James Ussher

“ James had returned to Oxford possibly by 1620, certainly before 28 Jan. 1623, when Thomas James wrote to Archbishop Ussher that his nephew was engaged on a life of Thomas Becket. In the latter part of 1624 Richard James was employed with Selden in the examination of the Earl of Arundel's marbles, and when Selden published his 'Marmora Arundeliana' in 1628 he acknowledged in his preface the assistance which he had received from James, 'multijugae doctrinae studiique indefatigabilis vir.' Previously to this James had been introduced to Sir Robert Bruce Cotton [q. v.] ”

“ You, and your indefatigable companion. Captain Raitt, of the Scout [20] , have done infinite service by the annoyance you have given to the enemy’s privateers, &c. I return you the letters, and am, Sir, with great esteem, your faithful humble servant,
(Signed) ⁠“Collingwood.” On his return from the Balearic islands, Captain Ussher resumed his station in the Gut of Gibraltar, where we find him continually engaged in pursuit of the enemy’s gun-boats and privateers for a period of nine months, during which he also was often under the fire of some of their numerous batteries. ”

“ We very much regret that it is not in our power to place upon record the name of so magnanimous a fellow; that of his vessel was le Moulin à Café: his crew consisted of 83 men.
Lieutenant Ussher was obliged to use crutches for several months after his return to the Pelican; and his wound had not healed when he volunteered to attack another privateer schooner, lying in Artibonite river, at the west end of St. Domingo [9] . This enterprise was undertaken in Jan. 1799. The force intended to be employed consisted of 50 men, placed on board a detained merchant schooner ”

“ During the time that Captain Ussher commanded the Redwing, he was principally employed protecting our trade from the depredations of the Spanish gun-boats and privateers in the vicinity of Gibraltar, on which station he gave many additional proofs of his skill and intrepidity.
In Mar. 1807, Captain Ussher joined Lord Collingwood off Cadiz, and was ordered by him to convoy a fleet of merchantmen through the Straits. When passing Tariffa, the enemy’s flotilla came out ”

“ Captain Ussher was next employed as senior officer of the squadron left by Sir Edward Pellew to watch the enemy’s fleet at Toulon, during the severe winter of 1813; and it is scarcely necessary to add, that that important trust could not have been confided to a more zealous and vigilant oflicer [39] .
During the night of April 21st, 1814, being then a few leagues to the southward of Marseilles, with the Euryalus frigate in company, Captain Ussher perceived an extraordinary light in the direction of and over that town. ”

“ Contrary to the advice of his physicians, Lieutenant Ussher again solicited employment, in June 1801, and was immediately appointed to the Nox cutter; in which vessel he appears to have been employed attending upon the royal family during their usual visit to Weymouth; but although flattered with a promise of speedy advancement at that period, he had the mortification to be passed over when a very extensive promotion took place, in April 1802. His subsequent appointments were, Oct. 1803, to the Joseph cutter; and April 1804, to the Colpoys brig ”

“ I beg you will be pleased to inform the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that when I rejoined the Pelican, Lieutenant Ussher did his duty on board, although his wound was open and very troublesome; and I afterwards sent him on a similar service (to that on which he received his wound) in the boats of the Pelican, in the bight of Leogone, when he shewed his usual gallantry, and destroyed the French privateer. – I therefore beg leave to recommend his case to their Lordships, as that of a brave and deserving officer. I have the honor to be. ”

“ Previous to the debarkation at Cassis, a general order was issued, directing that if any man was seen to enter a house, under whatever pretence, he was instantly to be shot. Whilst Sir John Sinclair was employed getting the vessels out of the mole, Captain Ussher landed in company with Captain Spencer, and had the satisfaction to find that his wishes were most implicitly complied with, not an article of private property being touched, not any of the houses entered, and not a single peaceable inhabitant molested. ”

