The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1860-06-06
CAP TAIN RIMsH IA w
A Cruise in Halifax.


manners, his oddities and eccentricities, as 70
his nautical skill and daring intreFidity. Grim
shaw was one of the very few officers of higl
rank who commenced his career by creepiut
through the hawse hole. He learned his nava
seamenShip when topman on board frigate
he was wont to swing his hammock on the gur
deck, and acquired his skill at the oar by pull
ing for long cruise the bow oar OF the firs
cutter.
Grimshap was impressed while yet an ap
prentice on board the Dover Castle, regular
trader to the Barbados, He was taken out by
an unscrupulous commander of an armed ship
who was short oil men, and who considered his
own authority supported by the laundering
voices Of twenty loud guns, as overriding all
just and equitable laws for the protection o
apprentices on the high seas. He was after
wards transferred from the Mandrake soop. o
war to the Diamond Grigate, and while yet a
youth and in humble station, bore manly
part in the bold operations conducted by Sir
Sidney Smith, on the French coast during the
''regn of terror" when the war between En-
gland and France was carried on with intense
obstinacy and fury.
In the bold undertaking planned and execu-
ted by Sir Sidney to destroy squadron Of ves-
sells belonging to the enemy in the harbor OF
Herqui, although anchored under heavy batter
les, and approachable only through torturous
and dangerous channels, Grimshap displayed
remarkable intrepidity. He was thu first OF
the boats crew, under command Lieutenant
Pine, who landed to attack the batteries in front
leading tho way up precipice, which was con.
sidered inaccessible, while a body of French
troops were stationed near the beach IN the
rear Of the battery, supposed to be the only ac
cessible point The British sailors suddenly
appeared on the platform among the artillerists
to the great astonshment Of the Frenchmen
who had been bravely firing twenty four pound
shot over their heads at the frigate, little dream
ing of the drama which was be ing enacted un
der their very noses. Grmshsw cut down three
of the Frenchnen with his own hand, and be-
ing followed py band Of grim looking tars,
the enemy evacuated the fort the guns Of which
were spiked aud throwa down the precipice,
before the body of infantry posted in the rear
could gain Intelligence Of the whereabouts of
the English tsrs.
For his intrepidity in this action and his
manly bearing On other occasions, Grimshaw
gained the favor of his galla' t commander, one
OF the most bold and chvalrous and truly pa
trotic spirits whose names are borne on the
Dong list Of the naval heroes of Great Britain.
tde received commission in spite Of the obsta-
cles interposed to such proceedings in the shape
of the red tape and routine, and his subsequent
career durug the war with the natural "enemy
of the English and also during the war be-
tween England and the United Sta es, not on
ly justified Sir Sidney Smith in making exer-
tions in his behalf, but entitled him to the sue
cessive steps Of promotion which he received
from the hanls Of the Admiralty.
Grimshaw was not only deeply vcrsed in nau-
tical lore, but having early acquired the tastes
and habits Of the sailor or the man OF wars
man, they stuck to him through lie, notwith
standing the rank which he deservedly attained.
He loved grog; he loved tobacco; he courted by
stealth the society Of the course and unretined.
He was addicted to a language of a type terri
bly, profane, and he dearly loved cruise among
the sailors boarding houses and grog shops on
shore!
These were singular tastes for Post Captain
O: an Admiral. But while Grimshaw was rid.
iculed or avoided by his brother officers Of the
r., II l.
preciated by his country, and he was well un,
derstood by the sailors under his commando
Notwithstanding his severity as a disciplinarian
he characteristics alluded to- and his reputation
as decidedly fighting man, who loved hard
knocks better than eating or drinking, made
him one Of the most popular officers of the ma.
Wy.
During the war between Great Britain and
this country, Captain Grimshap, who then com
manded the Artaxerxes line OF batte-ship on
the West India station, being short of men,
owing to the prizes he had manned and the
ravages Of yellow fever among his crew, pro-
ceeded to Halifax to fill up the vacancies in his
ships company, and refresh and brighten up his
men after long sojourn in a tropical climate
Captain Grimshaw having been impressed
into the navy at the outset Of his career, cher
;shed no very delicate scrupes against impress
ing others whenever an opportunity offered
"Indeed" he often asked with overpowering
emphasis, show otherwise can we man the
wooden walls of Old England?' On his arri
val at Halifax ne addressed note to the prop
or authorities for supply of men, representing
the great and irreparable injury which might
occur to the public service if he should be COM
PEELED to leave the port with hr' complement
seamen incomplete. The consequence was that
instructions were issued forthwith to the com
mandOr Of press gangs to press every man who
oild be found in the streets Of Halifax, wear.
ing blue jacket, in his majesty's service.
On the evening of his arrival Captain Grim
shaw received pressing invitation from the
Governor Of Nova Scotia 10 pass the evening
at the government mansion, where some i'm
portant event was to be celebrated by ball, at
which it was expected al the beauty and fash
ion in Halifax would be present. But the grim
commander Of the Artaxerxes, who held all the
balls but cannon balls in utter contempt, and
was familiar with no other fancy dance than the
double shuttle, which he could execute with ad
mirable skill, excused himself on the ground
that he had important official business to trans
act that ayening which would admit no DELAY