His Majesty's ship the Grafton, Commodore Charles Holmes, commander : as she sail'd to England with a machine constructed instead of her rudder, which she lost in the late storm off Louisbourgh [sic] / drawn by an officer on board [engraving]
IN L2005F180 1698/1811 ff
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Title
His Majesty's ship the Grafton, Commodore Charles Holmes, commander : as she sail'd to England with a machine constructed instead of her rudder, which she lost in the late storm off Louisbourgh [sic] / drawn by an officer on board [engraving]
Published
[London? s.n. s.d.]
Description
1 engraving : ill. ; 20 23 cm. on a sheet 46 x 29 cm.
Call Number
IN L2005F180 1698/1811 ff
Note
The artist is probably Samuel Boyce, who, though better known as a poet and playwright with anti-French sentiments, was originally an engraver. --ODNB, vol. 7.
On 30 March 1756, Byng had been ordered by the Admiralty to reduce his own squadron by supplying soldiers for British ships sailing toward Halifax and Louisbourg; one of those ships was the Grafton. One of Byng's points of defense was that his squadron at Minorca was thereby inadequately manned.
Charles Holmes later sat on panel that court martialled Admiral Byng.
"I have now the inexpressible mortification to acquaint their Lordships, that on the 24th being ten leagues south of Louisbourg, towards the evening of that day it began to blow very hard at east, and had the wind continued in that quarter we could have done well, as there was room enough for the ships to drive, but veering room to the southward it blew a perfect Hurricane, and drove us right on shore, the wind continued violent till near eleven next day, when providentially and happily for us, it came round to the westward of the south, we had but just room to wear the ship clear of breakers, and saw several ships at an anchor with most of their masts gone, without having it in our power to give them the least assistance in their great distress; and the wind continued to blow on the shore but one hour longer every ship of the squadron must unavoidably been lost." Vice-Admiral Holburne reporting on the storm that challenged the British fleet off Louisbourg.
On leaf 14v of The Tragedy of Admiral Byng, 1756-1757
Apparently trimmed; identifying letters in the engraving keyed to an explanation not present here.
On 30 March 1756, Byng had been ordered by the Admiralty to reduce his own squadron by supplying soldiers for British ships sailing toward Halifax and Louisbourg; one of those ships was the Grafton. One of Byng's points of defense was that his squadron at Minorca was thereby inadequately manned.
Charles Holmes later sat on panel that court martialled Admiral Byng.
"I have now the inexpressible mortification to acquaint their Lordships, that on the 24th being ten leagues south of Louisbourg, towards the evening of that day it began to blow very hard at east, and had the wind continued in that quarter we could have done well, as there was room enough for the ships to drive, but veering room to the southward it blew a perfect Hurricane, and drove us right on shore, the wind continued violent till near eleven next day, when providentially and happily for us, it came round to the westward of the south, we had but just room to wear the ship clear of breakers, and saw several ships at an anchor with most of their masts gone, without having it in our power to give them the least assistance in their great distress; and the wind continued to blow on the shore but one hour longer every ship of the squadron must unavoidably been lost." Vice-Admiral Holburne reporting on the storm that challenged the British fleet off Louisbourg.
On leaf 14v of The Tragedy of Admiral Byng, 1756-1757
Apparently trimmed; identifying letters in the engraving keyed to an explanation not present here.
Source of Acquisition
L2005F180 1698/1811 ff
Added Author
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