VOYAGES OF THE LATE CAPTAIN PHILIP PIPON, R.N.

FROM THE UNPUBLISHED JOURNAL OF THAT OFFICER.

THE enterprising officer from whose MS. journal we transcribe the principal incidents of a varied career was descended from an ancient and distinguished family in Jersey; his father, the able AttorneyGeneral of the island, entrusted the care of his education to Doctor Valpy, at Reading.

Mr. Pipon commenced his naval career on the 12th of April, 1787, on board the Narcissus, Captain d'Auvergne, (afterwards Duke of Bouillon.) He continued in that ship until 1790, when he joined the Diana, Captain Macnamara Russel, and immediately sailed for the West Indies. Mr. Pipon was indebted to Captain Russel for a peculiar and benevolent attention, which he never spoke of without expressing sentiments of grateful recollection for the kindness of his early friend. Mr. Pipon laboured under the disadvantage of a considerable hesitation of speech, to remedy which, Captain Russel used to enjoin him, constantly, to speak slowly and distinctly; and though he was quite a youth, used to make him manoeuvre the ship under his own eye, in order to remedy the defect, and to inspire him with confidence. This, in a great measure, had the desired effect.

In 1792 and 1793, Mr. Pipon successively joined the Orestes and Aimable frigates, commanded by Sir Harry Burrard, on the Channel and Mediterranean stations, in which ships he remained till 1794. It was in the Aimable that he first saw fire: it is mentioned in his diary with all the characteristic nonchalance of a British sailor, apparently quite unconcerned in the hour of danger.

"The weather is pleasant and fair; our time is chiefly employed in landing guns, in order to reduce a French fort in the Bay of Geralette, in Corsica. We were not long ere we got a 9-pounder on an eminence, and kept a continual fire on the trench, apparently with great effect. Drew a sketch of a cottage, and amused myself in reading the beauties of English prose,-delightful language! Our people are busily employed in battering the French tower; and though the embrasures are mostly destroyed, our firing seems to have little effect on the general pile.'

Three days afterwards the frigate having anchored close to the fort, in conjunction with the Dido, in order to open their broadsides upon it, the commandant surrendered the fort.

Mr. Pipon was actively employed in the attack and surrender of Calvi; during the blockade of which, the Moselle, French frigate, having escaped from the harbour, was captured by the Aimable, and is thus recorded in his diary:-" We perceived her about twelve at night; every person immediately repaired to his station, and we continued in pursuit, with great anxiety and impatience, to bring her to action. About three o'clock, having approached her considerably, we beat to quarters and prepared to engage her. Day-light appearing, we were extremely rejoiced to find ourselves within half-gun shot of the frigate; but it falling calm, prevented the possibility of effecting our intended purpose of immediately bringing her to close action. By perseverance we approached within twenty yards of her, at about eleven A.M.

Speaking French, I was called by Sir Harry Burrard from my quarters to hail her, and desire her to strike her colours. No answer was given ; and on my repeating the orders of Sir Harry a second time, they appeared equally desirous of evading a reply: when we fired a 12-pounder over her, with a repetition to them to strike; when the French captain answered, that, for the honour of the nation, he would fire his broadside and then surrender. We received his fire, and returned it with a tremendous discharge of ours; when the republicans hauled their colours down. She proved to be the Moselle, of 24 guns, and 200 men.

"Four unfortunate Frenchmen were dangerously wounded for this unnecessary, cruel attention to the honour of the republican flag."

On the 10th of August, 1794, the diary states, “ L'Impérieuse, English frigate, sailed into the harbour of Calvi to take possession of two French frigates, La Melpomene and La Mignonne, that fell into our hands by the surrender of the place. General Stewart also marches the troops in to take possession of Calvi this day, and English transports embark the French garrison in order to convey them to Toulon.

"I went on shore, and amused myself in viewing and making observations on the fortifications of Calvi. It is a strong and well-fortified town; the walls and defences are of an immense breadth, thrown up with great military skill; the number of fine brass cannon on the ramparts is incredible. On the gates, as you enter the town, is this inscription, Civitas Calvi, semper fidelis.'

"I could not avoid exhibiting the most lively demonstrations of joy, on walking along the ramparts of a town we were so long blockading, and nearly six months cruizing off in order to reduce it. It certainly is very pleasing to be crowned with success, after having encountered a number of difficulties and hardships."

These were soon to be rewarded by promotion; for in October following, Mr. Pipon states," My good friend, Sir Harry Burrard, agreeably surprised me by telling me he had procured a place for me on board the Victory, and that I was to repair to that ship in the evening, in order to pass my examination. I accordingly went as directed, and got through the task with ease and pleasure. The next day, on joining the Victory, I had the great pleasure to find my commission as lieutenant of the Sincere made out."

