Charles Philip Yorke, Fourth Earl of Hardwicke, Vice-Admiral R.N. A Memoir

ove for his true profession of the sea. In his own words, 'in piping times of peace he was loth to take the bread out of his brother officers' mouths after he became a peer,' by a

ch had been interrupted by his succession to the peerage. I have often heard him say th

f the St. Vincent, line-of-battle ship of 120 guns. That vessel formed one of a small squadron which included also the Caledonia, Queen and

ived so energetic and useful a life in his own county of Cambridgeshire, that they felt so great a break in that life as was involved in service abroad was a mistake. Moreover, Lord Hardwicke had now a family of seven children, the eldest being only about twelve years of age. Many were the counsels heard by his friends to dissuade him from the step. His old friend John Wilson Croker was among those who sought most urgently to persu

*

SEY: 9th

EAR C

f dear Lady Hardwicke not only does not object, but becomes the accomplice and partner of your exile, no one else has anything to object, not even political friends, as you can leave a proxy. It may also be an advantage to all the children, for it will perfect the young o

. CRO

*

early in 1849 to join

ker who was in comman

y were installed at Mal

i was engag

of which H.M.S. Vengeance and its captain, the Earl of Hardwicke, took so nota

ly a geographical expression was true enough. This cynical minister of the Austrian

one idea only-the reorganisation of the different States and the suppression of all revolutionary mo

eges since 1793. The hatred of France on the part of the reigning sovereigns of Italy was a great strength to Austria. It was to the latter country that they looked for their ideal of government. Such was the position when, in 1821, a rising took place in Piedmont for reform and a constitution, and for the expulsion of the Austrians. It was not aimed at the King, on the contrary the insurrectionaries professed the greatest loyalty. Victor Emmanuel I, though a lover of his people, was not a lover of their liberties, and the hopes of the

montese King in the midst of the Austrians, our inevitable enemies, is a King in prison. Nothing of what he may say can or ought to be accepted as coming from him. We will prove to him that we are his child

old prerogatives of class and caste. He, however, proclaimed the Prince of Carignano h

King had been restored. Here the same demand for a constitution was put forward as in Piedmont and accepted insincerely by

ent was concerned, into the Middle Ages; with the same result as in the other Kingdoms of Italy, insurrection, finally suppressed by Austrian power. The same movement occurred in all the diff

s under the Presidency of the Pope, the last by internal reforms in each State. The ambitions of Balbo were for a Kingdom of Italy. A confederation of States was to him, as to Gioberti, the only practical solution. D'Azeglio, who preached peaceful methods instead of violence, interviewed the King in 1845, and received the follow

ake a form of government in which my people shall have all the liberty

the insurrection, and the Austrians were driven out of Milan. Simultaneously with the movement in Lombardy there was a rising in Venice, the Austrians were driven out and a Republic was proclaimed. This proclamation was a great mistake, as it created distrust between Venice and Piedmont. The war

ished two Chambers, gave a veto to the King, the prerogative of m

ly defeated at Novara. Charles Albert, who had struggled bravely but incompetently, abdicated in

time an Italian army had fought under the Italian flag

esolved that fusion wit

ilan came to a si

strians were in the neighbourhood and intended to enter the city lit the fires of revolt which, fanned by the municipality and the clergy, broke out into open insurrection on the 29th. Arms were distributed and a Committee of Defence was formed compos

o the city of Genoa. This heroic action-because an act undertaken in a good cause without fear of consequences and at great personal risk is heroic-gained nothing for Lord Hardwicke in his profession; indeed it militated against his promotion in the service to which he was devoted; and though his application for active service in the Baltic during the Crimean War was refused on technical grounds, his action at Genoa was sedulously used by certain parties against him. All the more honour to the man who could risk so much for a great cause. He saved lives, he preserved from destruction Genoa with its

the duty of the fleet to protect the interests of Her Majesty's subjects living in the different ports. In Februa

instructions from Adm

*

cany having quitted Si

nal Government establis

entertained that some change of Government is contemplated in the Kingdom of Sardinia-it is

r command, to Leghorn where you may expect to find the Bellerophon, and will learn from Ca

ew days, to give them additional confidence and security, unless you have reason to apprehend that commotions are also expected at Genoa, in which case, you should lose no time, weather permitting, in r

s Excellency that it is not desirable you should remain longer than may be absolutely necessary for affording due protection to British subjects.

