The Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey
Robert Southey to C. W. W. Wynn, 5 May 1798
“Bristol, May 5. 1798.
“My dear Wynn,
“. . . . . You have seen my brother in the Gazette I suppose; mentioned
honourably, and in the wounded list. His wounds are slight, but his escape has
been wonderful. The boatswain came to know if they should board the enemy
forwards, and was told, by all means. Tom took a pike, and ran forwards. He found them in great
confusion, and, as he thought, only wanting a leader; he asked if they would
follow him, and one poor fellow answered ‘Aye.’ On this
Tom got into the French ship, followed, as he thought,
by the rest, but, in fact, only by this man. Just as he had made good his
footing, he received two thrusts with a pike in his right thigh, and fell. They
made a third thrust as he fell, which glanced from his shoulder-blade, and took
a small piece of flesh out of his back. He fell between the two ships, and this
saved his life, for he caught a rope, and regained the deck of the Mars.* . . . . I do not know whether it would be prudent
in Tom to accompany Lord Proby to Lisbon, as Lord Brid-
* This was in the engagement between the Mars and L’Hercule. |
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| 332 | LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE | Ætat. 23. |
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port has sent him word
that he would not forget him when he has served his time, and offered him a
berth on board his own ship. He will use his own judgment, and probably, I
think, follow the fortunes of Butterfield, the first lieutenant. When I saw him so noticed by
Butterfield, I felt, as he says of himself during the
engagement, ‘something that I never felt before.’ I felt
more proud of my brother when he received ten pounds prize-money and sent his
mother half: and yet it gave me something like exultation that he would now be
respected by his acquaintance, though not for his best virtues. He is an
excellent young man, and, moreover, a good seaman. God bless him, and you also.
Yours affectionately,
R. Southey.”
William Butterfield (1766-1842)
The son of Edward Butterfield, he was a naval officer who gained the rank of captain in
1802.
Alexander Hood, viscount Bridport (1726-1814)
The the brother of Admiral Samuel Hood, he was an MP, naval officer, and he was commander
of the Channel Fleet (1795-1800).
Lord William Allen Proby (1779-1804)
The son of John Joshua Proby, first Earl of Carysfort; educated at Rugby, he was a naval
captain (1798) and Whig MP for Buckingham (1802-04); he died from yellow fever in
Surinam.
Thomas Southey (1777-1838)
The younger brother of Robert Southey; he was a naval captain (1811) and afterwards a
Customs officer. He published
A Chronological History of the West
Indies (1828).
The London Gazette. (1665-). The official organ of the British government, published twice weekly.
