PREFACETOTHEAMERICANEDITION。
ONthedeathofFleemingJenkin,hisfamilyandfriendsdeterminedtopublishaselectionofhisvariouspapers;bywayofintroduction,thefollowingpagesweredrawnup;andthewhole,formingtwoconsiderablevolumes,hasbeenissuedinEngland。IntheStates,ithasnotbeenthoughtadvisabletoreproducethewhole;andthememoirappearingalone,shornofthatothermatterwhichwasatonceitsoccasionanditsjustification,solargeanaccountofamansolittleknownmayseemtoastrangeroutofallproportion。ButJenkinwasamanmuchmoreremarkablethanthemerebulkormeritofhisworkapproveshim。Itwasintheworld,inthecommerceoffriendship,byhisbraveattitudetowardslife,byhishighmoralvalueandunweariedintellectualeffort,thathestruckthemindsofhiscontemporaries。Hiswasanindividualfigure,suchasauthorsdelighttodraw,andallmentoreadof,inthepagesofanovel。Hiswasafaceworthpaintingforitsownsake。Ifthesittershallnotseemtohavejustifiedtheportrait,ifJenkin,afterhisdeath,shallnotcontinuetomakenewfriends,thefaultwillbealtogethermine。
R。LS。
SARANAC,OCT。,1887。
CHAPTERI。
TheJenkinsofStowting—Fleeming’sgrandfather—Mrs。Buckner’sfortune—Fleeming’sfather;goestosea;atSt。Helena;meetsKingTom;serviceintheWestIndies;endofhiscareer—TheCampbell—
Jacksons—Fleeming’smother—Fleeming’suncleJohn。
INthereignofHenryVIII。,afamilyofthenameofJenkin,claimingtocomefromYork,andbearingthearmsofJenkinapPhilipofSt。Melans,arefoundreputablysettledinthecountyofKent。PersonsofstronggenealogicalpinionpassfromWilliamJenkin,MayorofFolkestonein1555,tohiscontemporary’JohnJenkin,oftheCitieofYork,ReceiverGeneraloftheCounty,’andthence,bywayofJenkinapPhilip,tothepropersummitofanyCambrianpedigree—aprince;’GuaithVoeth,LordofCardigan,’thenameandstyleofhim。Itmaysuffice,however,forthepresent,thattheseKentishJenkinsmusthaveundoubtedlyderivedfromWales,andbeingastockofsomeefficiency,theystruckrootandgrewtowealthandconsequenceintheirnewhome。
OftheirconsequencewehaveproofenoughinthefactthatnotonlywasWilliamJenkin(asalreadymentioned)MayorofFolkestonein1555,butnolessthantwenty—threetimesinthesucceedingcenturyandahalf,aJenkin(William,Thomas,Henry,orRobert)satinthesameplaceofhumblehonour。OftheirwealthweknowthatinthereignofCharlesI。,ThomasJenkinofEythornewasmorethanonceinthemarketbuyingland,andnotably,in1633,acquiredthemanorofStowtingCourt。Thiswasanestateofsome320acres,sixmilesfromHythe,intheBailiwickandHundredofStowting,andtheLatheofShipway,heldoftheCrownINCAPITEbytheserviceofsixmenandaconstabletodefendthepassageoftheseaatSandgate。IthadachequeredhistorybeforeitfellintothehandsofThomasofEythorne,havingbeensoldandgivenfromonetoanother—totheArchbishop,toHeringods,totheBurghershes,toPavelys,Trivets,Cliffords,Wenlocks,Beauchamps,Nevilles,Kempes,andClarkes:apieceofKentishgroundcondemnedtoseenewfacesandtobenoman’shome。Butfrom1633onwarditbecametheanchoroftheJenkinfamilyinKent;andthoughpassedonfrombrothertobrother,heldinsharesbetweenuncleandnephew,burthenedbydebtsandjointures,andatleastoncesoldandboughtinagain,itremainstothisdayinthehandsofthedirectline。Itisnotmydesign,norhaveIthenecessaryknowledge,togiveahistoryofthisobscurefamily。Butthisisanagewhengenealogyhastakenanewleaseoflife,andbecomeforthefirsttimeahumanscience;