Mr. Yeates Brown, wil

on your

ole at Genoa an object

make the best arrangem

, and then repair to

ay be in my power short

no

any increase of the smallpox in the Bellerophon should render it desirable for the latter to proceed to Malta to land the patients,

tunities that offer during your absence, sending the state and condition of the Vengeance monthly, and on returnin

d) W. P

14th F

*

ord Hardwicke giving him further instructions and remarki

*

iv

NAPLES: 28

LORD HA

akes for the Bellerophon, and I hope will find Piedmont in a quieter s

esence of the steamer necessary, and then send him

red in a very indifferent inn at Mole and rests his hopes on being restored by the combined Catholic Pow

aniards enter their States, and if overpowered mean to burn the

chance of their acceptance. Admiral Biuder and myself will proceed in 2 or 3 days to convey the ultimatum; I fear they will still be obst

ard. Sir Charles Napier was at Gibraltar with his squadron

, dear Lord

truly

PARK

*

same date from Sir W

eam-sloop Bulldog was

ent of any disturb

*

e

T NAPLES: 28

ellerophon, he is directed, after he shall have delivered them, to join your Lordship for the purpose of rendering an

to Naples whenever you think her services can be dispensed with, directing Commander Key to call at Leghorn on his route, for the purpose of conveying

ER, Vice

*

ker tells Lord Hardwicke to

*

iv

HIBERNIA

arch

LORD HA

Palermo with the Queen, Powerful, and Terrible in C°., carrying the King's ultimatum of the terms of adjustment with the Neapolitans, on which we have obtained some favo

emain at Genoa or Spezzia for the present, r

ntelope for Malta or they would unite in e

very fa

PARK

*

ded, and the following proclamation clearly show

*

NOE

the Stranger": banishment to the words! Perhaps the country will desire great and terrible sacrifices from us; let us prepare ourselves. Let us assist o

a short time; presenting myself to the King and parliament, I can

NICO

lture, &c. &c., for

14th Ma

*

f Charles Albert and the succession of Victor Emmanuel to the throne, the new King signed the Treaty of Peace on March 26, 1849

rd Hardwicke's let

*

April 1

ELOVE

l always consider myself most fortunate in having been the means of ending this serious conflict, saving from ruin a beautiful city and its inhabitants

m them, and that the tyranny that hung over them is removed. There are, no doubt, some honest and dreamy minds that feel and imagine that Italy is still to groan under the yoke of the oppressor, but ere long that dream will dissipate when

find the General, landing at night &c., could not do this without some risk. Moreover the Vengeance being in the Mole was directly between the batteries engaged, and all the shot passed over or fell round her. Then shell burst over her and tore up her decks, musket

ut no, on second thoughts I believe I'd better wait for the regular packet, ten to one the person going to Malta will only take the

s. What was believed by some good citizens in Genoa to be buffonata, was in reality working up the public mind to revolutionary feelings against all law and authority. A national or civi

d on the Government of the town, and put themselves at the head of a movement, which had for its pretence the supp

mand was made by the municipality on General Asarta (who commanded for the King here with a garrison of about 5000 men) to give up the forts and defences of Genoa to the Civic Guard, and serve out arms to the people; this was said to be for the purpose of resisting all who joined in the afo

uming an air of more importance, and constant drumming and parading and reviewing going on, I saw clearly what all this was fast coming to. And on calling on La Palavacini I seriously

tionists on terms of equality, they would acquire confidence, &c. On the following morning the British Consul came on board to me and begged me in the name of General Asarta and the Intendente Generale, or Civil Governor of the Dukedom of Genoa, to come at once to the ducal palace to con

