Gillespie An historical Review of the Royal Marine Corps, from its Original Institution down to the Present Era, 1803

1. Auflage 2016
ISBN: 978-3-7364-1347-4
Verlag: anboco
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 630 Seiten

With mixed sentiments of Loyalty and Gratitude, I now lay the following Work under your Royal Shelter. In having deigned to become its Patron your Royal Highness has placed me under a double tie, as it is a precious mark of condescension bestowed upon myself, enhanced in value from its being a sure earnest of predilection for my Corps. To cherish Patriotism, Subordination and Allegiance, is the bounden duty of every subject; but more peculiarly so, during times of public danger, and of general convulsion. This has been my leading aim, not by the displays of Theory, but of Facts. Conscious that such were my predominant motives, and anxious to maintain consistency throughout, I looked around for a Protector who united within himself all those exalted endowments which I have laboured to establish. My eyes turned towards your Royal Highness, and my pen did not solicit in vain. With talents filled for an honorable discharge of the most important trusts; early trained in the hardy employs of a profession which has long been the prop of the British Empire; and a Prince of the greatest Realm on earth, your Royal Highness has nobly foregone all those pre-eminent claims, and with a manly humility, you have associated yourself, in arms, with the Volunteers of your Country. Although the field of glory may not be so wide as on that element for which your Royal Highness was destined from your youth, and where you are so well qualified to shine, still you have exhibited the brightest example to Englishmen, and by it alone, you have already rendered the most signal services...

Autoren/Hrsg.

Gillespie, Alexander

Leseproben

  A HISTORICAL REVIEW OF THE ROYAL MARINE CORPS, &c. &c.   FROM ITS ORIGINAL FORMATION TO 1803. CHAP. I.
At a period when the commerce of this Country bore no proportion to its present state, the supplies of Seamen, under a system of impress, were extremely precarious, and often inadequate to the public emergencies. Experience had also shewn, that raw landsmen were most improper substitutes for this want, as the sudden change of life rendered them subject to immediate disease, and sea-sickness, at a time when their active services were required. These united causes originally suggested the expediency of forming an establishment of Marines, who were raised and embodied with the sole view of being a nursery to man our fleets. They were always quartered in the vicinity of our principal sea-ports, where they were regularly trained to the different methods of ship fighting, and to these various manœuvres of a vessel, in which numbers were necessary. Being thus locally placed, their value was early felt by their exertions in equipping the squadrons fitted out, when but little confidence could be placed in the sailor, perhaps just impressed into the service. The general principles and regulations that were instituted for the conduct of the Marine regiments, from their formation, to the close of the reign of King William III. evidently shew that they were entirely devoted to naval purposes. As each individual became properly qualified to act on board of ship as a foremast-man, which was uniformly encouraged, he was discharged from his regiment, entered upon the books as such, and levy-money was granted to the officers of his corps, in order to supply the vacancy of him who was thus transferred. The first authentic instance of any regiment of this description appears in the Army List of 1684, and from the return of the general review on Putney Heath, upon the first day of October in that year. Neither the exact æra of its establishment, or that of the other maritime forces, is clearly ascertained; and it would be absurd to speculate upon dates which can yield no material result. The return which I have mentioned runs thus, and is annexed at large: "The Lord High Admiral of England, his Royal Highness the Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot, commanded by the Honourable Sir Charles Littleton, called also the Admiral Regiment.   Sir Charles Littleton, Colonel.
Oliver Niclas, Lieutenant Colonel.
Richard Bagett, Major.     CAPTAINS. LIEUTENANTS. ENSIGNS. Col's. Co. commanded by Capt. Lt. Robt. Crawford, Capt. Lt. Philom. Powell Lt. Colonel's Co. commanded by Lieut. Edm. Yarborough Arthur Townshend Major's Co. commanded by Lieut. Theoph. Bleehenden William Pearson Geo. Littleton, Captain Lieut. Edmund Wilson James Man Sir Thomas Cutler Robert Lloyd John Hill Edward Nott Francis Hobblin Alexander Erwin Francis Ezod Francis Butler Thomas Man Edward Harris John Thorn William Somers Samuel Scudamore George Rooke Gilbert Simons Chichester Wray Henry Hewys Geo. Littleton Charles Herbert Thomas Whaley Francis Ezord Edmund Plowden William Oglethorpe Jo. Whaley   State Major, or the Staff Officers of the Admiral Regiment, Richard Beauvoir, Adjutant.
Tobias Legross, Quarter-Master.
Samuel Tatham, Chirurgeon.
John Tatham, Chirurgeon's Mate.     This regiment consisted of twelve companies, without any grenadiers, had yellow coats lined with red, and their colours were a red cross, with rays of the sun issuing from each of its angles. It stood the third in seniority in the line of that day; and it may be presumed, from its subsequent reduction, that a step was obtained in it by the 4th, then the Regiment of Holland, commanded by John, the second Lord Mulgrave, and now entitled The Old Buffs. Betwixt 1687 and 1698, there were several maritime regiments raised for the purposes, and under the regulations I have stated. They were Colonels Mordaunt, Colt, Seymour, and Brudenell's; also, Sir Cloudesley Shovel's, my Lord Torrington's, and the Marquis of Carmarthen's; all of which were disbanded during the currency of 1697 and 1698. The expences incurred by the maintenance of the maritime troops were classed with the estimates of the navy, and money was issued from time to time, by warrant from the Lord High Treasurer to the Treasurer of the Navy, who placed it in the hands of a person especially appointed to receive and pay it. Under this system, the Admiralty and Navy Boards were subjected to much trouble, in forming and directing its different arrangements. From the nature of the marine service, at this period, few or no achievements occur which can be peculiarly attached to it as a corps. We find them honourably mentioned in the operations against St. Christopher's, and the successful attack upon Cork, under the æra of 1690. The detail of loss upon the former occasion is thus described, and evinces that their energies also, as soldiers, were called forth when occasion might require them. "In this action we had killed and wounded upwards of 130 men, and Captain Keigwin, a sea commander, who was appointed Colonel of the Marine Regiment, (which consisted of about 230 seamen) was shot through the thigh, of which wound he died, before he could be carried on board, and Captain Brisbane, who acted as First Captain to the Marines, receiving a shot through the body, expired that night on board the Bristol." Embodied under similar circumstances, they of course partook in the various services of debarkation, which the emergency of those times might have demanded, until the peace of Ryswick, which, for a while, closed the existence of marine forces. The expences of King William's war, upwards of eight years' duration, are so moderate when contrasted with these of later days, that they merit a place in any retrospect which treats of that period; and it is to be remarked that 40,000 seamen were maintained during the last years of it.   Total navy estimates allowed £16,303,713 15 0 Total army     do.        do. £18,487,671 17 10   —————————   £34,764,385 12 10   ================   In all, thirty-four millions seven hundred sixty-four thousand three hundred eighty-five pounds, twelve shillings and ten pence! I cannot bid adieu to the...