Augustus Hervey's Journal (Ed. David Erskine, Chatham Publishing 2002), which I am plodding through, gives a very interesting contemporary account of the Byng affair. Hervey actually commanded the 'Phoenix' at Minorca and gives a detailed account of the action, accompanied by exquisite illustrations of the progress of events. He is sympathetic throughout to Byng, with whom he was close friends, so his account of the battle and subsequent events is not an unbiased one. However, while opinions about Byng vary, some of the more shameful facts of the case are not in dispute, most glaringly, that Augustus Keppel, one of the members of the court martial, was uneasy about the verdict and 'stammered out' in the House of Commons that he 'wished to be released from his oath of secrecy in order to divulge the reasons which had induced him to so strongly recommend Admiral Byng to mercy and saying they had condemned him against their consciences.' A bill was brought before Parliament which would have absolved members of the court martial from their oath of secrecy and was passed by the Commons. Before it came before the Lords, other members of the board who had been in agreement with Keppel, mysteriously recanted, so the bill did not pass into law. 'They all declared, except Moore, Norris and Keppel, they did not want the bill, and even those three almost denied what Mr Keppel had himself declared in the House of Commons.' so the bill was rejected by the Lords. 'The amazement which was expressed on everyone's countenance was sufficient to show their dissatisfaction and indignation at the Lord rejecting this Bill which would certainly have brought to light some infamous work that lay concealed under all these proceedings.' Byng's fate was sealed.
Hervey gives a very touching testimony to his friendship with Byng. He actually tried to arrange an escape, by organising sets of horses to be saddled, and having ready a Dutch fishing boat to take him to France. He found Byng under close arrest, 'even 'centuries' [sentries] in his gallery and in boats moored head and stern of the ship, an officer in his cabin, and people set every four hours to look into his bed to see if he was there.'
Byng behaved with great dignity wheh he met Hervey, denouncing the judgement but freely forgiving his abusers. He would not countenance taking up Hervey's offer of an escape. 'He thanked me, but would never think of it; he would rather die than fly from death that way'.
Byng left Hervey a clock in his will, with the words, 'May time serve you better than he has served me' - 'which clock I have and will keep as long as I live'.
_________________ Anna
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