sothatwenolongerstudyitinquestoftheGuaithVoeths,buttotraceoutsomeofthesecretsofdescentanddestiny;andaswestudy,wethinklessofSirBernardBurkeandmoreofMr。Galton。
Notonlydoourcharacterandtalentslieupontheanvilandreceivetheirtemperduringgenerations;buttheveryplotofourlife’sstoryunfoldsitselfonascaleofcenturies,andthebiographyofthemanisonlyanepisodeintheepicofthefamily。
FromthispointofviewIaskthereader’sleavetobeginthisnoticeofaremarkablemanwhowasmyfriend,withtheaccessionofhisgreat—grandfather,JohnJenkin。
ThisJohnJenkin,agrandsonofDamarisKingsley,ofthefamilyof’WestwardHo!’wasbornin1727,andmarriedElizabeth,daughterofThomasFrewen,ofChurchHouse,Northiam。TheJenkinshadnowbeenlongenoughintermarryingwiththeirKentishneighbourstobeKentishfolkthemselvesinallbutname;andwiththeFrewensinparticulartheirconnectionissingularlyinvolved。JohnandhiswifewereeachdescendedinthethirddegreefromanotherThomasFrewen,VicarofNorthiam,andbrothertoAcceptedFrewen,ArchbishopofYork。John’smotherhadmarriedaFrewenforasecondhusband。AndthelastcomplicationwastobeaddedbytheBishopofChichester’sbrother,CharlesBuckner,Vice—AdmiraloftheWhite,whowastwicemarried,firsttoapaternalcousinofSquireJohn,andsecondtoAnne,onlysisteroftheSquire’swife,andalreadythewidowofanotherFrewen。ThereadermustbearMrs。
Bucknerinmind;itwasbymeansofthatladythatFleemingJenkinbeganlifeasapoorman。Meanwhile,therelationshipofanyFrewentoanyJenkinattheendoftheseevolutionspresentsaproblemalmostinsoluble;andweneednotwonderifMrs。John,thusexercisedinherimmediatecircle,wasinheroldage’agreatgenealogistofallSussexfamilies,andmuchconsulted。’ThenamesFrewenandJenkinmayalmostseemtohavebeeninterchangeableatwill;andyetFateproceedswithsuchparticularitythatitwasperhapsonthepointofnamethatthefamilywasruined。
TheJohnJenkinshadafamilyofonedaughterandfiveextravagantandunpracticalsons。Theeldest,Stephen,enteredtheChurchandheldthelivingofSalehurst,whereheoffered,wemayhope,anextremeexampleoftheclergyoftheage。Hewasahandsomefigureofaman;jovialandjocular;fondofhisgarden,whichproducedunderhiscarethefinestfruitsoftheneighbourhood;andlikeallthefamily,verychoiceinhorses。Hedrovetandem;likeJehu,furiously。Hissaddlehorse,Captain(forthenamesofhorsesarepiouslypreservedinthefamilychroniclewhichIfollow),wastrainedtobreakintoagallopassoonasthevicar’sfootwasthrownacrossitsback;norwouldthereinbedrawnintheninemilesbetweenNorthiamandtheVicaragedoor。Debtwastheman’sproperelement;heusedtoskulkfromarrestinthechancelofhischurch;andthespeedofCaptainmayhavecomesometimeshandy。Atanearlyagethisunconventionalparsonmarriedhiscook,andbyherhehadtwodaughtersandoneson。Oneofthedaughtersdiedunmarried;theotherimitatedherfather,andmarried’imprudently。’Theson,stillmoregallantlycontinuingthetradition,enteredthearmy,loadedhimselfwithdebt,wasforcedtosellout,tookrefugeintheMarines,andwaslostontheDoggerBankinthewar—shipMINOTAUR。Ifhedidnotmarrybelowhim,likehisfather,hissister,andacertaingreat—uncleWilliam,itwasperhapsbecausehenevermarriedatall。
Thesecondbrother,Thomas,whowasemployedintheGeneralPost—