, and not likely to be taken; I therefore determined to give no advice, but to go to

in error). I told him what I thought of advice by a foreigner on such occasions and that my English ideas wer

rmally stated to the King's officer that I held them responsible

al, and withdrew his troops from the outposts and concentrated his fire in and aroun

d of the shot and cannon and instruments of war. I expressed a hope that he had made all necessary arrangements for defence of the dockyard, and that he was prepared to defend it to the last. He answered that he was ready and would do his duty, he was

large quantity of arms, he had made it his headquarters, that concession had gone to its limit, and tha

re particularly as General La Marmora with 20,000 men was advancing on the City; and

rds committed to revolt against the authority of the Crown, they were easily worked on to begin the affair. Whilst reading the newspapers at the public room, I was roused from my ease by the generale being beat through the streets. I took my way to the dockyard, where, on arriving, I found a fieldpiece brought up against t

ory over the Admiral stimulated them to act against the General; a fire of musketry and cannon was opened from both sides and was maintained for

dered the musket. This evening a barbarous murder of a Colonel of Carbineers was committed by the armed populace; he after the attack on the arsenal put on a plain coat, and walked out to see his wife who was alone at his home in the town. He was recognised by the people, they led him to a church where twenty-one bodies of the slain were laid out, they

l not speak of this more. General La Marmora has shot all his men that have taken the lead in plunder

m, but found her carefully guarded, and, in fact, a hostage in the hands of the mob for the conduct of her husband. It was a painful interview, the manner of her gua

t the General with 5000 men was to evacuate the town in 24 hours. I found the General had lost his head, he hardly knew me, and so I rendered him the last service in

King's Forces, approaching under the command of a young and energetic General. I amused myself with visiting al

lace, with sand filled between the stones. They had embrasures in them in which they mounted one or two heavy pieces of ordnance; but all this time they were neg

avocations of a military and a commercial life, to have made some money. Last year when Italy and France began this revolutionary concord, he, loving troubled waters, came over to Genoa and by some means got the King of Sardinia to give him the appointment of General of the Guardia Civica of Genoa, a force of nearly 10,000 men of al

ar with its legitimate Monarch the King of Sardinia. They hoisted the

, under officers French and Poles. In addition, about 30,000 muskets with ammunition in abundance had fallen into the hands of the Genoese on the taking of the arsenal, so that women and boys were armed. This was the state of things early on the

eight or nine in rapid succession; there was great stir in the streets immediately and the generale was beat, and the tocsin began to sound. I passed on rapidly towards the Porta della Lanterna from wh

rmora had got into the suburb, there was a universal flight from the barricade, which made me laugh exceedingly, and did not give me

ead of the old Mole, and as its direction

in hills and terraces from the water, and the ship lay in that part of the semicircle next the Porta della Lanterna, and not above 300 to 400 yards from the

een); figure to yourself the rifle men in the Freischutz, and you have the men before you. Singly and silently did these men advance, peeping over every wall, making every bank a cover, and killing or wounding at almost every shot; while the citizens were crouching in confused groups, and as a man of the group fell from the unseen shot, the rest ran away, fired on from ten to twelve points, and

hts, the town battery on the Mole had opened its fire, but no repl

unted his first piece of ordnance on the height above the gate. During the nig

oard, and as the fight thickened, I had no doubt that the morr

attack on the gate, which was soon taken; some few escaped to the seaside and hid themselves in the rocks, but the greater part were killed. He also pressed forward along

efore dark La Marmora had possession of all between the Lanterna and the Doria Palace, but here his difficulties increased; the fighting was severe during the whole of this da

nt, so asking for a horse, I mounted and rode towards his post of attack. I met him returning. We were very well fired on with round shot on our return, but as he and I rode

m I got at all his intenti

that he would not visit on the city, shot, shell, night attack, and I added

gateway, he begged me to look out for the Sardinian fl

o hear that on board ship, bobbing was tabooed to me, and therefore we were not accustomed to do so, but, as I told them, I had not the least objection to their doing so. Both sides fired very well and

d posts for the night in the Doria Palace. This day had put more than 120 refugees on board the ship, but she was not so comfortable as we

noese lady friends, and such as had not already fled I induced to take shelter on board. At one lady's house the fair owner was in such a state of indecision I could bring her to no resolution, as a shell passed or fell near her house she would wring her hands and cry out, "What shall I do? My beautiful furniture! My beau

