The Life of Thomas, Lord Cochrane | Page 7

own
interests, from boldly denouncing. He stood for Honiton in 1805, and
was defeated through his refusal to vie with his opponent in the art of
bribery. He contrived, however, to profit by corruption while he
punished it. As soon as the election was over, he gave ten guineas to
each of the constituents who had freely voted for him. The consequence
of this was his triumphant return at the new election, which took place
in July, 1806. When his supporters asked for like payment to that made
in the previous instance, it was bluntly refused. "The former gift," said
Lord Cochrane, "was for your disinterested conduct in not taking the
bribe of five pounds from the agents of my opponent. For me now to
pay you would be a violation of my principles."
A short cruise in the Basque Roads prevented Lord Cochrane from
occupying in the House of Commons the seat thus won, and in April,
1807, very soon after his return, Parliament was again dissolved. He
then resolved to stand for Westminster, with Sir Francis Burdett for his
associate. Both were returned, and Lord Cochrane held his seat for

eleven years. In 1807, however, he had only time to bring forward two
motions respecting sinecures and naval abuses, which issued in violent
but unproductive discussion, when he received orders to join the fleet
in the Mediterranean as captain of the _Imperiéuse_. Naval
employment was grudgingly accorded to him; but it was thought wiser
to give him work abroad than to suffer under his free speech at home.
This employment was marked by many brilliant deeds, which procured
for him, on his surrendering his command of the _Imperiéuse_ after
eighteen months' duration, the reproach of having spent more sails,
stores, gunpowder, and shot than had been used by any other captain in
the service.
The most brilliant deed of all, one of the most brilliant deeds in the
whole naval history of England, was his well-known exploit in the
Basque Roads on the 11th, 12th, and 13th of April, 1809. Much against
his will, he was persuaded by Lord Mulgrave, at that time First Lord of
the Admiralty, to bear the responsibility of attacking and attempting to
destroy the French squadron by means of fireships and
explosion-vessels. The project was opposed by Lord Gambier, the
Admiral of the Fleet, as being at once "hazardous, if not desperate," and
"a horrible and anti-Christian mode of warfare;" and consequently he
gave no hearty co-operation. On Lord Cochrane devolved the whole
duty of preparing for and executing the project. His own words will
best tell the story.
"On the 11th of April," he said, "it blew hard, with a high sea. As all
preparations were complete, I did not consider the state of the weather a
justifiable impediment to the attack; so that, after nightfall, the officers
who volunteered to command the fireships were assembled on board
the Caledonia, and supplied with instructions according to the plan
previously laid down by myself. The _Impérieuse_ had proceeded to
the edge of the Boyart Shoal, close to which she anchored with an
explosion-vessel made fast to her stern, it being my intention, after
firing the one of which I was about to take charge, to return to her for
the other, to be employed as circumstances might require. At a short
distance from the _Impérieuse_ were anchored the frigates Aigle,

Unicorn, and Pallas, for the purpose of receiving the crews of the
fireships on their return, as well as to support the boats of the fleet
assembled alongside the _Cæsar_, to assist the fireships. The boats of
the fleet were not, however, for some reason or other made use of at all.
"Having myself embarked on board the largest explosion-vessel,
accompanied by Lieut. Bissel and a volunteer crew of four men only,
we led the way to the attack. The night was dark, and, as the wind was
fair, though blowing hard, we soon neared the estimated position of the
advanced French ships, for it was too dark to discern them. Judging our
distance, therefore, as well as we could, with regard to the time the fuse
was calculated to burn, the crew of four men entered the gig, under the
direction of Lieut. Bissel, whilst I kindled the portfires, and then,
descending into the boat, urged the men to pull for their lives, which
they did with a will, though, as wind and sea were strong against us,
without making the expected progress.
"To our consternation, the fuses, which had been constructed to burn
fifteen minutes, lasted little more than half that time, when the vessel
blew up, filling the air with shells, grenades, and rockets; whilst the
downward and lateral force of the explosion raised a solitary mountain
of water, from the breaking