Office,followedinallmaterialpointstheexampleofStephen,married’notverycreditably,’andspentallthemoneyhecouldlayhishandson。Hediedwithoutissue;asdidthefourthbrother,John,whowasofweakintellectandfeeblehealth,andthefifthbrother,William,whosebriefcareerasoneofMrs。Buckner’ssatelliteswillfalltobeconsideredlateron。Sosoon,then,astheMINOTAURhadstruckupontheDoggerBank,StowtingandthelineoftheJenkinfamilyfellontheshouldersofthethirdbrother,Charles。
Facilityandself—indulgencearethefamilymarks;facility(tojudgebytheseimprudentmarriages)beingatoncetheirqualityandtheirdefect;butinthecaseofCharles,amanofexceptionalbeautyandsweetnessbothoffaceanddisposition,thefamilyfaulthadquitegrowntobeavirtue,andwefindhiminconsequencethedrudgeandmilk—cowofhisrelatives。Bornin1766,Charlesservedatseainhisyouth,andsmeltbothsaltwaterandpowder。TheJenkinshadinclinedhitherto,asfarasIcanmakeout,tothelandservice。Stephen’ssonhadbeenasoldier;William(fourthofStowting)hadbeenanofficeroftheunhappyBraddock’sinAmerica,where,bytheway,heownedandafterwardssoldanestateontheJamesRiver,called,aftertheparentalseat;ofwhichIshouldlikewelltohearifitstillbearsthename。ItwasprobablybytheinfluenceofCaptainBuckner,alreadyconnectedwiththefamilybyhisfirstmarriage,thatCharlesJenkinturnedhismindinthedirectionofthenavy;anditwasinBuckner’sownship,thePROTHEE,64,thattheladmadehisonlycampaign。ItwasinthedaysofRodney’swar,whenthePROTHEE,weread,capturedtwolargeprivateerstowindwardofBarbadoes,andwas’materiallyanddistinguishedlyengaged’inboththeactionswithDeGrasse。WhileatseaCharleskeptajournal,andmadestrangearchaicpilot—booksketches,partplan,partelevation,someofwhichsurvivefortheamusementofposterity。Hedidagooddealofsurveying,sothatherewemayperhapslayourfingeronthebeginningofFleeming’seducationasanengineer。Whatisstillmorestrange,amongtherelicsofthehandsomemidshipmanandhisstayinthegun—roomofthePROTHEE,Ifindacodeofsignalsgraphicallyrepresented,foralltheworldasitwouldhavebeendonebyhisgrandson。
Onthedeclarationofpeace,Charles,becausehehadsufferedfromscurvy,receivedhismother’sorderstoretire;andhewasnotthemantorefusearequest,farlesstodisobeyacommand。Thereuponheturnedfarmer,atradehewastopracticeonalargescale;andwefindhimmarriedtoaMissSchirr,awomanofsomefortune,thedaughterofaLondonmerchant。Stephen,thenotveryreverend,wasstillalive,gallopingaboutthecountryorskulkinginhischancel。ItdoesnotappearwhetherheletorsoldthepaternalmanortoCharles;oneorother,itmusthavebeen;andthesailor—
farmersettledatStowting,withhiswife,hismother,hisunmarriedsister,andhissickbrotherJohn。Outofthesixpeopleofwhomhisnearestfamilyconsisted,threewereinhisownhouse,andtwoothers(thehorse—leeches,StephenandThomas)heappearstohavecontinuedtoassistwithmoreamiabilitythanwisdom。Hehunted,belongedtotheYeomanry,ownedfamoushorses,MaggieandLucy,thelattercovetedbyroyaltyitself。’LordRokeby,hisneighbour,calledhimkinsman,’writesmyartlesschronicler,’andaltogetherlifewasverycheery。’AtStowtinghisthreesons,John,Charles,andThomasFrewen,andhisyoungerdaughter,Anna,wereallborntohim;andthereadershouldherebetoldthatitisthroughthereportofthissecondCharles(born1801)thathehasbeenlookingonattheseconfusedpassagesoffamilyhistory。