Mr. Pipon's sentiments of attachment to, and respect for, Sir Harry Burrard are thus expressed :-" Susceptible of everything that is noble, benevolent, and charitable, Sir Harry, with a person excessively engaging, possesses the virtues and good qualities of the bèst Christian,— a generous heart, and a disposition that gains him the esteem, affection, and admiration of all." Lieutenant Pipon remained in the Sincere till 1795, and was removed successively from the Egmont to the Dido and Blanche, Captain Henry Hotham, in which ship he continued three years.

In 1798, Mr. Pipon was appointed first-lieutenant of the Fisguard, Captain Byam Martin, in whose brilliant and distinguished career he took an active share till 1801, when he was entrusted with the command of the boats of the Fisguard, Diamond, and Boadicea, to cut out a new ship pierced for 20 guns, a gun-boat mounting a long 32-pounder,

together with a merchant vessel, lying in the harbour of Corunna. The vessels were moored under the strong batteries which protect the port, but the determined intrepidity and judgment with which the attack was made rendered the success complete, and insured to Mr. Pipon the rank of commander, through the flattering recommendation of Lord

Cornwallis.

In 1802, Captain Pipon was appointed to the Kite sloop, on the North Sea coast and Channel island stations. While on the former station, he was chiefly instrumental in causing the erection of the Bellrock Light-house, through the intervention of the Earl of Leven.

In 1806, Captain Pipon was placed in command of the Rose sloopof-war, under the orders of Lord Collingwood, by whom he was dispatched with a convoy to Malta, Smyrna, and Constantinople, there to remain for the protection of the British trade between the latter ports, and in confidential communication with Mr. Arbuthnot, the minister at the Porte. At the close of the year, Mr. Arbuthnot sent the Rose to England with important dispatches to government. Captain Pipon was afterwards attached to the Channel fleet, and for some months was acting-captain in the Prince of Wales, bearing the flag of the commander-in-chief, Sir James, now Lord de Saumarez; who, on being appointed commander-in-chief of the Baltic fleet, named the Rose to be one of his fleet; and very soon after appointed Captain Pipon actingcaptain in the Implacable, Captain Martin having been moved to the Victory, as captain of the fleet. This, finally, secured him post rank, and the command of the Daphne frigate, in September, 1808. The Daphne was attached to the Baltic fleet; and during five years of uninterrupted, arduous, and anxious service, as a look-out frigate, in difficult and perilous navigation, Captain Pipon had the satisfaction entirely to win the confidence and esteem of his illustrious commander-in-chief, Lord de Saumarez, through whose favourable recommendation the Lords of the Admiralty were pleased to give him the choice of three frigates which were then on the stocks. Accordingly, in 1813, Captain Pipon fitted out the Tagus, a fine eight-and-thirty gun frigate, and was, in company with the Niger, sent to convoy a fleet of merchantmen to Rio de Janeiro.

On the 5th of January following, whilst hauling in to make the Cape de Verd islands, a French frigate hove in sight, and was immediately given chase to by both frigates. After an arduous chase of twenty-three hours, the Tagus, which had out-sailed the Niger, was enabled to make a close running fight of an hour with the frigate, when she struck, and proved to be the Ceres, of 44 guns, a beautiful ship, one of the twelve frigates sent out by Buonaparte as a last effort to annoy our trade. On the arrival of the Tagus at Rio de Janeiro, Captain Pipon found that he had brought sealed orders instructing Sir Manly Dixon to send the Tagus round Cape Horn, for the protection of the southern whalefishery. It is a singular fact, that Captain Pipon's instructions bore, that water, as well as good anchorage, was to be found in the Gallopagos islands, should he have occasion to refit-whereas no water was to be procured in any of those islands. This circumstance, together with the general mass of valuable and interesting facts and information which are contained in Captain Pipon's private journal, of visits to parts of the world rarely touched at by British men of war; and the

persuasion that they may be useful to those who may be sent on a similar destination, have induced the writer to quote largely from the documents alluded to.

"In passing and repassing Cape Horn, the former time in April, 1814, the latter period in March, 1815, we experienced, incessantly, much violent and tempestuous weather, attended with a very heavy sea. In April, 1814, in the opening of the Straits of Magellan, particularly both on the South Atlantic and South Pacific ocean, we met with most violent gusts of wind, with a heavy cross-sea, so that the ship laboured extremely. Returning also in March, 1815, being in the South Pacific ocean, nearly in the latitude of the opening of the Straits of Magellan, it blew a very terrific gale, with tremendous squalls, attended with hail and snow; the ropes were so hard frozen, that the people were almost benumbed on the yards. In my opinion, and from all the accounts I have been able to collect from experienced seamen, as well as from what written descriptions I have met with, the best season for passing Cape Horn would be towards the latter end of December or January; and ships should then be well provided with good canvass and cordage, and be made as snug as possible, squalls being here very heavy, frequent, and sudden. Particular care should also be taken of the various changes that occur during the violent gusts of wind that prevail, shifting often from south-west to north-west.

