The Life of Thomas, Lord Cochrane | Page 6

his
lordship derived his title there was only one man killed on board his
own flagship." That was language too plain to be forgiven.
In July, 1801, the Speedy was captured by three French line-of-battle
ships, whose senior in command, Captain Pallière, declined to accept
the sword of an officer "who had," as he said, "for so many hours
struggled against impossibility," and asked Lord Cochrane, though a
prisoner, still to wear it. He, however, was refused employment as
commander of another ship. Thereupon, with characteristic energy, he
devoted his forced leisure from professional pursuits to a year of
student life at Edinburgh, where, in 1802, Lord Palmerston was his
class-fellow under Professor Dugald Stewart.
This occupation, however, was disturbed by the renewal of war with
France in 1803. Lord Cochrane, though with difficulty, then obtained
permission to return to active service, the Arab, one of the craziest little
ships in the navy, being assigned to him. On his representing that she

was too rotten for use off the French coast, he was ordered to employ
her in cruising in the North Sea and protecting the fisheries north-east
of the Orkneys, "where," as he said, "no vessel fished, and
consequently there were no fisheries to protect." This ignominious
work lasted for a year. It was brought to a close in December, 1804,
soon after the appointment of Lord Melville, in succession to Earl St.
Vincent, as First Lord of the Admiralty.
By him Lord Cochrane was transferred from the Arab to the Pallas, a
new and smart frigate of thirty-two guns, and allowed to use her in a
famous cruise of prize-taking among the Azores and off the coast of
Portugal. This was followed in 1806 by farther work in the same frigate,
the closing portion of which was especially memorable. Being off the
Basque Roads at the end of April he fixed his attention upon a frigate,
the Minerve, and three brigs, forming an important part of the French
squadron in the Mediterranean. After three weeks' waiting, on the 14th
of May, he saw the frigate and the brigs approaching him, and promptly
prepared to attack them. He was not deterred by knowing that the
Minerve alone, carrying forty guns, was far stronger than the Pallas,
which had also to withstand the force of the three brigs, each with
sixteen guns, and to be prepared for the fire of the batteries on the Isle
d'Aix. "This morning, when close to Isle d'Aix, reconnoitring the
French squadron," he wrote concisely to his admiral, "it gave me great
joy to find our late opponent, the black frigate, and her companions, the
three brigs, getting under sail. We formed high expectations that the
long wished-for opportunity was at last arrived. The Pallas remained
under topsails by the wind to await them. At half-past eleven a smart
point-blank firing commenced on both sides, which was severely felt
by the enemy. The main topsail-yard of one of the brigs was cut
through, and the frigate lost her after-sails. The batteries on I'lsle d'Aix
opened on the Pallas, and a cannonade continued, interrupted on our
part only by the necessity we were under to make various tacks to avoid
the shoals, till one o'clock, when our endeavour to gain the wind of the
enemy and get between him and the batteries proved successful. An
effectual distance was now chosen. A few broadsides were poured in.
The enemy's fire slackened. I ordered ours to cease, and directed Mr.
Sutherland, the master, to run the frigate on board, with intention

effectually to prevent her retreat. The enemy's side thrust our guns back
into the ports. The whole were then discharged. The effect and crash
were dreadful. Their decks were deserted. Three pistol-shots were the
unequal return. With confidence I say that the frigate would have been
lost to France, had not the unequal collision torn away our fore-topmast,
jib-boom, fore and maintop-sails, spritsail-yards, bumpkin, cathead,
chainplates, fore-rigging, foresail, and bower anchor, with which last I
intended to hook on; but all proved insufficient. She would yet have
been lost to France, had not the French admiral, seeing his frigate's
foreyard gone, her rigging ruined, and the danger she was in, sent two
others to her assistance. The Pallas being a wreck, we came out with
what sail could be set, and his Majesty's sloop the Kingfisher
afterwards took us in tow." The exploit was none the less valiant in that
it was partly a failure.
The waiting-times before and after that cruise were occupied by Lord
Cochrane with brief commencement of parliamentary life. Long before
this time Lord Cochrane had resolved on entering the House of
Commons, in order to expose the naval abuses which were then rife,
and which he had never been deterred, by consideration of his