by Dean King
In the calendar stands SAINT BRYAN O’LYNN.
I have left out four verses as being rather out of order. I have heard the old gunner sing this when the sea has been beating over the forecastle and the ship rolling gunwale under. We used to get a tarpaulin in the weather fore rigging as a screen, and many a pleasant hour have I passed under its lee, with a glass of grog and hearing long-winded stories. Alas! how dead are times now. Captain Wallis behaved very kindly to me. I used to dine with him two or three times a week. He had, as I have stated, strange whims and few men are without them, but his many good qualities threw them in the background, and I have, with grateful remembrance and respect for his memory, to be thankful for his kindness, and particularly for the certificate he gave me on leaving the ship.
Gardner’s ample sense of humor would later come in handy. No doubt it was helpful in passing the tedious hours when he commanded the signal station at Fairlight, three miles from Hastings, from 1806 to 1814. A half-pay lieutenant from 1814, Gardner was retired as a commander in 1830.
Back in England in 1795, a hot press was on. The government of the newly formed Batavian Republic (French-occupied Netherlands) formally allied with France in the month of May, and peace between Spain and France was signed in July. Also in July, Britain’s attempt, at Quiberon Bay, to open a front on French soil, using French Royalist forces supported by British soldiers, failed miserably. New recruits were needed for a planned second attempt. Jacob Nagle, the lower-deck seaman whose account follows, describes an almost feudal atmosphere, with the Army, the Navy, and the East India Company struggling for recruits. A seaman needed some sort of protection to secure any sort of power over his own destiny.
1 French ships brought from Toulon. Cf. Schomberg, Naval Chronology, iv. 471. It will be seen that the lists of these squadrons differ from Schomberg’s, which are probably the more correct. The Alert [which Gardner mentions on page 38], for instance, had been captured on the coast of Ireland, in May.—James, i. 439. [A strong royalist,] Rear-Admiral [the comte de] Trogoff, with his flag in the Commerce de Marseille, left Toulon in company with the English [Toulon was evacuated December 17,1793] but he died within a few months.—Chevalier, op. cit. pp. 90, 91.
2 “Ça Ira!,” literally “That will succeed!” in French, is an often repeated phrase in a revolutionary song that was sung at many events during the Terror. “Ça Ira” was later named the official song of the Revolution.
3 A shirt in the rigging was the recognised signal from a merchantman for a man-of-war boat to be sent on board.
4 The Dunciad, ii. 105. A reference to the original—of which only the tense is here altered—will show the strict appositeness of the quotation.
5 At this time peas were issued whole. Split peas were not issued till about 1856—after the Russian war.
6 Admiral Sir Clowdisley Shovel had commanded the Mediterranean fleet during the War of the Spanish Succession in 1707. On his passage home, in one of the great disasters in British naval history, his flagship and several others struck the rocks off the Scilly Isles, where he and many others drowned.
Jacob Nagle
For the Good of My Own Soul
1795
RETURNING FROM A FIFTEEN-MONTH voyage to India on board the merchant ship Rose, Jacob Nagle, an able and wily American seaman, arrives in England during a recruiting feeding frenzy by both the Army and the Navy. At thirty-three years old, Nagle, who has served in both the United States Navy during the American Revolution and in the Royal Navy, from which he has already deserted once, is a prime target for the press gangs of both services. Despite being a deserter, which was punishable by death, Nagle seems remarkably cool. Once in the city of London, he is safe from the Army but not the Navy. He seeks the help of Mr. Goodall, who he has described as a “capt’n of troops belonging [to] the East India Company”(The Nagle Journal, p. 152). Nagle’s frank presentation of life on shore is one of the most enlightening to emerge from the period.
