was then sent by his Lordship with a convoy to Guernsey and Jersey, and afterwards to cruise in the Channel to complete his complement of men; but without success. In July he received orders to refit for foreign service, and was completely manned for that purpose. He sailed the same month, in company with the Seahorse, commanded by the Honourable Captain Courtnay Boyle, and Wasp, by the Honourable Captain Aylmer, for the Mediterranean, with the Trade bound to Oporto, Lisbon, Gibraltar, &c. and arrived at Malta in September. He was then despatched with the Trade bound up the Adriatic, where particular services detained him till December, during which time he visited Trieste, Venice, Corfu, and Fiume; which gave him an opportunity of carrying from the latter place Prince Luis Lichstenstein and suite, to visit Pola and the Istrian shore; also of landing at Corfu Mr. W. R. Wright, from Trieste, who had been appointed Consul to the Seven Isands. After returning a second time to Malta, where the Arrow was refitted, and the damages she sustained by the bad weather she experienced in the Adriatic being repaired, (particularly the tanks she was fitted with for holding water,) he sailed for Palermo, and returned from thence to Malta with a convoy, the 20th of January, 1804. He then went to Naples with a convoy, and from thence, at the requisition of the British Minister, to Cagliari in Sardinia, with an officer charged with despatches to the Commander in Chief, and returned to Malta on the 7th of February. In the same month he proceeded with a large convoy under his charge, bound to Constantinople, On his entrance into the Dardanelles, the Turkish Castle on the European shore fired several shot at the Arrow and convoy. It blowing very strong at the time, it was impossible for Captain Vincent to send to the Governor, to demand an explanation of the insult offered to the British flag; but on his arrival at Constantinople he represented the circumstance to the English Chargé d'Affaires, Mr. Stratton, who laid his representation before the Divan; by whom the Governor was mulcted in a very considerable sum for his misconduct. The following letters from Lord Nelson to Captain Vincent will further illustrate this part of his life, and impart an additional interest to the narrative : SIR, Victory, at Sea, January 24, 1804. BY the Termagant I received your letter of the 19th ult. giving me an account of your proceedings with the Trade from Malta up the Adriatic, and the protection afforded them from thence to Valette harbour. Also transmitting me copies of the several letters, &c. therein referred to, together with a log of your proceedings, and a list of the convoy under your charge. In answer to which, I very much approve of the whole of your conduct on this occasion; and am much pleased with your attention to the Government concerns up the Adriatic, under the direction of Mr. Leard, who has communicated to me the object of his being there; and transmitted bills of lading of the stores sent in the Mentor Giuro, and Imperial schooner Hungary, which last mentioned vessel I hope may arrive at Malta safe; as the stores she has on board are more particularly wanted than any of the others. I am, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant. R. B. Vincent, Esq. Commander of NELSON & BRONTE. SIR, Victory, off Toulon, June 8, 1804. I HAVE received your letter 'of the 6th of April last, acquainting me with your return from Smyrna, on the 5th of that month, with such Trade as were ready to accompany you to Malta; and that you were about to proceed again to Smyrna, with two English vessels and transports, under the charge of Lieutenant Woodman, which you mean to escort into the Dardanelles, and afterwards bring the Trade from Smyrna to Valette harbour. In answer to which, I approve of the line of conduct you mean to pursue in the execution of your orders; and also of your correspondence with his Excellency, Mr. Stratton, our Minister at Constantinople, relative to the conduct of the Governor of the Castle on the European side, on entering the Dardanelles; and make no doubt that the Ottoman Government will sufficiently account for the conduct of the Castle's firing upon the Arrow and convoy, and make the necessary reparation to our Minister for the insult. |