against the city, and that to-morrow it would be twice as severe, seeing the wretched state of the poor Genoese women on board, and the more dreadful state in prospect f

ve till next post; the steamer will wait no

u, my

ver your

ARL

*

April 2

ELOVE

his afternoon than I again take up my pen to ca

d as it passed through a cloud and again emerged, gave an active and anxious feeling to my mind. I could not but feel that I had a great and a good work in hand, I was soon on shore, the only gate in the city that was guaranteed to be open I pulled for; it was directly under the fire of the Boys' Home, two round shots struck the ground as I landed passing close over our heads

was like the city of the dead, its silence only disturbed by the explosion of the shell

ayonet was presented to my breast. On looking up I found the other end was in the hands of a pretty delicate woma

municipality were persons who had only read of war, they had never seen its terrors before; they were fathers and husbands, men of property, all wit

people, among whom was the Bishop of Genoa, were soon in the room. I opened my mission to them and drew as strong a picture as I was able, o

eared, and that no question existed at this moment to warrant a resistance which would destroy the city, g

town, and separate themselves from foreigners and niggards; next, to surrender the city to the King's general, and not to sit to see it de

he chimney of the ante-room to the one we were in. The effect was great, but I coolly said, "Oh pooh, only a shell-let us go on," and the fear and excitement which had for a moment prevailed subsided, my words and manner restoring confidence and stopping observations. La Marmora's messenger did me

e of course I had to wait till all the forms were gone through which state of war required. I found the General had gone to St. Pierre de la Regina, two miles off for the nig

city. He was most frank and manly in his answer. He said he thought all I said and offered was most fair, and if I would add a clause for the disarming of the population he would sign. This was a great step; I saw the man liked me and that I could deal with him. I saw too that he was a gentleman,

rd work. I got all the clauses passed even to the disarming of the people, but the

the proscribed whose case was

o the leaders of the revolt. At five I was at the landing place of the Porta della Lanterna, when as soon as I landed, the Piedmontese sentry fired right at me at about three yards' distance, and ran as fast as he could, the ball passed quite close to my right. I came up with him, and took his musket from him, shaking it I found it had just been discharged. I taxed him with firing at me, he owned it saying his regiment had arrive

g life and property to all, with a promise to intercede with the King to-morrow; the punis

ver as soon as I left him his fire ceased. This was most humane on his part, for it was full an hour and a half before I got the t

at what I had laid before them was the ultimatum, that I could and would ask no more, and that if they did not agree to this I should take my lea

e. On my way I informed them that I would not help them in their appeal to General La Marmora with regard to entire amnesty, but that I would join them

ent, those who had the best nerves were the speakers. If you want to make peace treat under fire; for me it will become a maxim. However after about two hours' wrangle, the General came up to me and said, "Are you not 'accord' with me? that you do not speak," so much had I gained of hi

t by the rebels and the contest was most fierce, all the morning batteries were firing on both sides with high guns. An attack by escalade was preparing against Fort Bogota, a sally had been mad

t takes more time even to relate it shortly than I thought. I mu

H

I've no time t

*

April 2

EARES

troubles have ceased, I have been so well employed in writing and disciplining this ship, this each day takes me till 1 P.M., that I have not found the days t

s duty of separating the combatants. General La Marmora sent aide-de-camps, but it took time before they could reach all points from which cannon were firing, not on the town but all the points of attack. The first stop I put on the firing was by landing on the mole and taking a 32 lb. gun that was being worked against the Doria Palace. I landed with my six gigs, and they drove them with their swords from the

eat at his table, a crowd of armed folk filled the room and pressed hard upon us. He was haughty and distant in his manner; I said that I had just seen the deputation off for Turin and that as an armistice was agreed on for forty-eight hours I begged he would at once do all in his power to cease the firing on his side; he was out of humour and said: "When General La Marmora does!" He then charged me with being a partisan. I said I feared I was, and belonged to a party in the world that loved order and government. "Oh ah!" said he, "but you have taken on you and thrown the ammunition of the people into the sea"-on which there was a shout as he raised his voice in finishing his sentence. I saw my ground was critical and that much depended on myself, so I quietly but audibly said, "Yes

