The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-18 00:00:00

~_.___-;54n14V1N4(74 ILDITTON

NAVAL BIOGRAPHY.

"ThE LATE REAR. ADMIRAL SIR PHILIP
Ibis VERE BROKE, BART., K.C.8..,.
'ibis officer was the eldest son of the late Ptii.ip
130wes Broke, of Nacton, county of Suffolk, Esq , by
Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. Charles Beaumont,
11.1• a of' N‘ *ituesn
hain, in the same county. 11e was
born 9th September, 1776 ; completed his education
S',) the Royal Academy, Portsmouth ; commenced his
nsyal career as midshipman on hoard the Bull Dog
B'°°P of war, 25th June, 179'). From her he removed
With Captain George Hope, into L'Eclair, a French
he corvette on the Mediterranean station, where
e Was employed in much active service, rarticularly
St the siege of Bastia. L'Eclair was for some time
eurnmanded by the late Commissioner Towry, with
Whom Mr. Broke continued until 25th May, 1794,
Icnea he joined his former Captain in the Romulus,
Vi guns. which ship was attached to the fleet under
ee Admiral Stotham, in the action off Genoa, 14th
March, 1795. On the Bth of June following, he was
,
iletwnyed into the Britannia, a first-rate, bearing the
~(1; of that officer, by whom he was appointed third
Lieutenant of the Southampton frigate, shortly after
'o,ne skirmish of Frejus, which ended in the destruction
a French 74. In the Southampton's action with
Ltt
Vestale, French frigate, and capture of L'Utile
French
corvette., cut out from under the batteries of
Poquerones, 1796, Lieutenant Broke bore a conspi-
csuuus part ; he was also present at the defeat of the
vanish fleet, by Sir John Jervis, 14th February 1797.
e subsequently find him serving under the late Hon.
Captain•
bearing a
Charles Herbert, in the Amelia frigate, and
part in the battle between Sir John B. War-
Lin and I‘l. Bornpart, off the co ist of Ireland, 1798.
eutenant Broke was advanced to the rank of Com-
litrder
s in January 1799 ; and made a Post Captain
t" February 1801. Previous to this latter promo•
ita"' he commanded the Shark sloop of war, employed
oru!ldfording protection to the trade, and occasionally
sulg off the Dutch coost.
At the renewal of the war in 1803, Captain Broke
in)ladu several unsuccessful applications for a ship ;
tut as inactivity formed no part of his character, he
...19PloYed himself in training the peasantry in his
:,eighbaurbood to arms, for the purpose of opposing
Ineepithreatened invasion from France. In April, 1805,
Was :
a appointed to the Druid frigate ; and the scarcity
gseamen then being so great that many ships were
oing idle for want of hands, he offered to proceed to
off' with scarcely a sufficient number to work her. His
offer being accepted, the Druid sailed on a cruise for
en off the Land's End, and in the Bristol Channel
e, s
o
end alter making up her complement, was placed under
I'o orderf Lord Gardner, on the Irish station, where
a,lr captured the Prince Murat, French ship privateer,
rl,B Six-pounders, and 127 men. Oa the Ist of May,
,';'"6, Captain Broke fell in with the Pandour, a na-
nral brig of 18 guns and 114 men, which, after a run
°' 160 miles, was arrested in her flight by the squadron
under Rear-Admiral Stirling, and conducted to Ply-
illnath by the Druid. Captain Broke's next appoint-
111,ent was in June, 1806, to the Shannon, in which
l:'ilz1 he established his fame as a British commander in
Ine first rank of naval renown. Towards the close of
'SO7, Captain Broke accompanied the expedition
4gainst Madeira, in consequence of the Portuguese Go-
vernmenti„ having declared war aeainst Great Britain.
possession of that island being obtained by a mere dis-
,,P 4). of force, he was ordered by Sir Samuel Hood to
;I°:".,'°Y the transports back to England, where he ar-
j eti On the 7th of Fe'uruary, 1808. On the 27th of
maenucarY, 1809, he took, after a long chase, Le Porn-
cutter, 14 guns, and 40 men.
WhlVunext find Captain Broke on the Halifax station,
thereere he arrived on the 14th of September, 1811. On
e i
a Bth of June, 1812, a formal declaration of war
galrist Great Britain WAS made on the part of Con-
RR
4ress ; and on the sth of the ensuing month, Capt. B.
as despatched by Vice Admiral Sawyer, with the
his' Orders
despatched
4, and Belvidere and tEgeus, frigates, under
if4t e ward to blockade the enemy's ports. Eleven days
he captured the American brig Nautilus,
eve!Uns, and 106 men, on Sandy Hook. The same
Co g another vessel was seen, which proved to be the
an(j'atii utton, 56 guns. All sail was immediately made,
she,
ot, haugh one of the British squadron was withi
king her escape,n gun-
au her, she succeeded in ma after
is"'dons pursuit of 65 hours. On the 20th of Sept.
.‘_-'lloprtain Broke returned to Halifax, where he bad the
by tification to learn that the Guerriere had been taken
hthe Constitution. In December, 1812, Captain
r°ke escorted a homeward•bound fleet halt-way across
e Atlantic. Oa the 21st of March, 1813, he was
Pined by Captains Oliver and Capel, in the Valiant and
La Hogue, 74's, when the former officer relieved him in
the command of the northern stations. 'file Shannon
end Tenedos soon after separated from the squadron
in a gale, and steered for Boston, which port they re-
etri'lAetioltred on the 2d of April. It was at this time
piss k-lhesapeake got into Boston thrnugh the eastern
ess,,ge'-'• Captain Broke having ascertained that the
"..e'aPeake would soon be ready for sea again, he took
`apply of of provisions and water from the Tenedos, and
