Frigates, Sloops and Brigs by James Henderson

Author:James Henderson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Bisac Code 1: HIS037060
ISBN: eBook ISBN: 9781844682690
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2012-07-10T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Shipwreck

After the general settlement of Europe after Waterloo, the British government determined to send an Embassy to the Emperor of China, to inform him officially of the events and settlement, to profess the friendship of the British Crown, and to convey to him a very splendid service of silver. For this important office the choice fell on Lord Amherst, a very able peer, who was later to be Governor of Canada and later still Governor-General of India. He was naturally consulted about the transport he wished, and he asked for the frigate ALCESTE, commanded by his friend Captain Murray Maxwell.

The ALCESTE and her captain had already distinguished them selves in the wars, chiefly in the Adriatic, where one action may have changed the course of history. The ALCESTE, along with the ACTIVE, Captain James Gordon, and the 36-gun UNITÉ, Captain Edwin Chamberlayne, was lying at Lissa when they were informed of a French squadron, almost identical, sailing north wards. The British immediately chased, and after a fierce encounter captured two of the French frigates, the third making its escape. This was a splendid feat of war, but what made it more interesting was the fact that the captured frigates were laden with more than two hundred guns, with the carriages and all necessary stores, bound for Trieste. This action took place on 28th November 1811, and the news of it may have made Napoleon realise that he could never build up Illyria as a spring board against Turkey. After all, he deployed only 250 guns at Waterloo, so the loss of 200 was indeed serious. Thus it may well be that Murray Maxwell’s minor victory may have been the last factor that made Napoleon abandon at that time his designs on Constantinople, and go to Moscow instead.

As well as being one of the finest 38-gun frigates in the Royal Navy, assiduous in all duties and terrible in action, the ALCESTE was a happy ship. One who served in her, on the lower deck, described her as the happiest home he ever had. Murray Maxwell was the ideal captain; his personality was such that his whole crew hero-worshipped him; he had no need to use the lash; the mere idea of displeasing him was sufficient discipline. The men admired him for his seamanship and skill, and his complete intrepidity in battle; and they loved him for his impartiality and his firm and kindly command. There could be no better choice of a ship for a long, hazardous and important voyage than the ALCESTE.

The outward voyage was accomplished without particular incident, and the ALCESTE lay at Whampoa, the usual anchorage for Canton, while the Ambassador and his suite carried out their duties at the Imperial Court. They were received with the usual ceremonies, but did not make the impression they expected. The Celestial Emperor indicated that he had little interest in the squabbles of distant barbarians, and declined the present of plate, on the grounds that he had no use for it, using only gold or jade himself.

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