nner. To him I civilly said I would not be questioned, and rose, took my hat and departed. They made a lane for me; the young man followed me and grasping my hand said, "I beg your pardon, I know I was very hot, but I have had two horses k

see me, come on board to-morr

e ladies and Captain Tarlton to take care of me I sat out in the stern gallery till 10 P.M., when Tarlton told me he had a bed made for me in a spare cabin below. In this I got a good night's rest in spite of the diabolical witlow; the witlow is so unromantic a wound that I shall leave it out of the narrative for the future. The next morning I was with General La Marmora at daylight and from him I went to the municipality. I found t

rmistice and present position of affairs. They were afraid to publish it, for Avezzana had told another story. I suggested that such a paper, published with the signatures of all the European Consuls, would have an excellent effect. They thought it the best, but again were afraid of being thought the authors; so I then offered that it should be mine and I could at once try and get the consuls to sign it. You can hard

s to assist the revolt; and having had one of my cutters fired on with grape in relieving guard the evening before, I determined to move the Vengeance into the inner mole, where I could work the ship effectually, if I chose, to prevent the entrance of anything into the harbour for disembarkation. While in the act of moving the ship I received the s

g guns, I never loaded a gun while at Genoa, I went on shore and found that the Governor of the prison had received his summons to open the doors, and had refused. He was glad to see me, we now settled his plan of defence as far as he was able, and to my astonishment he struck chains off fifty for?ats and put a musket into their hands. He made excellent arrangements for defence, and assured me he could rely on these men. I had them drawn up and found they all understood the weapon. I told them if they behaved well, &c. &c. &c. I

e anchored and prepared for battle, every soul fled the ship and got away t

ries opened on him, I thought all my efforts in a moment destroyed. In a fit I jumped into the first boat, and shoved on board the Frenchman, sending an officer to La Marmora's batteries to beg them to leave off firing. To end this story, the officer at La Marmora's battery had mistaken the French for the Sardinian flag, and fired on it. The mistake cleared up, to

e, a Red. He would not eat, or drink, or do anything but fume. At last I coolly said "Eh bien, Monsieur, c'est votre faute." "Why, how, what you mean, Monsieur?" "That you have set the example of Tricolor, and desire all the world to adopt it, and are now angry because blue and green a

hange for the better in the appearance of the National Guard. They with anxious looks led me to their chair, shut the doors and then revealed to me i

unal, Albertini as president, with power of life and death with instant execution. Guillotines were built; these poor devils were waiting their doom. I sent for him, by a civil message, of course, I taxed him roundly wi

, my dearest wife. I have told it very ill, it may form, when we meet, a subject for an evening'

it is not fit to meet the eye of a critic or indeed of anyone, but it is a n

is, no one can tell. My surgeons attended the wounded, sent by me; all the time the hospitals were full, but they said more were carried home than went t

ast long enough to make impression on stone and marble houses. Five shell fell into the Ducal Palace, and si

ling that I shortened the pun

ld have been forgotten in Europe, and its ancient splendour might o

y, and now shall hold

rs e

H

ls at 6; hour 5

*

ted him to take action outside the strict limits of his duty. Nothing succeeds like success, and all this was accomplished without a gun being loaded on board the Vengeance. If Lord Hardwicke had had to 'sweep with grape the houses and the wharfs' as he threatened to do, the fat would have been in the fire and the question

s entitled 'Della Rivoluzione di Genova nell April del 1849. Memorie e Documenti di un Testimonio Oculare. Italia 1850.' 'The capitulation which shortly took place,' says the author, 'was his [Lord H

convivial entertainment not only the Generals and Staff of Victor Emmanuel's army, but also

is generals, all his colonels of regiments and his staff. The two Admirals, all the Captains of the Sardini

of music. When the Queen's health was drunk at 9 o'clock, the ship was brilliantly illuminated, the yards manned and she fired a royal salute. The whole gave

ands and conviviality under

he King was obliged to dissolve Parliament and make a personal appeal to the country. The result was satisfactory and the treaty received the necessary ratification. Piedmont was not in a condition to renew hostilities with so powerful a foe as Austria, a

for they are protected by the venerated memory of my father, King Charles Albert; they are entrusted to the honour