'lief.d I'er, with orders not to rejoin him before the
14th
dpearilej,
tJhuerLa the earliest date at which, it was consi-
Constitution could he got ready to accom-
for chits Chesapeake, should the latter wait in port
the
~""t purpose. Seven days afterwards, he addressed
Chesapeake
letter to the commanding officer of the
leake
" 11. B. M.S. Shannon, off Boston, June 4, 1813.
k,,,0_ the Chesapeake appears now ready for
I request you will do me the favour to meet the
ollraunno with her, ship to ship. to try the fortune of
it. resPeetive flags. To an officer of your character,
requires some apology for proceeding to further par-
tistale
e rii• Be assured, Sir, that it is not from any doubt
ho_a!"1 entertain of your wishing to close with my pro-
tios4 i:vv,.ut merely to provide an answer to any objec-
the chance"'eh might be made, and very reasonably, upon
of our receiving unfair support.
trlotitA..fter the diligent attention we had paid to Corn.
bu, ute Rogers ; the pains I took to detach all force
t the Shannon and Tenedos to such a distance that
ah:
i„7l,enald not possibly :join in any action fought in
of the Capes, and the various verbal messages
we'reu had been sent into Boston to that effect, we
elude I'4°ol disappointed to find the Commodore had
aaiiised us by sailing on the first change, after the pre-
fretnug easterly winds had obliged us to keep an offing
as,e the Coast. He, perhaps, wished for some stronger
tuldtranee of a fair meeting. lam therefore induced to
whatelis You more particularly, and to assure you, that
write I pledge my honour to perform.
side The Shannon mounts 21 guns guns upon her broads
Inai4 5,04 one light boat gun ; 18 pounders upon her
(leek Beek, and 32 pounder carronades on her quarter
soo and forecastle ; is manned with a complement of
be,idluen and boys (a large proportion of the latter),
takens 30 seamen, boys, and passengers, who were
taintit nut of recaptured vessels lately. I am thus
110atoe, because a report has prevailed in some of the
at from Papers, that we had 150 men additional lent
Lao La Hogue, which really never was the case.
1 Rill is now gone to Halifax for provisions ; and
ins wit all other ships beyond the power
of interfer-
to youth us, and meet you wherever it is most agreeable
vosspswthin the limits of the undermentioned rendez-
from ~ 11.
Brut 112 6 to 10 leagues east of Cape Cod lighthouse ;
Cashe...u, 10 leagues east of Cape Ann's light ; on
dist,te: Ledge, in latitude 43 north ; at any bearing and
ttleketie
or MI please to fix off the south breakers of Nan-
-11 the shoal on St. George's Bank.
isle you will favour me with any plan of signals or
raisj4,Ptla. warnl will
you (if sail nt,pro-
Where
under this
lneulfl anyofmy friends be etoo nigh, or any
Or w ,Ilght until I can detach them out of my way ;
Place ~°4ld sail with you under a flag of truce to any
en 'ct think safest from our cruisers, hauling it down
t
4i
You ° begin hostilities.
highly ath.ll.lBtl Sir, be aware that my proposals are
!ea *ntageotis to you, as you cannot proceed to
being CrYoistitletdheLChesapeake,.without imminent risk of
-senbn oplretref4tlyuy the superior force of the numerous
Your quadrons which are now abroad ; where all
,atit, n ease of a rencontre, would, however gal-
*4,
oef, tmhat hopeless. I entreat you, Sir, not to
am urged by mere personal vanity to the
only
umeeting the Chesapeake ; or that I depend
this i P9ll Your personal ambition for your acceding to
feel
it • s
eet it as a • :fe Lave both nobler motives. You will
fieetiug
macyuTePlitlent if I say, that the result of our
`ernY countr- • the most grateful service can n
"sat of a_ and I doubt not that you, equally co -
tektite_ rest!, will feel convinced, that it is only by
can no °I triumphs in even combats, that your little navy
that w h°Pe to console your country for the loss or
-- %rade it
can no longer protect. Favour me with a
add
etaeattnoty We are short of provisions and water,
y long here.
"I have the honour to be, Sir,
" Your obedient humble servant,
N tSlgued)
" P. B. V. BROKE.
toast, itr-For. the general service of watching your
pony: t reqUlStte for me to keep another ship in com-
151oY ° supply me with her guns, and boats whem em-
b either ed near the land, and particularly to aid each other,
aia_ ship in chase should
get on shore. You must
Nil,
e ware
that I cannot, consistently w;th my duty, dst,tel:in° great an advantage for this general service, by
Part of meeting Consort, without an assurance on your
seek net "'lug me directly ; and that you will neither
leis if admit aid from any other of your armed yes-
tog Clect,?ch mine expressly for the purpose of meet-
thus Should any special order restrain you from
rue by L'ermg a formal challenge, you may yet oblige
place'seeping my proposal secret, and appointing any
on)You may . ..
in ay ike to meet us (within 800 miles of Bos-
YOO
egtVell number of days after you sail ; as unless
)64. Pciu to an interview, I may be busied on other seta
You go to Perhaps, be at a distance from Boston when
Thi,sea• Choose your terms, but let us meet."
char letter letter was confided to Mr. Slocum, a (lis-
ta, fitteleprisoner, who immediately departed in a boat
With eblehead. At the same time, the Shannon,
and tLes'laUrs flying, stood in close to the light-house,
atteh:_r_ r,e hove to. The Chesapeake was now seen at
ur in President Roads, with royal yards across,
'••••4151&ently reedy for sea. She soon after loosed