Books Should Be Free Loyal Books Free Public Domain Audiobooks & eBook Downloads |
|
The Life of Admiral Viscount Exmouth By: Edward Osler (1798-1863) |
---|
![]()
OF ADMIRAL VISCOUNT EXMOUTH BY EDWARD OSLER, ESQ. For every virtue, every worth renowned,
Sincere, plain hearted, hospitable, kind;
Yet like the mustering thunder when provoked,
The dread of tyrants, and the true resource
Of those who under grim oppression groaned. THOMSON. A New and Revised Edition. LONDON:
GEO. ROUTLEDGE & CO., FARRINGDON STREET
AND 18, BEEKMAN STREET, NEW YORK.
1854 London:
Printed by STEWART and MURRAY,
Old Bailey.
TO THE NAVY, The Bulwark of their Country, AND WHOSE TRIUMPHS ARE THE PRIDE OF HER HISTORY, THIS WORK IS MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED.
PREFACE.
At the commencement of hostilities, whose extent and duration none can
foresee, it is the wisdom of those to whom England will hereafter commit
the honour of her Flag to study well the example of the great
sea officers whose services illustrate the annals of their country. Among these bright examples, none is more worthy of careful study than
Admiral Lord Exmouth. Entering the service a friendless orphan, the
success which he achieved by merit alone is most encouraging to all who
must rise by their own deserts. In his perfect seamanship, his mastery
of all that relates to his profession, his zeal and energy, his
considerate forethought, his care to make his crews thorough seamen, and
the example by which he spurred and encouraged them, the secret may be
found, not less available to others, of his many brilliant successes,
and of the little loss with which he obtained them. His truly parental
care for his young officers to train them to their duties and to advance
their interests, as conspicuous when commander in chief as in his first
frigate, is a lesson for all in authority. Nor will his personal
qualities be less admired: the honourable independence which he
maintained as an officer and a peer, and the moral excellence which
marked his life, and was finally proved on his death bed. And here I may relate an anecdote, as the praise it gives is only for
the subject of the biography, and for which I am indebted to
Vice Admiral Sir Fleetwood Pellew. Soon after the first appearance of
this work, one of the first officers in the French navy, Vice Admiral
Bergeret, whose name appears more than once in the following pages,
presented a copy to a young relative he was sending to sea, and bade him
to learn from the example it afforded to become all that his friends and
his country could desire. Lord Exmouth's attack on Algiers, the most memorable occasion on which
men of war have attacked fortifications, is peculiarly instructive now.
The immediate destruction of the enemy's works opposed to the Queen
Charlotte , and the comparative impunity she thus obtained, shows the
wisdom of laying the ships as close as possible, where the concentrated
fire of her batteries may overwhelm the enemy, and destroy the few guns
which alone can be opposed to her; whereas, by anchoring at a distance,
the enemy's guns from a great extent of the works may be trained to bear
on her, while her own shot strike with uncertain aim and diminished
effect. The results of this latter course may be learnt from the fate of
the floating batteries at the siege of Gibraltar, and from the
Impregnable at Algiers; the ships having anchored at too great a
distance, were exposed to a destructive fire, while their own attack was
comparatively harmless. This biography of Lord Exmouth was written at the desire and under the
eye of his eldest brother; in youth his second father, and through life
his confidential friend. Every incident relating to points of service
was supplied or corrected by officers personally engaged; and the whole
was finally revised by four officers who were the most constantly and
intimately acquainted with the Admiral Mr. Gaze, master of the fleet in
the Mediterranean and at Algiers, and who sailed with him in every ship
from 1793 to the last day of his command; Sir Christopher Cole and
Captain Crease, his intimate friends; and his only surviving sailor son,
Captain, now Vice Admiral Sir Fleetwood Pellew... Continue reading book >>
|
Genres for this book |
---|
Biography |
History |
War stories |
eBook links |
---|
Wikipedia – Edward Osler |
Wikipedia – The Life of Admiral Viscount Exmouth |
eBook Downloads | |
---|---|
ePUB eBook • iBooks for iPhone and iPad • Nook • Sony Reader |
Kindle eBook • Mobi file format for Kindle |
Read eBook • Load eBook in browser |
Text File eBook • Computers • Windows • Mac |
Review this book |
---|