s time that Mr. Gladstone, after having visited Naples, published his famous letters to Lord Aberdeen summing up the position as 'The negation of God created into a system

ection at the Paris Congress of 1856. Piedmont had taken part in the Crimean War by contributing 15,000 men to the allied army. N

r Emmanuel showed his accustomed wisdom in accepting the position for what it was worth and waiting on events. This course was soon to be justified. Cavour did not live to see the success of his policy. He died in 1861, five years before the war between Germany and Austria, in which Italy took a part against her ancient foe, gave the opportunity of freeing the Peninsula from Austrian rule. On the outbreak of the war attempts were made through the mediation of Napo

ted Rome for its capital, and Garibaldi's expedition of 1867 was a failure. 'In the name of the French Government, we declare that Italy

Prussia that Italy secured Liberty. The statecraft of Cavour and the patience and self-control of Victor Emmanuel gained what the impetuous bravery of Garibaldi and the revolutionary efforts of

h showed itself at Genoa after the battle of Novara, the ideals which animated the thousand

olutionaries in Genoa were of this kind. The ruin they might have brought on the city of Genoa and the di

TO CHAP

r, I have thought it well to print, without further comment, copies of certain documents which were found among his pa

La Marmora: dated 'La

e o'

ORE, QUARTI

ivisione,

GE

IL

une indiscretion je vous priérai de passer un moment ici d'autant plus que

ès humble

SE LA M

*

Syndic of Genoa

IL

ite et le Général La Marmora contr[e]-signées par vous à l'original, et cela d'une manière toute confidentielle et sans aucun caractère d'autenticité, le M

ance que nous et la Ville entière vous devons par la part génér

Sè M

et très obéis

Sy

OFUMO

12 Avri

RD HAR

ant le

. Brita

enge

*

Launay, Minister for Fo

rdinia, conferring the

. Lazarus upon

ETAT POUR LES AF

e 22 Avr

IL

ur y ramener l'ordre. Sa Majesté, prenant en bienveillante considération l'activité que vous avez déployée pour empêcher toutes nouvelles bandes de factieux de pénétrer dans la place et de se joindre aux rebelles, ainsi que les mesures promptes et énergiques que vous avez adoptées pour préveni

service important que, suivant les intentions toujours si amicales de l'Angleterre, Son ancienne et fidèle alliée, vous avez rendu à Son

de Ma?trise de l'Ordre de St Maurice me l'aura fait parvenir, je vous p

E LAU

D HAR

ant le

Vengeance

*

dmiral Sir William P

Fleet, to Lo

NIA' AT

ril,

LO

18th and 20th insts. detailing your proceedings with reference to the late

r, and the humane object of preventing destruction, pillage and other atrocities in the City, and I fully appreciate the advant

from brigandage. And also your commendable intercession with the Sardinian General on behalf of the individuals compromised for political acts, trusting th

, My

ry humbl

ER, Vice

*

almerston, Minister of

, enclosing copy despa

Majesty's Amba

FICE: Apri

S

h from H.M. Ambassador at Paris, stating that the French Minister for Foreign Affairs has expressed his conviction that during the late insu

, Sir

H. A. AD

WARD

*

FICE: Apri

S

st., giving an account of the measures which he took to promote the surrender of Genoa to the Forces of the King of Sardinia, and I am to state to you at the same time for the information of their lordships, that Lord Hardwicke's conduct on this occasion seems to Lord Palmerston to

am,

H. A. AD

WARD

*

April 1

O

Monsieur Bois le Conte and from Monsieur Léon Favre the French Consul at Genoa, stating that there were moments when the lives and properties of the peaceable inhabitants would have been in great danger but for the dread inspired by the position taken up by H.M.S. Vengeance and the efficient s

am,

ed) NO

*

de of Italian Unificati

rm

e did not propose unacceptable conditions to me; indeed, he charged himself with the task of persuading the Municipality to

esting against this menace: then he addressed to the aforesaid commander a letter of truly radical insolence, ordering him to vacate the harbour before 6 P.M. and declaring that if by that hour he were not

himself with acknowledging the receipt of the insulting letter, b

pondence to me and to all the repr