Intheyear1805theruinoftheJenkinswasbegun。Itwastheworkofafallaciousladyalreadymentioned,AuntAnneFrewen,asisterofMrs。John。Twicemarried,firsttohercousinCharlesFrewen,clerktotheCourtofChancery,BrunswickHerald,andUsheroftheBlackRod,andsecondlytoAdmiralBuckner,shewasdeniedissueinbothbeds,andbeingveryrich—shediedworthabout60,000L。,mostlyinland—shewasinperpetualquestofanheir。
ThemirageofthisfortunehungbeforesuccessivemembersoftheJenkinfamilyuntilherdeathin1825,whenitdissolvedandleftthelatestAlnascharfacetofacewithbankruptcy。Thegrandniece,Stephen’sdaughter,theonewhohadnot’marriedimprudently,’
appearstohavebeenthefirst;forshewastakenabroadbythegoldenaunt,anddiedinhercareatGhentin1792。NextsheadoptedWilliam,theyoungestofthefivenephews;tookhimabroadwithher—itseemsasifthatwereintheformula;wasshutupwithhiminParisbytheRevolution;broughthimbacktoWindsor,andgothimaplaceintheKing’sBody—Guard,whereheattractedthenoticeofGeorgeIII。byhisproficiencyinGerman。In1797,beingonguardatSt。James’sPalace,Williamtookacoldwhichcarriedhimoff;andAuntAnnewasoncemoreleftheirless。
Lastly,in1805,perhapsmovedbytheAdmiral,whohadakindnessforhisoldmidshipman,perhapspleasedbythegoodlooksandthegoodnatureofthemanhimself,Mrs。BucknerturnedhereyesuponCharlesJenkin。Hewasnotonlytobetheheir,however,hewastobethechiefhandinasomewhatwildschemeoffamilyfarming。
Mrs。Jenkin,themother,contributed164acresofland;Mrs。
Buckner,570,someatNorthiam,somefartheroff;Charlesletone—
halfofStowtingtoatenant,andthrewtheotherandvariousscatteredparcelsintothecommonenterprise;sothatthewholefarmamountedtonearuponathousandacres,andwasscatteredoverthirtymilesofcountry。Theex—seamanofthirty—nine,onwhosewisdomandubiquitytheschemedepended,wastoliveinthemeanwhilewithoutcareorfear。Hewastocheckhimselfinnothing;histwoextravagances,valuablehorsesandworthlessbrothers,weretobeindulgedincomfort;andwhethertheyearquitepaiditselfornot,whethersuccessiveyearsleftaccumulatedsavingsoronlyagrowingdeficit,thefortuneofthegoldenauntshouldintheendrepairall。
OnthisunderstandingCharlesJenkintransportedhisfamilytoChurchHouse,Northiam:Charlesthesecond,thenachildofthree,amongthenumber。Throughtheeyesoftheboywehaveglimpsesofthelifethatfollowed:ofAdmiralandMrs。BucknerdrivingupfromWindsorinacoachandsix,twopost—horsesandtheirownfour;ofthehousefullofvisitors,thegreatroastsatthefire,thetablesintheservants’halllaidforthirtyorfortyforamonthtogether;ofthedailypressofneighbours,manyofwhom,Frewens,Lords,Bishops,Batchellors,andDynes,werealsokinsfolk;andtheparties’underthegreatspreadingchestnutsoftheoldforecourt,’wheretheyoungpeopledancedandmademerrytothemusicofthevillageband。Orperhaps,inthedepthofwinter,thefatherwouldbidyoungCharlessaddlehispony;theywouldridethethirtymilesfromNorthiamtoStowting,withthesnowtothepony’ssaddlegirths,andbereceivedbythetenantslikeprinces。
Thislifeofdelights,withthecontinualvisiblecomingsandgoingsofthegoldenaunt,waswellqualifiedtorelaxthefibreofthelads。John,theheir,ayeomanandafox—hunter,’loudandnotoriouswithhiswhipandspurs,’settleddownintoakindofTonyLumpkin,waitingfortheshoesofhisfatherandhisaunt。