AT LENGTH [10 May 1795] we sailed for England with a prosperous and pleasent breese. When we got on the coast of Ingland, we stood well to the westward and made Ireland, meaning to put in there, but making the land we saw seven sail bearing down upon us [17 July 1795]. We took them to be a French squadron as we had intilegence they ware on the lookout for us. Immediately the oldest capt[ain] belonging to the Company ships in the fleet made a signal to form the line, which was done and that so close under each others sterns that the line could not be broken without they run on board of our ships, but we hoisting the Companies colours, they hoisted English. They came down and spoke the Commedore and inform’d they ware cruising to protect us and likewise to prevent us from going into Ireland to smugel. They pressed 4 men out of each ship.1
We then made sail for the Channel of England and having a fine moderate breeze from the westward we fetched round Cilly Roks and bore up Channel. When we passed the Isle of White [Wight], runing for the Downs, we ware brought too [22 July 1795] by the Dimond Frigate and boarded us and pressed 23 men out of us, the rest being stowed away amongst the cargo. Coming into the Downs we had to come to an anchor, and 27 of us which the capt[ain] and chief mate wished to save from the press we ware put down amongst the cargo. The men of war sent all their boats along side to press all they could find, but they dare not open the hatches, and all the rest were pressed excepting us 27.
The pilot coming on board with 45 ticket men after dark, they begin to heave up the anchor, but those landlubers new so little about it that they could not get under way. We having some inveleads soldiers on board, the chief mate came down to us to come up and get the ship under way. We put on the soldiers jackets and hats, run up aloft, and cleared away the riging, sheated home, and hoisted the topsails and got hur underway in sailing trim, then went below. The ticket men seeing the activity of us swore we ware not soldiers, and we being shy of them for fear they would give information. While in the whole [hold] we ware supplyed with provisions and grog by our officers.
When we got up to the Lower Hope [25 July 1795], the capt[ain] seeing two large men of war laying farther up, the capt[ain] sent the chief mate to let us know how to act. They lowered the boat down and hall’d hur along side. Likewise he borrowed a boat from another vessel.
Amediately the signal was given, the 27 of us jumped up on the quarter deck and laid holt of a crow bar and pretended to brake open the arm chest which was left open for that purpose, the capt[ain] and mate crying out, “Men, what are you about?” We made no answer, but took a brace of pistols with 24 rounds of catrages and a cutlash each of us and went into the boats and pulled away for the shore. A revenew cutter purceiving us stoped us to overhall for smugled goods. They took chiefly what we had, but did not get all. The capt[ain] hailed the officer and beged he would let us go, as there was three men of wars boats after us. He let us go and we pulled for life. By the time we landed and got on the bank, we paraded in the meadow. They ware close to the shore by this time and seeing we did not run but determened to fight, they lay on their oars and looked at us for awhile, then returned to their ships again. We got on the road for London. In a half an hour after we fell in with 10 sailors armed with harpoons, and we joined company.
We coming to a small village, we ware informed that 30,000 regular troops ware incamped at the Lower Hope within three miles of us, and the light horse being on the road had orders to take all sailors that they came a cross, and one of them undertook to pilate [pilot] us across the country clear of the high roads.
After refreshing our selves we started. When about half way we had to take part of the main road, but before we got out of it again we fell in with about fourteen light horse beside the capt[ain]. We immediately paraded close a long the fence with our pistols cocked in each hand. When they came abrest of us, they stoped. The harpeners hove there harpoons over there heads, shining like silver. The capt[ain] enquired from whence we came. We informed him. He discours’d with us a considerable time. The solders vewed the harpoons over their head
s as they sat on there horses, and seeing us so well armed, 47 in number, he told us he did not wish to trouble us and rode off.
When getting within a mile of Popler, we fell into the main road again and met a general going to camp with six or seven servents attending him. He stoped us to enquire what news from India and what ships had arived. He very genteelly wished us safe to London.
