Thanks, Anna & Brian, for a very comprehensive answer to my original question.
I don’t know that there was anything curious about Bentham’s letter. This was Suckling asking Bentham to arrange a letter of introduction to Surridge for Nelson on his appointment to the Seahorse. As Brian suggests, it is more likely that it was this letter and Surridge’s own hopes of promotion (later realised) that encouraged him to look for reasons to give Nelson his support. Presumably there was some etiquette in play that meant Bentham didn’t address a letter directly to Surridge?
The story of Surridge noticing Nelson's ability in the foretop seems to originate from Clarke & M’Arthur: “Nelson was stationed in the foretop of the Seahorse at watch and watch, as it is termed; and his exemplary conduct whilst on that duty, soon attracted the regard of his friend the master of the ship, in whose watch he was”. I don’t believe this means he was posted in the foretop as a lookout for hours on end. “At watch and watch” means the ship was on a two watch system rather than a three watch system, which does of course mean he was off duty for only a maximum of four hours at a time. My understanding is that midshipmen and young gentlemen (however rated) were assigned to various stations including the mast-tops as well as the quarterdeck. I think his responsibility in the fore-top would have been to supervise the fore-top-men in setting and reefing sails etc., and to check the men were in place before relaying orders. As Brian says, whether he was rated Able Seaman or Midshipman would have made no difference, and he would have been giving the orders as a young gentleman in training for an officer. I don’t suppose the mast-hands would even have known how Nelson was rated in the ship’s muster. Presumably both Nelson and the fore-top-men would only go up the mast when adjustments were needed, but I imagine that during an extended period at sea on a two watch system, this might be the least desirable of the midshipmen’s stations.
What Clarke and M’Arthur got wrong was saying that his subsequent rating as midshipman was his first, but there is a footnote in the 1810 edition that suggests possibly they knew this not to be true although misinterpreting the circumstances: “It is a singular fact, and which deserves the attention of our government, that Midshipmen possess only a nominal rank in the service: as they receive no Commission they may be disrated at the pleasure of a Captain, and be made to serve before the mast.”
Nelson’s sketch of his life says: “I was placed in the Seahorse of 20 guns, with Captain Farmer, and watched in the foretop; from whence in time I was placed on the quarter-deck” – presumably “and [was] watched in the foretop” means his station was the foretop.
I have certainly come across examples of fairly random moves between ratings of Able Seaman, Midshipman, Masters Mate and all the way back again, depending on the places available, but usually on changes of ship, rather than in the same ship. That Nelson was making way for the captain’s son does indeed seem to answer my original question.
I have come across an example of a re-rating from Midshipman to Master’s Mate, then back to Midshipman, then back to Master’s Mate a year later, all while in the same ship.
I also seem to recall a suggestion that as a captain, Nelson himself at some stage shared round available midshipmen’s places amongst his protégées so that they all acquired the minimum two years as midshipman needed to pass for lieutenant. However I don’t recall where that came from, so perhaps I am imagining it?
_________________ Tony
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