“ The Espoir brig was then in company with the Undaunted, and her commander, the Hon. Robert Cavendish Spencer, having suggested the possibility of carrying the enemy’s works by a coup-de-main, Captain Ussher left him to blockade the vessels, whilst he proceeded off Cape Sicie, to communicate with Sir Edward Pellew, by whom the Redwing (Captain Sir John Gordon Sinclair) , 200 marines, and a detachment of boats, belonging to the Caledonia, Hibernia, Barfleur, and Prince of Wales, were immediately placed at his disposal ”

“ I know that you were put to considerable expence, and much greater trouble; and I was glad to hear you contradict a report very prevalent on my landing, that Buonaparte had made you great returns in wines and other articles of value. I am very ready to give my sentiments to their lordships if desired, or you are at liberty to make use of those I send you. Your merit as an officer stands highly distinguished; but no where can it be more highly valued and respected than by, my dear Ussher, your very faithfully attached, and most sincere friend,
(Signed) ⁠“Exmouth.” ”

“ Thinking it probable that the Pelican, on hearing the report of the schooner’s guns, would either run into the river or send him a reinforcement, Lieutenant Ussher still continued the unequal contest; the eagerness of the enemy to keep people aloft, from whence they could look over the land and watch her motions, confirmed him in that opinion, and kept alive his hopes of final success. ”

“ About 2 A.M. the schooner was perceived lying under the muzzles of the guns in the largest battery; and her crew being all asleep on the quarter-deck, she was soon afterwards silently boarded on the bow, from whence Lieutenant Ussher and his men walked aft without their shoes, and kneeling down with the points of their swords against the breasts of the Spaniards, threatened them with instant death if they gave the least alarm. ”

“ To contend against such a superior force in broad day-light would have been madness; to carry off the prize without fighting was totally impossible, there being no wind, and the Trent’s fine fellows having scarcely strength enough left to keep the tow-rope taut. Captain Otway therefore recommended Lieutenant Ussher, who had taken charge of the ship, to place double centinels over the prisoners, to point two of the guns (Spanish 12-pounders) , treble-shotted, down the main-hatchway, and upon the arrival of the flotilla within grape-range to fire them through her bottom. ”

“ The castle was keeping up a furious cannonade upon the boats and prizes, which were likewise exposed to a tremendous fire of musketry from the mole-wall, at only a few yards distance: this latter annoyance was answered in the most spirited manner by the gun-boat, until the fall of Captain Lilburne, who received a mortal wound at the moment that Captain Ussher resumed the command afloat. To add to this misfortune, the heavy firing on both sides caused the wind to die totally away ”

“ Captain Ussher (then sojourning at the hotel de Ville) immediately waited upon Colonel Campbell, and found that he was required to assist in conveying Napoleon Buonaparte from the shores of France to Elba. He accordingly left the Euryalus a, Marseilles, and proceeded himself to Frejus, the appointed place of embarkation, where he arrived and was introduced to the fallen chief, on the 23d April.
“While preparing to embark,” says Captain Brenton [40] , “the Dryad, a French frigate, arrived. Captain Moncabret waited on Napoleon, supposing the Emperor would prefer his ship for the voyage ”

“ The survivors had the good fortune to be picked up by the Pelican, at ten o’clock that night.
On the following day, the Pelican chased a French privateer schooner, mounting 7 guns, into the river Augusta, near Cumberland harbour. Lieutenant Ussher instantly volunteered to attack her; but his commander [8] , wishing first to reconnoitre the enemy’s position, sent only two boats, containing 19 men, for the latter purpose. ”

“ Speaking of the affair at Port Nouvelle, Captain Ussher says:
“I should be wanting in duty, if I did not express my high sense of the discretion and gallant conduct of the officers and men of the Undaunted, who, in the short time she has been under my command, have taken or destroyed, principally in the boats, seventy of the enemy’s vessels, and with comparatively a very small loss. It affords me very great pleasure to state, that only one man was wounded on this occasion.” ”

“ Captain Ussher wore round, hauled down the flag of truce and the Bourbon standard, and was in the act of making sail to rejoin his consort, when a second gun was fired. This insulting conduct he felt himself justified in punishing. The Undaunted accordingly tacked, stood in within point-blank range, discharged her broadside, and soon obliged the Frenchmen to desert their guns. Captain Ussher then proceeded towards the next battery, and was about to open his fire when he observed a flag of truce coming out of the harbour. ”