We, ariving at Popler, we gave our pilot a silk hankerchief a peace, which was 27, worth 5 shillings sterling each. He was well pleased and said he had made a great days work. We refreshed our selves at the first public house. We ware informed there was four press gangs in Popler. We sent for two coaches and started for London with the harpeners on the top of the coaches, and going through Popler we kep a continuel firing till we came to the subburbs of London, then discharged all our arms before we entered the citty, as the press gangs are not allowed to press within the citty. At this time it was expected that Bonepart would invade England.2
We delivered up our arms to the Company at the East India House. In a short time the capt[ain] got us our wages. I remained at the White Swan for a few days, not daring to go out of the citty without a protection.3
I sent a few lines to Mr. Goodall on Tower Hill. He came to me and took me to his house. He being aquainted with the press master, went to him. It was agre’d I should come over in the evening and he would be there. Accordingly I went into the public house which was only three dores from my boarding house. The gang sitting there, I enquired for the capt[ain] of the press gang. They stared at me, seeing a sailor dressed in India gingams and sattin enquiring for their capt[ain]. They directed me to the stair case, and the landlady showed me up with a light. When I entered, he knowing my business, he told me it would be necessary for me to hail for some man a war in the river that I enter’d for. He said the Gorgeon [Gorgon] 44 was laying at Woolage [Woolwich] fitting out and would not be ready for see under two month as a Kings storeship. Therefore he gave me a protection as belonging to the Gorgeon. I thank’d him and went down stairs.
There was two livers of the place playing a game of draughts. I stood looking on and one beat the other till he gave it up, a pot of beer a game. The winer asked me if I would take a game. I told him I had no objections. For the good of the house we plaid. I beat him. The gang standing round, I told them to drink as it came in. The other trades man wished to try me. I beat him. The gang then begin, and I beat the whole gang which in the whole in the barroom was 12 and had all the bear [beer] in. “Wel,” said I, “as I have not been beat, I will have my pot in,” which made a purty hearty laugh amongst them all, but the gang thought that would not excuse me, expecting I might have no protection, but not being alowed to over hall me in the house, but when I bid them all good night, they follow’d me and wish’d to [k]now weather I had a protection. I went in again and showed it. They had no more to say. I went home. I then could go wherever I pleased. The gangs [k]nowing me, they seldom overhall’d me.
One evening, going up Ratlif [Ratcliffe] high way, I sept’d [stepped] into a public house and caled for something to drink, and sitting at the same table where two young girls were sitting, supposing they belonged to the house, I fell in discourse with one of them I supposed could not be more than thirteen. I asked hur if she was the landlords daughter. She said, “No, Sir, but I live close by.” I had drink’d my beer and was going out. She asked me if I would see hur home. I was surprised, but I told hur I would if she would show me the way. She got up and we went out.
She took me up a lane and entered a house where there was an elderly woman sitting a mending some cloking. They asked me to sit down. I observed the old woman was droping a tear. I asked hur what troubled hur mind. She said she had lost hur husband about two months ago and she had no one to help hur but hur daughter and was comp[elle]d to do what could not be helped. I felt for hur and expected they ware in want.
I pretended I wanted something to drink and I felt hungry. I asked hur daughter if she would fetch me some. She said by all means. I gave hur a seven shilling peace and told hur to go to a cook shop and get some cook’d victuals. I told hur to bring a half pint of rum and a quart of beer and the rest in provisions. She took a cloth and some materiels with hur. In hur absence I had some conversation with the old lady in respect of London being so great and popular a city why there was not assistance given to the poor. She said there was in some cases, but it requird friends, and then there was many hundreds in London pereshing for want. By this time hur daughter return’d with all that was required. I took a glass of grog and eat a little, and gave me pleasure to see them eat.
After supper I ment to bid them good night, but the daughter would not purmit me, and likewise hur mother wish’d me to stop as it was late. We went up stairs and I laid down, when she pulled hur gown’d off, which was clean and deasent, but hur shift was nothing but rags. It hurt me to see so lovely a young girl so much in distress for the want of some assistance, and I found by discourse it was to support hur poor mother.
In the morning when rising, I gave hur a half a guinea and told hur to get a couple of shifts. She cried and took me round the neck. I went down stairs and the old ladie was there. I bid hur good morning and she return’d the complement with chearfulness. I presented hur a guinea and told hur it might be of service to hur. She seemed stagnated, and I told hur purhaps you may never see me any more and bid them both good morning. I always thought I never done a better job in my life for the good of my own soul.