ThomasFrewen,theyoungest,isbrieflydismissedas’ahandsomebeau’;buthehadthemeritorthegoodfortunetobecomeadoctorofmedicine,sothatwhenthecrashcamehewasnotempty—handedforthewaroflife。Charles,attheday—schoolofNorthiam,grewsowellacquaintedwiththerod,thathisfloggingsbecamematterofpleasantryandreachedtheearsofAdmiralBuckner。Hereuponthattall,rough—voiced,formidableuncleenteredwiththeladintoacovenant:everytimethatCharleswasthrashedhewastopaytheAdmiralapenny;everydaythatheescaped,theprocesswastobereversed。’Irecollect,’writesCharles,’goingcryingtomymothertobetakentotheAdmiraltopaymydebt。’Itwouldseembythesetermsthespeculationwasalosingone;yetitisprobableitpaidindirectlybybringingtheboyunderremark。TheAdmiralwasnoenemytodunces;helovedcourage,andCharles,whileyetlittlemorethanababy,wouldridethegreathorseintothepond。
Presentlyitwasdecidedthatherewasthestuffofafinesailor;
andatanearlyperiodthenameofCharlesJenkinwasenteredonaship’sbooks。
FromNorthiamhewassenttoanotherschoolatBoonshill,nearRye,wherethemastertook’infinitedelight’instrappinghim。’Itkeepsmewarmandmakesyougrow,’heusedtosay。Andthestripeswerenotaltogetherwasted,forthedunce,thoughstillvery’raw,’
madeprogresswithhisstudies。Itwasknown,moreover,thathewasgoingtosea,alwaysagroundofpre—eminencewithschoolboys;
andinhiscasetheglorywasnotaltogetherfuture,itworeapresentformwhenhecamedrivingtoRyebehindfourhorsesinthesamecarriagewithanadmiral。’Iwasnotalittleproud,youmaybelieve,’sayshe。
In1814,whenhewasthirteenyearsofage,hewascarriedbyhisfathertoChichestertotheBishop’sPalace。TheBishophadheardfromhisbrothertheAdmiralthatCharleswaslikelytodowell,andhadanorderfromLordMelvilleforthelad’sadmissiontotheRoyalNavalCollegeatPortsmouth。BoththeBishopandtheAdmiralpattedhimontheheadandsaid,’Charleswillrestoretheoldfamily’;bywhichIgatherwithsomesurprisethat,eveninthesedaysofopenhouseatNorthiamandgoldenhopeofmyaunt’sfortune,thefamilywassupposedtostandinneedofrestoration。
Butthepastisapttolookbrighterthannature,abovealltothoseenamouredoftheirgenealogy;andtheravagesofStephenandThomasmusthavealwaysgivenmatterofalarm。
Whatwiththeflatteryofbishopsandadmirals,thefinecompanyinwhichhefoundhimselfatPortsmouth,hisvisitshome,withtheirgaietyandgreatnessoflife,hisvisitstoMrs。Buckner(soonawidow)atWindsor,wherehehadaponykeptforhim,andvisitedatLordMelville’sandLordHarcourt’sandtheLeveson—Gowers,hebegantohave’bumptiousnotions,’andhisheadwas’somewhatturnedwithfinepeople’;astosomeextentitremainedthroughouthisinnocentandhonourablelife。
InthisframeofmindtheboywasappointedtotheCONQUEROR,CaptainDavie,humorouslyknownasGentleJohnnie。Thecaptainhadearnedthisnamebyhisstyleofdiscipline,whichwouldhavefiguredwellinthepagesofMarryat:’Puttheprisoner’sheadinabagandgivehimanotherdozen!’survivesasaspecimenofhiscommands;andthemenwereoftenpunishedtwiceorthriceinaweek。Onboardtheshipofthisdisciplinarian,Charlesandhisfatherwerecarriedinabilly—boatfromSheernessinDecember,1816:Charleswithanoutfitsuitabletohispretensions,atwenty—guineasextantand120dollarsinsilver,whichwereorderedintothecareofthegunner。’Theoldclerksandmates,’hewrites,’usedtolaughandjeermeforjoiningtheshipinabilly—
boat,andwhentheyfoundIwasfromKent,vowedIwasanoldKentishsmuggler。Thistomypride,youwillbelieve,wasnotalittleoffensive。’
THECONQUERORcarriedtheflagofVice—AdmiralPlampin,commandingattheCapeandSt。Helena;andatthatall—importantislet,inJuly,1817,sherelievedtheflagshipofSirPulteneyMalcolm。
