Memoir of the Life and Services of Vice-Admiral Sir Jahleel Brenton, Baronet, K.C.B.
History
Memoir of the Life and Services of Vice-Admiral Sir Jahleel Brenton, Baronet, K.C.B.
Admirals -- Great Britain -- Biography; Brenton, Jahleel, Sir, 1770-1844; Great Britain -- History, Naval -- 19th century
Captain Brenton embarked in the Anson from Gibraltar, in July; and in
crossing the Bay of Biscay they fell in with the Louisa, armed brig,
on her way to join Earl St. Vincent, who had now the command of the
channel fleet, and was cruizing off Brest, with his flag in the Royal
George. Captain Brenton availed himself of this opportunity of seeing his
kind-hearted and noble chief again, to whom he was so truly indebted for
relieving him from a situation, in which he felt himself disgraced; and
for bringing him on, step by step, to that situation in his profession,
from which he could only rise farther by seniority. He accordingly
left the Anson, and in a few days after came in sight of the fleet. He
was received by Earl St. Vincent with the warmest regard, who not only
sincerely congratulated him upon his promotion, of which indeed he had
himself been the cause, but thanked him in the most flattering terms
for the conduct which had led to it. He then said, “I will now give you
a letter to Lord Spencer, requesting him to give you a ship, and should
he not do so immediately, I desire you to join me in Torbay without
loss of time. I shall be there in the course of a week, when I shall
expect to see you, unless you receive an appointment.” He then wrote to
Lord Spencer in the strongest terms, recommending Captain Brenton for
immediate employment; adverting to the circumstance of his having gained
both his Commander’s and his Post commission in action with the enemy.
Captain Brenton arrived the following day at Plymouth, and proceeded
to London, where he delivered his letter to Lord Spencer. His lordship
holding out no hopes of immediate employment, Captain Brenton set out
for Portsmouth, with the intention of proceeding to Torbay by the first
ship going thither. He accordingly went on board the Prince of Wales, Sir
Robert Calder’s flag ship; and soon found himself on board the Ville de
Paris, with his noble patron. His situation here was of an extraordinary
description, and not without some degree of unpleasantness. The officers
were, many of them, those who had been his messmates in the same ship,
previously to his being made a commander out of her into the Speedy. They
considered, and justly, that he had already had his share of promotion;
and were apprehensive that his coming back to serve as a volunteer, might
interfere with some vacancy to which they might be looking. This was a
feeling very naturally to be expected, and for which every allowance
should be made; whilst even as regarded the captain of the fleet, and
the captain of the ship, he did not feel quite certain that they might
approve a nondescript officer, although in their conduct they shewed only
the kindest attention.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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