“ Hea is situated in a deep ravine, and the river leading to it is so narrow that two boats cannot row up abreast. Lieutenant Ussher endeavoured to effect a landing before he arrived at the battery in front of the town, but found it impossible to mount the rocks, which were inaccessible at both sides. Himself and the boatswain of the Colpoys were the two first that sprang through the embrasures ”

“ Lieutenant Ussher and his men retreated into the barge; the Spaniards left their place of confinement, mounted the rigging, and shewed by their signals and gestures the sinking state of the ship, thereby drawing off the attention of the headmost gun-boats, which had already commenced firing grape at the British, who were thus enabled to effect their escape without further annoyance, although they did not fall in with the Trent for many hours afterwards. ”

“ Next day (May 3, 1813) , the Undaunted chased a ship into the bay of Marseilles; and Captain Ussher having information that she was valuably laden for the Musée Napoléon, took advantage of a fine breeze, pursued her past the batteries which protected the anchorage, and was only prevented from capturing her by a sudden shift of wind which enabled her to reach the harbour. ”

“ Much as you and I esteem each other, my dear Urquhart, if there's walking to be done—serious walking, I think we shall be better three than two. I don't at all agree that three is no company. Where men are concerned I think it better than two or four. If only to give a knee, or hold the sponge! And with more than four you become a horde. We want a man now."
"I think so too," Urquhart said. "Well, who's your candidate?"
James meditated, or appeared to meditate. "Well," he said, looking up and fixing Urquhart with his eyeglass, "what do you say to Francis Lingen? ”

“ The enemy appeared desirous of trying their strength with the Redwing, and he immediately made all sail to close with them, and to cut off their retreat to leeward. the wind being very light and variable, he did not get within point-blank shot before seven o’clock, at which time they opened their fire, handed their sails, formed a line abreast, and swept towards the Redwing, displaying more than their usual confidence, and indicating an intention to board. That the enemy had good reason to hope for success is proved by Captain Ussher’s description of their force, viz. ”

“ The assistance which he acknowledges having received from Lieutenant Ussher “in reconnoitring the enemy’s fleet,” was greater than his letter of Nov. 3, 1804, seems to imply; the zealous commander of the Colpoys having actually entered Brest harbour in a 4-oared gig, rowed along the whole French line, consisting of twenty-one sail, and thereby obtained a knowledge of the enemy’s exact force. ”

“ Hist. Vol. II. pp.435–437. ↑ See Vol. I. Part II. p. 697. ↑ Two of the prizes were laden with flax and steel, and each of them mounted two guns: the third was in ballast. ↑ The Haughty was commanded by Lieutenant John Mitchell. ↑ Those of the Malta 80, Niger frigate, and Eclair brig; also a gun-boat, manned by the former ship. ↑ Captain Ussher had previously been recalled by the senior officer; but he did not obey the signal until the gun-boats got under the batteries, and their prize into Algeziras. ↑ 3 killed, 4 wounded. ↑ 1 killed, 9, including Mr. Sharp, master’s-mate, wounded. ”

“ On landing at Marseilles, Captains Ussher and Napier were received in the most enthusiastic manner by the populace, the air resounding with cries of “Vivent les Anglois!” a circumstance which so provoked Marshal Massena, the commander-in-chief at Toulon, that he sent the governor a severe reprimand, threatened to supersede him if they were not immediately ordered away, and also to march several thousand men against the inhabitants in case of their evincing a spirit of insubordination. ”

“ His vigilance and energy in quest of intelligence repeatedly obtained the admiral's approval. Later on the Colpoys was employed in the Bay of Biscay and on the north coast of Spain, till on 18 Oct. 1806 Ussher was promoted to the rank of commander and appointed to the Redwing sloop, in which he was chiefly employed in protecting the trade against the Spanish gunboats and privateers near Gibraltar. ”