ThusitbefelthatCharlesJenkin,comingtoolatefortheepicoftheFrenchwars,playedasmallpartinthedrearyanddisgracefulafterpieceofSt。Helena。Lifeontheguard—shipwasonerousandirksome。Theanchorwasneverlifted,sailnevermade,thegreatgunsweresilent;nonewasallowedonshoreexceptonduty;alldaythemovementsoftheimperialcaptiveweresignalledtoandfro;
allnighttheboatsrowedguardaroundtheaccessibleportionsofthecoast。ThisprolongedstagnationandpettywatchfulnessinwhatNapoleonhimselfcalledthat’unchristian’climate,toldcruellyonthehealthoftheship’scompany。Ineighteenmonths,accordingtoO’Meara,theCONQUERORhadlostonehundredandtenmenandinvalidedhomeonehundredandseven,beingmorethanathirdofhercomplement。ItdoesnotseemthatouryoungmidshipmansomuchasonceseteyesonBonaparte;andyetinotherwaysJenkinwasmorefortunatethansomeofhiscomrades。Hedrewinwater—colour;notsobadlyashisfather,yetillenough;andthisartwassorareaboardtheCONQUERORthatevenhishumbleproficiencymarkedhimoutandprocuredhimsomealleviations。
AdmiralPlampinhadsucceededNapoleonattheBriars;andherehehadyoungJenkinstayingwithhimtomakesketchesofthehistorichouse。OneoftheseisbeforemeasIwrite,andgivesastrangenotionoftheartsinouroldEnglishNavy。YetitwasagainasanartistthattheladwastakenforaruntoRio,andapparentlyforasecondoutinginaten—gunbrig。These,andacruiseofsixweekstowindwardoftheislandundertakenbytheCONQUERORherselfinquestofhealth,weretheonlybreaksinthreeyearsofmurderousinaction;andattheendofthatperiodJenkinwasinvalidedhome,having’losthishealthentirely。’
Asheleftthedeckoftheguard—shipthehistoricpartofhiscareercametoanend。Forforty—twoyearshecontinuedtoservehiscountryobscurelyontheseas,sometimesthankedforinconspicuousandhonourableservices,butdeniedanyopportunityofseriousdistinction。HewasfirsttwoyearsintheLARNE,CaptainTait,huntingpiratesandkeepingawatchontheTurkishandGreeksquadronsintheArchipelago。CaptainTaitwasafavouritewithSirThomasMaitland,HighCommissioneroftheIonianIslands—KingTomashewascalled—whofrequentlytookpassageintheLARNE。KingTomkneweveryinchoftheMediterranean,andwasaterrortotheofficersofthewatch。Hewouldcomeondeckatnight;andwithhisbroadScotchaccent,’Well,sir,’hewouldsay,’whatdepthofwaterhaveye?Wellnow,sound;andye’lljustfindsoorsomanyfathoms,’asthecasemightbe;andtheobnoxiouspassengerwasgenerallyright。Ononeoccasion,astheshipwasgoingintoCorfu,SirThomascameupthehatchwayandcasthiseyestowardsthegallows。’Bangham’—CharlesJenkinheardhimsaytohisaide—de—camp,LordBangham—’wherethedevilisthatotherchap?Ileftfourfellowshangingthere;nowIcanonlyseethree。Mindthereisanotherthereto—morrow。’AndsureenoughtherewasanotherGreekdanglingthenextday。’CaptainHamilton,oftheCAMBRIAN,kepttheGreeksinorderafloat,’writesmyauthor,’andKingTomashore。’
From1823onward,thechiefsceneofCharlesJenkin’sactivitieswasintheWestIndies,wherehewasengagedoffandontill1844,nowasasubaltern,nowinavesselofhisown,huntingoutpirates,’thenverynotorious’intheLeewardIslands,cruisingafterslavers,orcarryingdollarsandprovisionsfortheGovernment。Whileyetamidshipman,heaccompaniedMr。CockburntoCaraccasandhadasightofBolivar。InthebrigantineGRIFFON,whichhecommandedinhislastyearsintheWestIndies,hecarriedaidtoGuadeloupeaftertheearthquake,andtwiceearnedthethanksofGovernment:onceforanexpeditiontoNicaraguatoextort,underthreatofablockade,properapologiesandasumofmoneyduetocertainBritishmerchants;andonceduringaninsurrectioninSanDomingo,fortherescueofcertainothersfromaperilousimprisonmentandtherecoveryofa’chestofmoney’ofwhichtheyhadbeenrobbed。Once,ontheotherhand,heearnedhisshareofpubliccensure。Thiswasin1837,whenhecommandedtheROMNEY