Valparaiso, on the coast of Chili, is situated in latitude 38° 2' south, and 71° 33′ 80" west longitude. There are no dangers to be apprehended in sailing in or out of this harbour. On entering, it is advisable to keep the point of the harbour close on board, ranging a rock that is about a cable's length from it pretty close; this will keep you to windward, and enable you to fetch the anchorage, which is opposite the town, in from twenty-eight to twenty fathoms water. With good charts, no pilot is required to take a ship in or out, as the harbour is free from dangers. The prevailing winds are off the land, blowing sometimes with great violence; (this is from the south-west and west;) with this wind there is very little surf on the beach, and you may land at all times under the Custom-house. In the months of May, June, and July, the northerly winds occasionally set in; and the harbour being quite open to this quarter, it is necessary to guard against it, as a heavy sea and swell is then thrown in. On these occasions, boats cannot land at the usual place, but are obliged to go under the western fort, which is well sheltered, and where you land with great facility. The tide may be said to be very irregular, being much affected with the wind. It is high water about nine, by the shore, full and change, the rise being about six feet; in neap tides it is about five feet. With the land-wind, when blowing strong, the tide is observed to ebb lower than on other occasions; and vice versa. With the wind from the northward, it is known to rise very high, frequently overflowing that low sandy beach, a little above which stands the suburb called the Almendral, or Almond Grove.

"Valparaiso, though a small town in itself, has many houses scattered in the adjacent villages. The suburbs, also, are considerable. It is said to contain ten thousand persons-a population certainly great in proportion to its extent; yet very small considering the country in its neighbourhood, which might, perhaps, be made capable of cultivation, though the produce could not be great, the valleys and sides of the hills being

rugged and steep, overgrown with shrubs and bushes, which it would be laborious and difficult to root out. Farther up the country, as you advance towards Quilotte, (a fine large village,) the valleys are beautiful. In all these you observe large tracts of cultivated ground in gay luxuriance. Provisions and refreshments of every description are to be procured in the greatest abundance, of the best quality, and at very reasonable prices. The bullocks, especially, are uncommonly fine meat, not over large, but in good condition. We paid at the rate of fifteen dollars each for them, weighing, on an average, about 290 lbs.: they may be procured in any number. Poultry of all kinds are equally abundant and cheap. Wine and spirits are also plentiful; the former is good; yet, though the vineyards produce most delicious grapes, I apprehend that the farmers have not attained any perfection in making it, as, with proper management, I am convinced it would prove excellent. The spirit is of a strong and fiery nature, probably not so wholesome as our rum; but with care and attention in collecting it in the country, some of a very good quality may be procured. The best of flour and biscuit is abundant and cheap: wheat selling for three-quarters of a dollar the fanaga, or one hundred and fifty pounds weight. Pease and

calavanses are equally plentiful; in short, there is scarcely any article that may not be procured here for victualling any number of ships, with the exception of cheese and butter, which are rather scarce, owing to the heat of the climate; but an excellent substitute is found for them in the sugar and cocoa, which our crews were supplied with every morning for breakfast. These two latter articles are brought from Lima, where they are, of course, procured at a more reasonable rate than at Valparaiso; yet, even here, they are by no means expensive. Fruit and vegetables are equally choice and good in their kind; the latter being produced in the utmost luxuriance, (with scarcely any cultivation,) being potatoes, onions, cabbages, pumpkins, and all sorts of herbs. The fruits are oranges, peaches, grapes, apples, pears, melons of various kinds, bananas, &c.

"It is however necessary, even in this plentiful country, to recommend to all captains of ships coming on this station to be most frugal and economical of their salt beef and pork, as it is not to be procured here. Several experiments have been made to corn beef, with the result, that it will not take the salt properly. On this account, therefore, we made it a point to take as many live cattle to sea as the ship could conveniently stow between the guns; and the fodder and corn being extremely cheap in Chili, it became a matter of economy to our government, as well as highly beneficial to the health of our crew, who were in general free from all diseases. The water is extremely good here, and the watering places tolerably commodious, though occasionally, in consequence of the surf on the beach, which usually occurs when the landwind sets in strong, attended with inconvenience; to avoid which, we took the precaution of landing our empty casks in the evening, when it was nearly calm; filling them during the night, and rafting them off at day-light the following morning. At these times we could always ensure a calm, and with it a smooth beach. The casks were obliged to be rolled up about half a mile to a vineyard belonging to Mr. Busillas; and as it is difficult to prevent a Jack tar from picking when fruit is so fairly within his reach, in such profusion, we were under the necessity of entering into an agreement with this gentleman to pay him a quarter