consisted of ten line-of-battle ships, one gunship (56), and four frigates. One third of these was totally destroyed, another third was put hors-de-combat, leaving only one ship of the line and three frigates, with disheartened crews. The West Indies were thus saved from the French fleet’s intended invasion, and all this without the loss or even delay from service of one British vessel, and at the cost of only ten men killed. Lord Cochrane raised the question whether more might not have been done, and at Lord Gambier’s request a court-martial was summoned. The whole weight of evidence supported the statements of Mr. Stokes, sailing-master of the flag-ship Caledonia, whose charts of the entire locality were afterwards adopted by the French Government. Mr. Stokes said —
“Had three or four line-of-battle ships run into Aix Roads when Lord Cochrane made the signal, they would have met a force equal to themselves; they would have made the attack under every disadvantage, the whole of the fire of the Isle d’Aix, as well as the fire of the Foudroyant, Cassard, and Ocean (three-deckers) would have been directed on them. They would have had no place to retreat to, and their only safety would have remained in the destruction of the French ships, and silencing the batteries of Isle d’Aix, which I am sure it would have been impossible for them to have accomplished.”
Before Lord Cochrane’s advent no one had disputed Lord Gambier’s talents and fearless bravery. Lord Howe considered him “equal to any service, however hazardous and intricate.” And the court-martial most honourably acquitted him of all accusations. The President (Admiral Sir Roger Curtis) said —
“Admiral Lord Gambier, I have peculiar pleasure in receiving the command of the Court to return you your sword, in the fullest conviction that (as you have hitherto done) you will, on all future occasions, use it for the honour and advantage of your country, and to your own personal honour. Having so far obeyed the command of the Court, I beg you will permit me, in my individual capacity, to express to you the high gratification I have upon this occasion.”
Contrast the mutual dealings of Gambier and Cochrane. Cochrane was kindly received by no officer but Gambier, by whom, after the action, he was entrusted with the despatches. Before sailing homeward, Cochrane complained to Gambier of the inefficiency of the captains. The Admiralty, being delighted with the despatches, arranged for a Parliamentary vote of thanks; Cochrane, being an M.P., announced an amendment, excluding Gambier only. Gambier appealed to a court-martial; Cochrane appealed to unskilled and miscellaneous prejudices. Gambier met the court-martial with his log and signal books unaltered; Cochrane produced only two documents, compiled on shore by himself, namely, a new edition of his log and a narrative. Gambier relied on the judgment of the court-martial in his favour; Cochrane had recourse to an autobiography. The greatest man in the fleet was Captain Pulteney Malcolm; Cochrane, in the autobiography, maintained that Malcolm’s evidence had been on his side, but any reader may see that, though Malcolm’s wishes (like Gambier’s) were on Cochrane’s side, he acquiesced in the procedure of Gambier, who was obliged, as Commander-in-Chief, to take the proposed experiment into responsible consideration, and then to decide the question how much should be attempted. Cochrane appealed to persons ignorant even as to Parliamentary sessions and vacations, whether it was not the fact that the vote of thanks to Gambier was delayed for several months after the court-martial; whereas the acquittal took place after the prorogation, and thanks were voted in both Mouses at the earliest opportunity after the re-assembling of Parliament. The court-martial had the case before it with personal knowledge and experience of the dependence of sailing-vessels on wind and tide; new editions of the Autobiography now appeal to readers who may imagine that Gambier had a steam-navy under his command.
After the court-martial the decoration of G.C.B. was offered to Lord Gambier, but he refused it, because his junior, Lord Cochrane, had been decorated before him. On the 30th July 1814 Lord Gambier was appointed head of the Commission for negotiating a Treaty of Peace with the United States; and on the 7th June 1815 he did not refuse the insignia of Grand Cross of the Bath, which were again pressed upon his acceptance on the occasion of the conclusion of peace with America.
The following speaks for itself:—
“Windsor Castle, July 20, 1832.
“The King has great satisfaction in transmitting to Admiral Lord Gambier the accompanying baton [baton mareschal] which his Majesty has caused to be made for the purpose of being presented to him as Admiral of the Fleet, and which his Majesty desires Lord Gambier will receive as a testimonial of his personal regard, and of the estimation in which he holds his long, faithful, and meritorious services.
“William R.”
