Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 5.djvu/263

 12 S. V. OCT., 1919.]

NOTES AND QUERIES.

257

triumph for the drama, and, if their thors equal not Webster or Ford, tc nation no names more illustrious thar ese, they have worked in the same studio th them, have learnt the same high hguage, have quaffed the same Parnassian ine, are as representative and as importan r an understanding of their age as th< ,rlier dramatists were for that of Elizabeth of Charles I. In the very midst o >mbast lie their treasures of beauty aong the absurdest of their artificialities ie elements of a strong and a sane humanity

ALLABDYCE NICOLL, M.A. 11, St. Clements, Oxford.

JOHN SYKES, NELSON'S COXSWAIN.

IE tracing of coxswains in the Naval uster Books is always a difficult process,

they were chosen irrespective of their bing on board ; but, as coxswains, had no icial, or recognised standing; and there 3 no lists of them in the Naval Records. Though a coxswain was a personal body bendant of a captain, or admiral, he never pears amongst the retinue of the latter, t was rated along with the rest of the ip's company.

In having come across, in an old Colonial per,* a very interesting account of the mbardment of Cadiz on the night of July 1797, by an eye-witness (but whose name

not given), the following description jrefrom of the devotion of John Sykes for

beloved captain, will be read with interest, i will bear repeating, as it ought to be >re generally known.

lohn Sykes, a native of Kerton, Lincoln- re, joined the Agamemnon as a volunteer 1793, when 23 years of age ; from an A.B. became ship's corporal July 23, 1793, and

about three years served thereon under Ison, following him, as his coxswain, to the ptain.

Vfter the battle of St. Vincent (Feb. 14, )7) Nelson records that John Sykes and iers were present on board the Spanish t rate when " I did receive the swords of > vanquished Spaniards, which as I eived, I gave to William Fearney,f one my barge men, who put them with the atest sangfroid under his arm."

C.O. 116/1, March 21, 1836 (lodged at the Public ord Office).

Not to John Sykes, which has been sometimes meously stated.

From the Captain John Sykes accom panied Nelson to the Theseus.

On the night of July 3, 1797, Nelson, who had the command of the inshore squadron, proceeded with the Thunder bomb, &c., to bombard the town of Cadiz, but the large mortar being materially injured, she was ordered to retire, and the enemy perceiving this, tried to carry her off, but Nelson defeated them.

gallant fellow, Don Miguel Tryason, singled out the Admiral's barge, in which we had only ten men besides my self, the Admiral and Capt. Free- mantle, and in which was John Sykes, as gallant a sailor as ever took up sloops from a purser, or shared his grog with his mess-mates.
 * ' The commandant of the Spanish gun-boats, a

" Don Miguel ordered his boat to be placed alon* side of ours ; and, as you may suppose, we did not object to the meeting, although she was a powerful craft, and manned by twenty-six stout looking chaps. This was a hand to hand business. Don Miguel led his men bravely ; and to give them the credit they deserve, they were worthy of such a gallant commander, and of the honour of being killed by us.

" Nelson parried a blow which would have saved lim from being at the Nile, and Freeman tie fought ike himself, fore and aft, both boats. It was a desperate struggle, and once we were nearly car- 'ied. John Sykes was close to Nelson on his left land, and he seemed more concerned for the Admiral's life than his own : he hardly ever struck blow, but to save his gallant officer. " Twice he parried blows which must have >een fatal to Nelson ; for Sykes was a man whose coolness gave him full scope for the Science at Single Stick, and who never knew what fear was, any more than his Admiral. It was cut. thrust, ire, and no load again we had no time for that. ?he Spaniards fought like devils, and seemed esolved to win from the Admiral the laurel of lis former Victory : they appeared to know him, nd directed their principal attack towards the ffieers.

"Twice had Sykes saved him ; and now he saw

blow descending which would have severed the

ead of Nelson. In that second of thought which

cool man possesses, Sykes saw that he could not

ward the blow with his cutlass ; the situation of

rie Spaniard rendered it impossible. He saw the

anger ; that moment expired, and Nelson would

ave been a corpse: but Sykes saved him he

iterposed his 9\vn head ! His Commander was so

eloved, that his old follower (for Sykes was with

s in the Captain) sought the death he could not

therwise have averted. We all saw it we were

witnesses to the gallant deed, and we gave in

revenge one cheer and one tremendous rally.

Eighteen of the Spaniards were killed, and we

boarded and carried her; there not being one man

left on board who was not either dead or wounded.


 * ' ' Sykes,' said Nelson, as he caught the gallant

fellow in his arms, ' I cannot forget this.' But my

wounded shipmate only looked him in the face, and

smi'ed, as he said, 'Thank God, Sir, you are safe.'

" Your heroes have the best hearts : if gratitude could have repaid Sykes, Nelson had done it : he would have made him a lieutenant, but the wound