The Life of Thomas, Lord Cochrane | Page 2

been made as concise as possible. Only the most memorable circumstances have been dwelt upon, and the details introduced have been drawn to some extent from documents not included in the volumes referred to.
There was no reason for abridgment in treating of my father's connection with Greece. In the service of that country he was less able to achieve beneficial results than in Chili and Brazil; but as, on that ground, he has been frequently traduced by critics and historians, it seemed especially important to show how his successes were greater than these critics and historians have represented, and how his failures sprang from the faults of others and from misfortunes by which he was the chief sufferer. The documents left by him, moreover, afford abundant material for illustrating an eventful period in modern history. The chapters referring to Greece and Greek affairs, accordingly, enter with especial fullness into the circumstances of Lord Dundonald's life at this time, and his connection with contemporary politics.
Eight other chapters recount all that was of most public interest in the thirty years of my father's life after his return from Greece. Except during a brief period of active service in his profession, when he had command of the British squadron in North American and West Indian waters, those thirty years were chiefly spent in efforts--by scientific research, by mechanical experiment, and by persevering argument--to increase the naval power of his country, and in efforts no less zealous to secure for himself that full reversal of the wrongful sentence passed upon him in a former generation, which could only be attained by public restitution of the official rank and national honours of which he had been deprived.
This restitution was begun by his Majesty King William IV., and completed by our present most gracious Queen and the Prince Consort. By the kindnesses which he received from these illustrious persons, my father's later years were cheered; and I can never cease to be profoundly grateful to my Sovereign, and her revered husband, for the personal interest with which they listened to my prayer immediately after his death. Through their gracious influence, the same banner of the Bath that had been taken from him nearly fifty years before, was restored to its place in Westminster Abbey, and allowed to float over his remains at their time of burial. Thus the last stain upon my father's memory was wiped out.
DUNDONALD. London, May 24th, 1869.
CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME.
* * * * *

CHAPTER I.
[1775-1814.]
Introduction.--Lord Cochrane's Ancestry.--His First Occupations in the Navy.--His Cruise in the Speedy and Capture of the Gamo.--His Exploits in the Pallas.--The beginning of his Parliamentary Life.--His two Elections as Member for Honiton.--His Election for Westminster.--Further Seamanship.--The Basque Roads Affair.--The Court-Martial on Lord Gambier, and its injurious effects on Lord Cochrane's Naval Career.--His Parliamentary Occupations.--His Visit to Malta and its Issues.--The Antecedents and Consequences of the Stock Exchange Trial - 1

CHAPTER II.
[1814.]
The Issue of the Stock Exchange Trial.--Lord Cochrane's Committal to the King's Bench Prison.--The Debate upon his Case in the House of Commons, and his Speech on that Occasion.--His Expulsion from the House, and Re-election as Member for Westminster.--The Withdrawal of his Sentence to the Pillory.--The Removal of his Insignia as a Knight of the Bath - 35

CHAPTER III.
[1814-1815.]
Lord Cochrane's Bearing in the King's Bench Prison.--His Street Lamps.--His Escape, and the Motives for it.--His Capture in the House of Commons, and subsequent Treatment.--His Confinement in the Strong Room of the King's Bench Prison.--His Release - 48

CHAPTER IV.
[1815-1816.]
Lord Cochrane's Return to the House of Commons.--His Share in the Refusal of the Duke of Cumberland's Marriage Pension.--His Charges against Lord Ellenborough, and their Rejection by the House.--His Popularity.--The Part taken by him in Public Meetings for the Relief of the People.--The London Tavern Meeting.--His further Prosecution, Trial at Guildford, and subsequent Imprisonment.--The Payment of his Fines by a Penny Subscription.--The Congratulations of his Westminster Constituents - 74

CHAPTER V.
[1817-1818.]
The State of Politics in England in 1817 and 1818, and Lord Cochrane's Share in them.--His Work as a Radical in and out of Parliament.--His futile Efforts to obtain the Prize Money due for his Services at Basque Roads.--The Holly Hill Siege.--The Preparations for his Enterprise in South America.--His last Speech in Parliament - 109

CHAPTER VI.
[1810-1817.]
The Antecedents of Lord Cochrane's Employments in South America.--The War of Independence in the Spanish Colonies.--Mexico.--Venezuela.--Colombia.--Chili.--The first Chilian Insurrection.--The Carreras and O'Higgins.--The Battle of Rancagua.--O'Higgins's Successes.--The Establishment of the Chilian Republic.--Lord Cochrane invited to enter the Chilian Service - 137

CHAPTER VII.
[1818-1820.]
Lord Cochrane's Voyage to Chili.--His Reception at Valparaiso and Santiago.--The Disorganization of the Chilian Fleet.--First Signs of Disaffection.--The Naval Forces of the Chilians and the Spaniards.--Lord Cochrane's first Expedition to Peru.--His Attack on Callao.--"Drake the Dragon" and "Cochrane the Devil."--Lord Cochrane's Successes in Overawing the Spaniards, in Treasure-taking, and in Encouragement of the Peruvians to join in