Nelson & His World

Hello all,

after a few days away the forum, I just dropped in and wow! - thank you for all the helpful and most interesting information. Some of this is new to me and I really appreciate that link about spectacle in the theater of the late 19th century. I will give it a thorough read on weekend.

I’ve had an idle hour Googling today and found a few things that might be of use if you don’t already have them.

There are two letters mentioned in the catalogue of the library of Harvard University: a letter (scroll down to 164) from Richard Cumberland to Sir James Bland Burgess, written in 1801 ‘with comments on the death of Edward Riou and other current events'.

http://oasis.lib.harvard.edu/oasis/deliver/~hou01762

and a letter written by Edward Riou to Charles Saxton (Scroll down to 153d)

http://oasis.lib.harvard.edu/oasis/deliver/~hou00364

The Harvard Library staff are enormously helpful and courteous. I have had dealings with them in the past. If you contact them by email they will arrange photocopies of the letters and post them to you without charge.

There is also an interesting article in the Daily Telegraph about the sale of a miniature of Riou and some biographical detail. Treat this with caution, though – journalists often get their facts confused! And don't read this if you are a dog lover.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... a-dog.html

Ned, as you suggest that Nagle’s account of British officers is reasonably even-handed, and as his journal covers some events of relevance to my own research, I have purchased a copy (and I see one or two of the other cheap copies on Amazon Marketplace have gone too!).

He has nothing good to say about the first two officers he served under, Samuel Brooking and James Dundass, who had commanded the brig St Lucia, tender to the Prudent. Brooking, like Riou, is described as a ‘tarter’, and Dundass worse, and he ‘remained on board that brig of terror in missery for one year’.

I would say that Nagle does describe Riou as brutal, listing the cruel or excessive punishments. Riou was 1st Lieutenant of the Ganges and given command for a short period when the Captain was absent, and it must have been during this period that some of these punishments occurred - the floggings in particular. It is interesting and maybe relevant that Brooking and Riou were lieutenants in temporary command.

He describes Riou being attacked while on shore at night by three sailors, who held him down and cut off his long hair. This is undoubtedly an indication of his unpopularity, but if he was the tyrant that Nagle suggests, it is perhaps surprising that he did not fare worse. I have come across an example of an unpopular lieutenant beaten senseless and as a result confined to his berth for a month. Apparently these attacks were not uncommon.

Regarding the ‘gallant good Riou’ and his celebrity status, I sometimes wonder which meaning to attach to the word ‘gallant’?

Tony,

obviously it has not been very prudent for unpopular officers to meet with parts of their crews when on shore. I have often read similar accounts and have established an impresseion, that the seamen could do this with a fair chance of not being punished.

As for Nagle, part of his animosity towards Riou might stem from the fact - not mentioned in his memoirs - that he has been flogged for disobedience of orders during the period when Riou was in command of the Ganges.

Since I put this fact together with the idea of taking away a seaman's pigtail, I have been musing very much about the idea of public humiliation.


Ah, I forgot to refer to the term "gallant". This has been attributed to him by Lord Nelson himself after his death in battle at Copenhagen. I am quite sure he deserved it as he threw himself and his squadron into the line of fire of the Trekroner Forts - as far as I gather solely upon his own initiative. I have not traced any positive order by Nelson for him to do so and no professionally sane commander would have ordered a couple of frigates to attack so strong a posiition. However, Rious squadron drew fire and made live much easier for the northern end of the british line of battle which was under enough pressure after the early virtual loss of three line of battle ships.

Reading again the opening paragraph of Riou's letter to the Admiralty sent via the men who elected to leave when the ship seemed almost certain to sink:


Sir,

If ever any part of the officers or crew of the Guardian should ever survive to get home, I have only to say their conduct after the fatal stroke against an Island of Ice was admirable and wonderful in everything that related to their duties, considered either as private men or his Majesty's service.

it occurred to me, (perhaps belatedly, as it may be obvious to everyone else!) that Riou paid that compliment to the men to absolve them from any suspicion of mutiny or disobedience of lawful orders, should they arrive safely home.

Are there any other known examples of a captain giving men a choice of staying with, or leaving a sinking ship, with a similar letter to allay any suspicion of misconduct that might fall upon survivors?

Anna,

there has in fact been criticism in England about the people leaving the commanding officer and the sinking ship in distress while she obviously - in the aftermath clearly recognizable! - had not been as sinking as even Riou himself had actually and definitely thought at that time... (In our navy, we have the saying: Ship's Maneouvres are most perfectly conducted by those watching from the quayside...)

Apart from that: imagine the master of a ship stepping ashore from a launch with a mixed set of ragged seaman, simply telling the audience - the Guardian? She sank. But we managed to get into the boats. Any other survivors? Dunno...
I think this is what Riou felt he had to for his master and his purser, with whom he seems to have been on very good terms and whom he had given positive authorization to leave the ship. And he had always in his whole life emphasized duty before anything else - so why not give the very few possible survivors of his last command a positive testimony of their service?