The Naval History of Great Britain: During the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars

by James, William M.

• ISBN13: 9780811710046
• ISBN10: 0811710041
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-06-01
• Publisher: Stackpole Books

Summary

William James's Naval History is one of the most valuable works in the English language on the operation of the Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. James corresponded widely with the survivors of the events he describes. By carefully evaluating and balancing conflicting reports and testimonies, he achieved an accuracy often lacking in later studies.

The original five volumes were published in 1822 -- 24, with a six-volume edition appearing in 1826. Previously, the work has only been available to scholars through specialist libraries. This new hardcover edition, with an introduction by the noted naval historian Andrew Lambert as well as an index for each volume, provides both scholars and maritime enthusiasts an accessible and affordable edition of this important work. Illustrated with charts, diagrams, and images, the work remains an essential source for all those who are interested in the operation of the Royal Navy in this period.

Table of Contents

General Introduction	i
Andrew Lambert
Introduction (Part 1)	iv
Andrew Lambert
Illustrations
Mr William James	xvi
Admiral Earl St Vincent	xviii
The Right Hon Admiral Viscount Duncan	xix
Admiral Earl Howe	xx
Author's Preface	i
Glossary of Sea-Terms	xix
Editor's Preface	xxv
1488 to 1792
Introduction - First ship of war - Cannon	1	(44)
Portholes	2	(1)
Two important improvements in ships of war	3	(2)
Origin of Ship's rates	5	(1)
The unrated classes	5	(1)
Old MS. List of the navy	6	(1)
Calibers of guns	7	(1)
Ancient and modern shot	8	(2)
Improved classification of the ships	10	(3)
Decks of a ship of war	13	(2)
Origin of the term gangway	15	(1)
Meaning of the term flushed decked	16	(1)
Ambiguity in other naval terms	17	(2)
Flush and quarterdeck ships	19	(1)
Line-of-battle-ships	20	(1)
Frigates	20	(1)
British frigates modelled from the French	21	(1)
Constant-Warwick, the first British frigate	22	(2)
Made a two-decker	24	(2)
The classification of foreign navies	26	(1)
English frigate-classes	27	(1)
First genuine English frigate	28	(2)
English and foreign 18-pounder frigates	30	(1)
The post-ship classes	31	(2)
Invention of the carronade	33	(1)
Establishment of carronades for each class	34	(1)
Dispute between the ordnance and navy boards	35	(2)
Advantages of the carronade shown	37	(1)
Distinction between ``guns'' and ``carronades''	38	(2)
Large and small calibres compared	40	(1)
Calibers of English and foreign guns	41	(2)
Remarks on the tonnage of ships of war	43	(1)
Cause of variety of size in British navy	44	(1)
1792 to 1793
First French Revolutionary War	45	(43)
War declared against England, &c.	46	(1)
British and French Fleets
State of the British navy	47	(2)
Captains and commanders	49	(1)
Dutch, Spanish, Russian, and other navies	50	(2)
Comparative State of the French navy	52	(1)
French seamen	53	(1)
Armament of French ships	54	(1)
First republican fleet at sea	55	(1)
Lord Howe's first cruise	56	(1)
Lord Howe and M. Morard-de-Galles	57	(2)
Description of Brest	59	(2)
Lord Howe and M. Vanstabel	61	(2)
Description of Toulon	63	(4)
Lord Hood at Toulon	67	(18)
Commodore Linzee at Forneilli	85	(2)
French frigates at Genoa and Spezzia	87	(1)
Light Squadrons and Single Ships	88	(72)
Scourge and Sans Culotte	89	(1)
Lieutenant Western	89	(1)
Bedford and Leopard	90	(1)
Recapture of the San-lago	90	(1)
Iris and Citoyenne-Francaise	91	(2)
Venus and Semillante	93	(2)
Hyæna and Concorde	95	(1)
Nymphe and Cleopatre	96	(3)
Boston and Embuscade	99	(5)
Crescent and Reunion	104	(1)
Agamemnon and French frigates	105	(2)
Thames and Uranie	107	(3)
Capture of the Inconstante	110	(1)
Capture of a privateer by a packet	111	(49)
Colonial Expeditions	160
Colonies of the different powers	112	(1)
North America	113	(1)
Surrender of St. Pierre and Miquelon	114	(1)
West Indies, capture of Tobago	114	(4)
Ill success at Martinique	115	(1)
Dreadful hurricane	116	(1)
Surrender of Cape-Nicolas-Mole, St.-Domingo	117	(1)
East Indies	118	(3)
Attack upon the Resolue	118	(2)
Capture of Pondicherry	120	(1)
1794
British and French Fleets	121	(73)
State of British navy	122	(1)
Violent proceedings at Brest	123	(1)
Reorganization of the Brest fleet	124	(1)
Sailing of Lord Howe	125	(2)
Sailing of M. Villaret-Joyeuse	127	(1)
Rear-admirals Montagu and Nielly	128	(2)
Chase of the Audacieux	130	(1)
Lord Howe on the 28th of May	131	(1)
Audacious and Revolutionnaire	132	(3)
