How Britannia Came to Rule the Waves: Updated to 1900Kingston, William Henry Giles
History
How Britannia Came to Rule the Waves: Updated to 1900
Kingston, William Henry Giles
Great Britain. Royal Navy -- History
A still more successful action was fought between the 40-gun ship
_Adventure_, Captain William Booth, and an Algerine ship of war called
the _Golden Horse_, of 46 guns, commanded by Morat Rais, a notorious
Dutch renegado, who had a crew of 508 Moors and 90 Christian slaves.
During the action a stranger hove in sight under Turkish colours; but
night coming on, the Algerine drew off, when Captain Booth, having a
fire-ship in company, gave orders to burn her or the new-comer.
Fortunately, the fire-ship failed to reach either one or other, and in
the morning the stranger hoisted English colours, and proved to be the
40-gun ship _Nonsuch_. The _Golden Horse_ being dismasted, and 109 of
her crew killed and 120 wounded, and having six-feet of water in the
hold, surrendered.
In the same year a 42-gun ship, Captain Morgan Kempthorne, beat off
seven Algerine corsairs, after they had made several desperate attempts
to board her. Unhappily the Captain and eight of his crew were killed,
and 38 wounded.
Many other similar gallant actions were fought with the Algerines and
Sallee rovers, who, however, notwithstanding their frequent defeats,
continued their depredations on the commerce of England and other
European countries. Tangiers had been in possession of the English
about twenty years, but, to save the expense of keeping it up, a fleet
under Lord Dartmouth was sent out to destroy all the works, and to bring
home the garrison. The destruction of the mole, which was admirably
built, caused much labour, it being necessary to blow it up by
piecemeal. Its ruins, as well as the rubbish of the town, were thrown
into the harbour to prevent its again becoming a port.
The navy had long been held in high estimation by the English, who were
always ready to grant any sum required for its improvement. It is
stated that between the years 1660 and 1670 never less than 5000 pounds
a-year was granted for its support. On the death of Charles the Royal
Navy amounted to 113 sail.
JAMES THE SECOND.
James, on his accession, assigned a stated sum of 400,000 pounds a-year,
to be paid quarterly from the treasury, for the service of the navy.
Four additional commissioners were also appointed for the better
regulating of the docks and naval storehouses, and for the more speedy
repairs of ships of war. During this time a plan was proposed and
patent granted for making salt water fresh by distillation. All
captains and officers received orders to despatch perfect copies of
their journals to the Secretary of the Admiralty. An increased
allowance of table-money was granted in lieu of several perquisites and
advantages they had before enjoyed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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