When in London before, I got acquainted with a family [that] lived near Stepney Church, though they came from the Isle of White [Wight] abreast of Portsmouth Harbour. I took a liking to a daughter of Mr. Pitmuns, a lively hansome girl in my eye, and maried hur. She had three brothers that I was acquainted with before.
Being at her fathers house, we took a walk down street. Then I proposed walking up to Tower Hill to Mr. Goodalls. Coming along towards St. Catherine, we saw the gang in chase of a sailor. Passing us in the dusk of the evening, the last of the gang purceiving me, came up to me, and asked me who I was and wanted to [k]now whether I had a protection. I told him I belonged to the Gorgeon at Woolage and my ticket was where I was going to on Tower Hill. He begin to make free with my wife and I nock’d him down, and a nother coming up, I made him stager, but a number gathering round me and a midshipman of the gang, I told him I would go where he pleased but not to allow his vagabons to insult my wife. He said they should not. Then I walked on with them, and my wife with me.
They took me to Iron Gate where the randevoos was.4 As soon as I entered I sent my wife up to Mr. Goodalls to bring him down, as I hail for the Gorgeon. I was then brought up stairs before the pressmaster. There was several capt[ains] there and a number of ladies. The capt[ain] of the Gorgeon [Edward Tyrrell] being one of the company, desired the pressmaster to let him overhall me, as I hail’d for his ship, before I was brought up. I was well dressed in silk jacket, waiscoat, and India gingums. When I apeared they all took there vew of me, both ladies and officers.
“Well,” said the capt[ain] of the Gorgeon,” what ship do you hail for?”
“The Gorgeon, Sir, laying at Wollige.”
“Are you aquainted with the capt[ain]?”
“No, Sir, I would not know him if I met him in my dish.” There was a loud laugh with the ladies and gentlemen.
“Well, how came you to enter for the Gorgeon particularly, not [k]nowing the capt[ain]?”
“I can inform you, Sir. Mr. Goodall, I believe, is a friend to me, and I board in his house since I new London, and Mr. Burley, belonging to the Gorgeon, which boards there and I believe is pusser [purser] of the ship, informed me the capt[ain] was a fine man and by going in hur I could remain with me wife for a short time as she is not ready for see.”
By this time my wife return’d and told me Mr. Goodall was up in the citty. “Well,” said the capt[ain], “you must content yourself for the night on board the tender. I am capt[ain] of the Gorgeon and I will come and see you in the morning
.”
“Sir,” said I, “will you tear me away from my wife no sooner than I am maried to hur, and she is here now, and if you send me on board the tender this night I wont go in your ship, I will go aboard the largest ship in the navy first.”
The ladies endeavoured to interceed for me, but the capt[ain] said he was afraid to trust me without security and Mr. Goodall not being at home. I desired my wife to go and stay with Mrs. Goodall for to night and come on b[oar]d the tender after breckfast.
Going down into the barroom, the gang being all there, I asked the landlady for a pint of beer. “No,” said the gang, “we cant wait, you must come a long. Dont bring any beer.”
I gumped on a table in a box next to a window fronting the street and drew my knife. “The first raskel that comes in reach of me I will be his death.” Some run out and bared the windows, came and locked the dore.
The midshipman run up stairs to the officers. Down came Capt[ain] Terrel. “What’s the matter?”
“These raskels,” said I, “wont allow me a pint of beer, and I am famishing with drought.”
“Madam, fetch him some beer. You raskels, how dare you refuse him that privilage!” The beer was brought.
I sat down and drank my beer. “Now I will go with you.”
After going out of the house towards Iron Gate Steps, there was one of each side of me, some a head and some behind me. The two that was a long side of me, I nocked them both backwards, but the fellow behind hit me with a club which stagerd me. The capt[ain], hearing the noise, hollowed out of the window, “You raskels, if you hurt that man I will flog every man of you.”
By this time they had all got close round me and got into the very [wherry], which is a boat in common in crossing the river or elsewhere. They placed themselves all a round me. My intention was to jump over board and dive amongst the ships in a strong tide. They could not have found me, but they kept fast holt of me till they got me on board.