Queen Charlotte, first rate, bearing the flag of Earl Howe, from which ship he was promoted into the Venus frigate, at the commencement of 1795, a period when “the princes of the house of Bourbon and the British ministers, notwithstanding the misfortunes which had happened to the royalists in la Vendee, began to entertain hopes that an impression might be made in the western part of France, by an armament composed of emigrants, and assisted by English ships of war.
“It had been represented, we fear, with too little regard to truth, that the Chouans of the Morbihan, and the country in the neighbourhood of Quiberon bay, required but small excitement to induce them to rise in arms against the existing government, and that a simultaneous movement would take place in La Vendee, where Charette and his ill-fated partisans had once more reared the royal standard. Glad of an opportunity to employ a large corps of emigrants recently taken into our service, the ministers listened to the propositions with eagerness and attention. An expedition was immediately planned; the naval part was placed under the command of Sir John B. Warren: that of the land forces was confided to the Count de Puissaye, an emigrant nobleman, who, whatever might have been his other good qualities, certainly was no soldier. No expense was spared; artillery, small-arms, ammunition, and provisions, were furnished in abundance; transports to convey them, and a squadron of ships of war ordered to attend their landing.
“They reached Quiberon bay on the 25th June, and were joined by a few hundreds from the broken and dispersed army of Conde, and the royalists collected at Coblentz, who had found their way to the Elbe, and embarked on board the British frigates Venus, Captain Lawrence William Halsted (of which ship Mr. Brenton was then third Lieutenant); Leda, Captain John Woodley, and Lark, sloop, Captain William Ogilvy. These ships proceeding to Spithead, were joined by some transports, and the whole reached Quiberon bay on the 16th July, after the landing of the great body was effected, and unfortunately only in time to partake of the general calamity that awaited them[1].”
In 1796, Lieutenant Brenton removed with Captain Halsted into the Phoenix 36, and assisted at the capture of the Dutch frigate at p. 430 of our first volume.
- ↑ See Nav. Hist. Vol. II, p. 33, et seq.; also Royal Nav. Biog. Vol. I. Part I., note at p. 169 et seq.; and Vol. II, Part I. p. 43.