Lord Howe on the 29th of May	135	(9)
Same on 31st of May	144	(1)
M. Villaret joined by M. Nielly	145	(1)
Lord Howe on the 1st of June	146	(37)
Capture of the Alexander	183	(2)
Mutiny on board the Culloden	185	(1)
Lord Hood at Corsica	186	(7)
Lord Hood and M. Martin in Gourjean bay	193	(1)
Mutiny on board the Windsor-Castle	193	(1)
Light Squadrons and Single Ships	194	(21)
Extraordinary escape of the Junon	195	(2)
English Indiamen and French privateers	197	(2)
Same and French frigates	199	(2)
Capture of the Pomone	201	(2)
Capture of the Duguay Trouin	203	(2)
Capture of the Atalante	205	(1)
Carysfort and Castor	206	(1)
Crescent and French squadron	207	(1)
Romney and Sibylle	208	(2)
Destruction of the Volontaire	210	(1)
Capture of the Revolutionnaire	211	(1)
Captains Osborne and Renaud off Isle-Ronde	212	(3)
Colonial Expeditions, West Indies	215	(12)
Capture of Martinique	217	(3)
Capture of Sainte-Lucie	220	(1)
Capture and recapture of Guadaloupe	221	(4)
Commodore Ford at St.-Domingo - Capture of Tiburon	225	(2)
Coast of Africa	227	(3)
French spoliations at Sierra-Leone	229	(1)
1795
British and French Fleets	230	(47)
State of the British navy	231	(1)
Projected expedition from Brest	232	(2)
Sir Sidney Smith's peep into Brest	234	(2)
Serious casualties to the Brest fleet	236	(1)
Chase of M. Vence into Belle-Isle	237	(1)
Junction of Admirals Villaret and Vence	238	(3)
Cornwallis's retreat	241	(3)
Lord Bridport in the command of the Channel Fleet	244	(1)
Lord Bridport off Isle-Groix	245	(5)
Expedition to Quiberon	250	(3)
Dreadful gale in the Channel	253	(2)
Capture of the Berwick	255	(2)
Vice-admiral Hotham off Genoa	257	(8)
Loss of the Illustrious	265	(2)
Admiral Hotham off Hyeres	267	(6)
Recapture of the Censeur	273	(1)
Cruise of M. Ganteaume	274	(1)
Nemesis at Smyrna	275	(2)
British and Dutch Fleets	277	(1)
War between England and Holland	277	(1)
Light Squadrons and Single Ships	277	(21)
Blanche and Pique	278	(4)
Lively and Tourterelle	282	(2)
Astrea and Gloire	284	(1)
Burning of the Boyne	285	(1)
Sir Richard Strachan and French convoys	286	(1)
Captain Cochrane and French store-ships	287	(1)
Thorn and Courier-National	288	(3)
Capture of the Minerve	291	(2)
Southampton and Vestale	293	(1)
Rose and French privateers	294	(1)
Mermaid and two corvettes	295	(2)
Capture of the Eveille	297	(1)
Colonial Expeditions, West Indies	298	(2)
Captain Wilson and a French squadron	298	(1)
Victor Hugues and his successors	299	(1)
East Indies	300	(5)
Capture of the Cape of Good Hope	301	(2)
Capture of Trincomale and Oostenburg	303	(2)
1796
British and French Fleets	305	(6)
State of the British navy	305	(2)
New constitution in France	307	(1)
Force in Toulon	308	(1)
Recapture of the Nemesis	308	(1)
Nelson at Laona, &c.	309	(1)
Evacuation of Leghorn	309	(2)
War between England and Spain	311	(1)
British and Spanish Fleets	311	(3)
Admiral Langara at Toulon	311	(1)
Evacuation of Corsica	312	(2)
British and Franco-Spanish Fleets	314	(1)
Recapture of Corsica by France	314	(1)
Sir John Jervis's retreat from the Mediterranean	315	(1)
British and French Fleets	315	(4)
Loss of the Courageux	316	(1)
Accident to the Gibraltar	317	(2)
Light Squadrons and Single Ships	319	(47)
Sir Sidney Smith at Herqui	319	(2)
Capture of the Etoile	321	(1)
Capture of the Unite	322	(2)
Capture of Sir Sidney Smith	324	(1)
Capture of the Virginie	325	(1)
Boats of Niger near the Penmarcks	326	(1)
Spencer and Volcan	326	(1)
Capture of the Argo	327	(1)
Suffisante and Revanche	328	(1)
Santa-Margarita and Tamise	329	(1)
Unicorn and Tribune	330	(2)
Dryad and Proserpine	332	(6)
Southampton and Utile	338
Glatton and French frigates	335	(4)
Amiable and Pensee	339	(1)
Mermaid and Vengeance	340	(2)
Quebec and two French frigates	342	(1)
Destruction of the Andromaque	343	(2)
Raison and Vengeance	345	(1)
Capture of the Elizabet	346	(2)
Capture of the Bonne-Citoyenne	348	(1)
Rear-admiral Sercey in the Indian seas	349	(1)
M. Sercey and two British 74s	350	(5)
Loss of the Amphion	355	(1)
Pelican and Medee	356	(2)
Terpsichore and Mahonesa	358	(1)
French privateers	359	(1)
Lapwing at Anguilla	360	(1)
Terpsichore and Vestale	361	(3)
Minerve and Sabina	364	(1)
Blanche and Ceres	365	(1)
Colonial Expeditions, North America	366	(5)
Rear-admiral Richery at Newfoundland	367	(1)
West Indies
Capture of Demerera	367	(1)
Recapture of Sainte-Lucie	368	(1)
Capture of St. Vincent and Grenada	369	(1)
British at Leoganeand at Bombarde, St.-Domingo	370	(1)
East Indies	371	(35)
Capture of Columbo, Amboyna, and Banda	372	(2)
Capture of Dutch squadron in Simon's bay	374	(1)
Destruction of French Settlement at Foul point, Madagascar	374	(32)
Annual Abstracts	406	(8)
Index	414