cation
in the newspapers. He was surprised, he said, that he should have
appealed to the public when no accusation was made against him, and have
endeavoured to render his superior in command unpopular and odious; and
he declared that he would never again embark in a fleet with an officer
who could conduct himself in a manner so fatal to all obedience and
discipline. Sir Hugh Palliser, who was a Tory, then rose and said, that
it was his interest to obtain inquiry, and that he was as eager for it
as his superior officer. He censured Keppel's reserve, and challenged
him to deliver his opinions without disguise, that he might be able
to give a full answer. He complained of the aspersions thrown upon his
character by the newspapers, and said that while justice was rendered to
his courage, insinuations were thrown out that he might have neglected
or disobeyed the signals of his superior. He concluded by asserting that
he had vainly sought an explanation from Keppel, before appealing to
the public with a detail of facts, by which he would stand or fall; by
denying that he had refused to obey signals; and by declaring that he
feared neither a parliamentary inquiry nor a public trial. In reply,
Admiral Keppel asserted that one of his signals was not obeyed though
it was flying for five hours, but that he would not charge Vice-admiral
Palliser with disobedience, as the condition of his ships might, as
represented by him, have prevented his coming up. Palliser rejoined by
charging Keppel with having neglected to arrange his ships in such a
manner as to ensure a general engagement; with having neglected to tack
and double on the French with his van and centre, after these had passed
the enemy's rear, whereby he, the vice-admiral, was exposed to be cut
off; with having permitted the enemy to rally, and to claim a victory
by standing after the English ships; and with having, finally, led the
British fleet in an opposite direction, instead of pursuing the enemy.
The conversation here dropped, but the charges made by Sir Hugh Palliser
were afterwards repeated to the Admiralty; and this led to the trial of
both the accuser and the accused before a court-martial. |

CHAPTER X.

{GEORGE III. 1779-1780}

Trial of Admiral Keppel and Vice-admiral Palliser.....
Attacks on Lord Sandwich..... Investigation respecting the
Conduct of General and Lord Howe..... Relief to Protestant
Dissenters..... Debates on the T