|
DOUGLAS, (SIR) CHARLES, a
distinguished naval officer, was a native of Scotland; but we have not
learned where he was born, nor to what family he belonged. His education
must have been very good, as he could speak no fewer than six different
European languages with perfect correctness. He was originally in the
Dutch service, and it is said that he did not obtain rank in the British
navy without great difficulty. In the seven years’ war, which commenced
in 1756, he was promoted through the various ranks of the service till he
became post-captain. At the conclusion of the war in 1763, he went to St
Petersburg, his majesty having previously conferred upon him the rank of
baronet. On the war breaking out with America in 1775, Sir Charles had a
broad pendant given him, and commanded the squadron employed in the Gulf
of St Lawrence. His services on this station were, after his return to
England, rewarded with very flattering honours, and he soon after obtained
command of the Duke, 98 guns. Sir Charles was remarkable not only as a
linguist, but also for his genius in mechanics. He suggested the
substitution of locks for matches in naval gunnery; an improvement
immediately adopted, and which proved of vast service to the British navy.
On the 24th of November, 1781, he was appointed first captain to Sir
George Rodney, then about to sail on his second expedition to the West
Indies. Sir George, having hoisted his flag in the Formidable, Douglas
assumed the command of that vessel, and they sailed on the 15th of
January, 1782, from Torbay. On the 12th of April, took place the
celebrated engagement with the French fleet, in which the British gained a
most splendid victory, chiefly, it is supposed, in consequence of the
Formidable having been directed across the enemy’s line. In our memoir
of Mr Clerk of Eldin, we have recorded part of the controversy which has
been carried on respecting the originator of this idea. It was there
shown, that Sir Charles Douglas utterly denied the claims of Mr Clerk: we
must now show what claims have been put forward for himself. Douglas, it
must be remarked, was an officer of too high principle to make any claims
himself. He thought it a kind of insubordination for any one to claim more
honour than what was allowed to him by his superiors in the despatches or
in the gazette. Hence, whenever any one hinted at the concern which he was
generally supposed to have had in suggesting the measure, he always turned
the conversation, remarking in general terms, "We had a great deal to
do, Sir, and I believe you will allow we did a great deal." The claim
has been put forward by his son, major-general Sir Howard Douglas, who, at
the same time, speaks in the following terms of his father’s delicacy
upon the subject: "He never, I repeat, asserted, or would accept,
when complimented upon it, greater share in the honour of the day, than
what had been publicly and officially given him, and I am sure his spirit
would not approve of my reclaiming any laurels of that achievement from
the tomb of his chief." The principal proof brought forward by Sir
Howard consists of the following extract from a letter by Sir Charles
Dashwood, a surviving actor in the engagement of the 12th of April, though
then only thirteen years of age. "Being one of the aides-de-camp to
the commander-in-chief on that memorable day, it was my duty to attend
both on him and the captain of the fleet, as occasion might require. It so
happened, that some time after the battle had commenced, and whilst we
were severely engaged, I was standing near Sir Charles Douglas, who was
leaning on the hammocks (which in those days were stowed across the fore
part of the quarter-deck), his head leaning on his one hand, and his eye
occasionally glancing on the enemy’s line, and apparently in deep
meditation, as if some great event were crossing his mind: suddenly
raising his head, and turning quickly round, he said, ‘Dash, where’s
Sir George?’ ‘In the after-cabin, Sir,’ I replied. He immediately
went aft: I followed; and on meeting Sir George coming from the cabin,
close to the wheel, he took off his cocked hat with his right hand,
holding his long spy-glass in his left, and, making a low and profound
bow, said, ‘Sir George, I give you joy of the victory!’—‘Poh!’
said the chief, as if half angry, ‘the day is not half won yet.’—‘Break
the line, Sir George!’ said Douglas, ‘the day is your own, and I will
ensure you the victory.’—‘No,’ said the admiral, ‘I will not
break my line.’ After another request and another refusal, Sir Charles
desired the helm to be put a-port; Sir George ordered it to starboard. On
Sir Charles again ordering it to port, the admiral sternly said, ‘Remember,
Sir Charles, that I am commander-in-chief,—starboard, Sir,’ addressing
the master, who during this controversy had placed the helm amidships. The
admiral and captain then separated; the former going aft, and the latter
going forward. In the course of a couple of minutes or so, each turned and
again met nearly on the same spot, when Sir Charles quietly and coolly
again addressed the chief—‘Only break the line, Sir George, and the
day is your own.’ The admiral then said in a quick and hurried way, ‘Well,
well, do as you like,’ and immediately turned round, and walked into the
after-cabin. The words ‘Port the helm,’ were scarcely uttered, when
Sir Charles ordered me down with directions to commence firing on the
starboard side. On my return to the quarter-deck, I found the Formidable
passing between two French ships, each nearly touching us. We were
followed by the Namur, and the rest of the ships astern, and from that
moment the victory was decided in our favour."
Referring the reader for a
further discussion of this controversy to the 83d number of the Quarterly
Review, we may mention that lord Rodney never failed to confess that the
advantages of the day were greatly improved by Sir Charles Douglas. After
the conclusion of the war, the gallant officer was intrusted with the
command of the Nova Scotia station, which, however, he resigned in
consequence of some proceedings of the Navy Board with which he was
displeased. During the preparations for war in 1787, he was promoted to
the rank of rear-admiral, and next year was re-appointed to the Nova
Scotia station. He expired, however, January 1789, in the act of entering
a public meeting at Edinburgh, a stroke of apoplexy having cut him off in
a single moment. Over and above all his claims to the honours of the 12th
of April, he left the character of a brave and honest officer. His
mechanical inventions have been followed up by his son, Sir Howard, whose
work on naval gunnery is a book of standard excellence.
|