lyingintheinnerharbourofHavannah。TheROMNEYwasinnopropersenseaman—of—war;shewasaslave—hulk,thebondedwarehouseoftheMixedSlaveCommission;wherenegroes,capturedoutofslaversunderSpanishcolours,weredetainedprovisionally,tilltheCommissionshoulddecideupontheircaseandeithersetthemfreeorbindthemtoapprenticeship。Tothisship,alreadyaneye—soretotheauthorities,aCubanslavemadehisescape。Thepositionwasinvidious;ononesidewerethetraditionoftheBritishflagandthestateofpublicsentimentathome;ontheother,thecertaintythatiftheslavewerekept,theROMNEYwouldbeorderedatonceoutoftheharbour,andtheobjectoftheMixedCommissioncompromised。Withoutconsultationwithanyotherofficer,CaptainJenkin(thenlieutenant)returnedthemantoshoreandtooktheCaptain—General’sreceipt。LordPalmerstonapprovedhiscourse;butthezealotsoftheanti—slavetrademovement(nevertobenamedwithoutrespect)weremuchdissatisfied;andthirty—
nineyearslater,thematterwasagaincanvassedinParliament,andLordPalmerstonandCaptainJenkindefendedbyAdmiralErskineinalettertotheTIMES(March13,1876)。
In1845,whilestilllieutenant,CharlesJenkinactedasAdmiralPigot’sflagcaptainintheCoveofCork,wherethereweresomethirtypennants;andaboutthesametime,closedhiscareerbyanactofpersonalbravery。Hehadproceededwithhisboatstothehelpofamerchantvessel,whosecargoofcombustibleshadtakenfireandwassmoulderingunderhatches;hissailorswereinthehold,wherethefumeswerealreadyheavy,andJenkinwasondeckdirectingoperations,whenhefoundhisorderswerenolongeransweredfrombelow:hejumpeddownwithouthesitationandslungupseveralinsensiblemenwithhisownhand。Forthisact,hereceivedaletterfromtheLordsoftheAdmiraltyexpressingasenseofhisgallantry;andprettysoonafterwaspromotedCommander,superseded,andcouldneveragainobtainemployment。
In1828or1829,CharlesJenkinwasinthesamewatchwithanothermidshipman,RobertColinCampbellJackson,whointroducedhimtohisfamilyinJamaica。Thefather,theHonourableRobertJackson,CustosRotulorumofKingston,cameofaYorkshirefamily,saidtobeoriginallyScotch;andonthemother’sside,countedkinshipwithsomeoftheForbeses。ThemotherwasSusanCampbell,oneoftheCampbellsofAuchenbreck。HerfatherColin,amerchantinGreenock,issaidtohavebeentheheirtoboththeestateandthebaronetcy;heclaimedneither,whichcastsadoubtuponthefact,buthehadprideenoughhimself,andtaughtenoughpridetohisfamily,foranystationordescentinChristendom。Hehadfourdaughters。OnemarriedanEdinburghwriter,asIhaveitonafirstaccount—aminister,accordingtoanother—amanatleastofreasonablestation,butnotgoodenoughfortheCampbellsofAuchenbreck;andtheerringonewasinstantlydiscarded。AnothermarriedanactorofthenameofAdcock,whom(asIreceivethetale)shehadseenactinginabarn;butthephraseshouldperhapsberegardedratherasameasureofthefamilyannoyance,thanamirrorofthefacts。Themarriagewasnotinitselfunhappy;
