stantly, and a large portion of the channel fleet occasionally before their eyes, but are enabled, by a knowledge of mathematics in all its branches, to take an altitude and keep a ship's reckoning before they enter into actual service. It is to be lamented greatly indeed, that primary schools for this, which may be deemed a national pursuit, are not formed at all our sea ports. Every possible facility should be presented to the student, and every object that comes under his inspection should be taught to assume the appearance of real life. It is only on, or in the immediate vicinity of the ocean, that seamanship can be learned; and we have often beheld with indignation fresh-water sailors pretending to teach boys to steer, hand, and reef, on board a miserable barge moored in a back garden, and made to turn round on an axis ! When he was sixteen years of age, young Pole was sent to sea as a midshipman, with Captain, afterwards Admiral, Sir Edward Vernon, whom he accompanied tot he East Indies. While there, in the capacity of a licutenant, to which he was promoted on that station, he witnessed, and was engaged in several of the severe but indecisive actions fought between the Bailli de Suffrein on one side, and Admiral Sir Edward Hughes on the other. Happening to be on board of one of the men of war employed at the siege of Pondicherry, Lieutenant Pole was entrusted with the command of a body of scamen, who were landed on purpose to assist in the operations against the capital of the French settlements on the continent of Asia; and having soon after received the rank of master master and commander, he was sent home in the Cormorant sloop of war, with the Admiral's dispatches, containing an account of the surrender of the important fortress alluded to above. This was a high compliment to Captain Pole, who, as the bearer of such joyful intelligence, became entitled to the usual present of a purse containing five hundred guineas, and what proved, doubtless, far more valuable in his eyes, he had a clain, according to the usage of the service, to future patronage and promotion. Nor were these wanting; for in the spring of 1779 he obtained the envied rank of Post-Captain, without which a young officer may become greyheaded at the top of the commanders, and never have the most distant expectation of a flag. The subject of this memoir now began to be considered a man of talents and enterprize. As a convincing proof of this, it is only necessary to observe, that on the promotion of Rear-admiral Darby of the white to the rank of rear-admiral of the blue, with the post of second in command in the channel fleet, then under the orders of the late Sir Charles Hardy, he selected him for his captain. Towards the latter end of the American war we find Captain Pole on board a fine but small vessel, called the Success, of thirty-two guns, and two hundred and twenty men; in which, while convoying a store-ship to Gibraltar, he engaged and took the largest frigate in the service of Spain, called the Santa Catalina, commanded by Don Miguel Jacon, mounting thirty-four guns and about three hun dred dred men.* In this action much bravery and seamanship were evidently displayed; and what renderd *Copy of a Letter from Captain Pole, of his Majesty's ship the Success, of thirty-two guns, and two hundred and twenty men, to Philip Stephens, Esq. Secretary to the Admiralty. " SIR, Spithead, March 30, 1782. "I have the honour to desire you will inform my Lords Com missioners of the Admiralty, that on the 16th instant, at day. light, in lat. 35, 40 N. Cape Spartel bearing E. N. E. eighteen leagues, the wind at S. W. standing for the Gut with the Vernon store-ship, we discovered a sail right a-head, close hauled on the larboard tack. As soon as I could discover her hull from the masthead, which the haze and lofty poop magnified, I made the Vernon's signal to haul the wind on the starboard tack, and make all sail. "Soon after hauling our wind, the strange sail tacked and gave chace. At half past two P. M., finding the chace gain on the Vernon, I shortened sail to let her go a-head, and then brought to, in hopes at least to make him shorten sail, and to divert his attention from the ship under my convoy. We soon after discovered him to be only a large frigate with a poop. At a little after five he hoisted a Spanish ensign, with a broad pendant, and fired a gun; at six, being within random shot, astern of me, I wore and stemmed for his lee-bow, till we had just distance sufficient to weather him, then hauled close athwart his fore-foot, giving him our whole fire within half pistol shot; passed close to windward engaging, while the enemy expecting us to leeward, were firing their lee-guns into the water. The disorder our first fire threw them into they did not recover. We then wore and placed ourselves to great advantage, which our superiority of sailing allowed us to do, supporting without intermission, a most astonishing close and well served fire, at never more than half a cable distance, till the enemy struck, which was about twenty minutes past eight. She proved to be the Santa Catalina, Don Mig. Jacon commander, of thirty-four guns, twenty-six long Spanish twelves on the main-deck, and tight six-pounders on the quarter-deck. The number it still more satisfactory, the victory was achieved with the loss of only one man killed and four wound number of men I have not been able to ascertain. We have on board two hundred and eighty-six prisoners. The captain and of ficers say they have between twenty-five and thirty killed, and only eight wounded. “Don M. Jecon is a captain in the line, hath a distinguishing pendant as such, and is senior officer of the frigates cruising off the Straits; had a very particular description of the Success sent him, whom he was particularly directed to look out for; had been cruising three weeks for us; had seen us four times: chased us twice, with a squadron of four and six sail, from whom he parted two days before. He speaks with much displeasure of the behaviour of his ship's company. "Lieutenant Oakley, whom I had appointed to take charge of the prize, was indefatigable in clearing the wreck. Her mizenmast fell some time before she struck, the main mast a short time after, and her foremast must have shared the same fate, if the water had not been remarkably smooth: in short, without assuming much presumption, I may add our guns did as much execution in the little time as could have been done; her hull was like a sieve, the shot going through both sides. "From this state of the prize, their lordships may imagine my hopes of getting her to port were not very sanguine. While we were endeavouring to secure her foremast, and had just repaired our own damages, which were considerable in our yards, masts, and sails, at day-light of the 18th six sail appeared in sight, two frigates, some of whom had chaced, and were reconnoitring us I instantly ordered the Vernon to make all sail, hoisted all my boats out, and sent on board for Lieutenant Oakley and the seamen, with orders to set fire to the Santa Catalina before he le her. She blew up in a quarter of an hour. "The wind being at S E. I made all sail from the six sail, and determined on proceeding with the Vernon to Madeira, she being now in want of provisions and water. We had two hundred and eighty-six prisoners on board, whose intention to attempt rising we ed. No advantage, however, that arising from the glory achieved only excepted, accrued to the victors, as they were obliged to destroy their prize in conse we had fortunately discovered, encouraged by the superiority of numbers which appeared very striking to them. "The spirited behaviour of every officer, and of the ship's company, is superior to my praise: their real value and merit on this occasion hath shewn itself in much stronger, and more expressive terms than I am master of: but still it becomes a duty incumbent on me to represent then: to their lordships, as deserving their favour and protection: I have particular pleasure in so doing. Licatenant M Kinley (2d) assisted by Mr. James, master, were very assiduous in getting the Success's damages repaired, as well as they could admit. Lieutenant Pownal, of the marines, by the greatest attention and good example, formed a party that would do honour to veteran soldiers, &c. "From the reports given me since, it adds to my satisfaction to know, that had I not been obliged to set fire to the Santa Catalina, she could not have swam, a gale of wind coming on imme. diately after, which obliged us to lay to under a storm stay-sail. She was the largest frigate in the king of Spain's service; her exact dimensions I have received from the captain; they were taken three months since, when she was coppered at Cadiz, &c. Dimensions of the Santa Catalina. My thanks are due to Colonel Gladstone, and the other offi cers, passengers on board the Vernon store-ship, for their atten tion, particularly in assisting to secure the prisoners. "I am, Sir, "Your most obedient humble Servant, "Killed in the Success, I-Wounded, 4." CHARLES M. POLE. quence |