Sir Charles Napier requested the Prime Minister, Lord Palmerston, to grant an inquiry into his case. He then addressed the following letter to Lord Palmerston:--"I sent your Lordship my case, which I requested you to lay before the Cabinet, but you have not favoured me with a reply. I am aware of the various occupations of your Lordship, but {39} still there ought to be some consideration for an old officer who has served his country faithfully, and who has held an important command. Had my papers been examined by your Cabinet, and justice done, instead of dismissing me, and appointing one of the Lords of the Admiralty my successor, you would have dismissed Sir James Graham and his Admiralty, for treachery to me." (_Life of Sir Charles Napier_, by General Elers Napier. Quoted by Admiral Penrose Fitzgerald, in _Memories of the Sea_.) Sir Charles Napier, remarks Admiral Fitzgerald, "thus gave his wary enemies a chance of accusing him of disrespect towards those in authority." Admiral of the Blue Phipps Hornby, C.B., was promoted acting-lieutenant from the _Victory_, flagship of Lord Nelson, to the _Excellent_, 74. As captain of the _Volage_, 22, he received a gold medal from the Admiralty for gallant conduct in the action off Lissa of March, 1811, when a British squadron of 156 guns and 859 men defeated after six hours' action a Franco-Venetian force of 284 guns and 2655 men. Such is the tale of the admirals of the Red, White and Blue in the year 1858-9. Several of them had actually served in Nelson's ships; the most of them had served under Nelson's command, when Lord Charles Beresford joined the Navy. In the same year, the number of officers receiving pensions for wounds on service was 104. Admirals . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Vice-admirals . . . . . . . . . . 10 Rear-admirals . . . . . . . . . . 4 Captains . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Commanders . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Lieutenants . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Masters . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Surgeons . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Mates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Second masters . . . . . . . . . . 1 Paymasters . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 --- 104 === {40} The total number of men in the Royal Navy in 1858-9 was 53,700: 38,700 seamen, 15,000 Marines. In 1912-13, the total number was 137,500: 118,700 seamen, 15,800 Marines. In 1810, the number of seamen and Marines was 145,000: 113,600 seamen, 31,400 Marines. {41} CHAPTER IV THE SHIP OF UNHAPPY MEMORY