Adcockwasagentlemanbybirthandmadeagoodhusband;thefamilyreasonablyprospered,andoneofthedaughtersmarriednolessamanthanClarksonStanfield。Butbythefather,andthetworemainingMissCampbells,peopleoffiercepassionsandatrulyHighlandpride,thederogationwasbitterlyresented。Forlongthesisterslivedestrangedthen,Mrs。JacksonandMrs。Adcockwerereconciledforamoment,onlytoquarrelthemorefiercely;thenameofMrs。Adcockwasproscribed,nordiditagainpasshersister’slips,untilthemorningwhensheannounced:’MaryAdcockisdead;Isawherinhershroudlastnight。’Secondsightwashereditaryinthehouse;andsureenough,asIhaveitreported,onthatverynightMrs。Adcockhadpassedaway。Thus,ofthefourdaughters,twohad,accordingtotheidioticnotionsoftheirfriends,disgracedthemselvesinmarriage;theotherssupportedthehonourofthefamilywithabettergrace,andmarriedWestIndianmagnatesofwhom,Ibelieve,theworldhasneverheardandwouldnotcaretohear:Sostrangeathingisthishereditarypride。OfMr。Jackson,beyondthefactthathewasFleeming’sgrandfather,I
knownaught。Hiswife,asIhavesaid,wasawomanoffiercepassions;shewouldtieherhouseslavestothebedandlashthemwithherownhand;andherconducttoherwildanddown—goingsons,wasamixtureofalmostinsaneself—sacrificeandwhollyinsaneviolenceoftemper。Shehadthreesonsandonedaughter。Twoofthesonswentutterlytoruin,andreducedtheirmothertopoverty。
ThethirdwenttoIndia,aslim,delicatelad,andpassedsowhollyfromtheknowledgeofhisrelativesthathewasthoughttobelongdead。Yearslater,whenhissisterwaslivinginGenoa,ared—
beardedmanofgreatstrengthandstature,tannedbyyearsinIndia,andhishandscoveredwithbarbaricgems,enteredtheroomunannounced,asshewasplayingthepiano,liftedherfromherseat,andkissedher。Itwasherbrother,suddenlyreturnedoutofapastthatwasneververyclearlyunderstood,withtherankofgeneral,manystrangegems,manycloudystoriesofadventure,andnexthisheart,thedaguerreotypeofanIndianprincewithwhomhehadmixedblood。
Thelastofthiswildfamily,thedaughter,HenriettaCamilla,becamethewifeofthemidshipmanCharles,andthemotherofthesubjectofthisnotice,FleemingJenkin。Shewasawomanofpartsandcourage。Notbeautiful,shehadafarhighergift,theartofseemingso;playedthepartofabelleinsociety,whilefarlovelierwomenwereleftunattended;anduptooldagehadmuchofboththeexigencyandthecharmthatmarkthatcharacter。Shedrewnaturally,forshehadnotraining,withunusualskill;anditwasfromher,andnotfromthetwonavalartists,thatFleeminginheritedhiseyeandhand。Sheplayedontheharpandsangwithsomethingbeyondthetalentofanamateur。Attheageofseventeen,sheheardPastainParis;flewupinafireofyouthfulenthusiasm;andthenextmorning,allaloneandwithoutintroduction,foundherwayintothepresenceofthePRIMADONNA
andbeggedforlessons。Pastamadehersing,kissedherwhenshehaddone,andthoughsherefusedtobehermistress,placedherinthehandsofafriend。Norwasthisall,forwhenPastareturnedtoParis,shesentforthegirl(onceatleast)totestherprogress。ButMrs。Jenkin’stalentswerenotsoremarkableasherfortitudeandstrengthofwill;anditwasinanartforwhichshehadnonaturaltaste(theartofliterature)thatsheappearedbeforethepublic。Hernovels,thoughtheyattainedandmeritedacertainpopularitybothinFranceandEngland,areameasureonlyofhercourage。Theywereatask,notabelovedtask;theywerewrittenformoneyindaysofpoverty,andtheyservedtheirend。
Intheleastthingaswellasinthegreatest,ineveryprovinceoflifeaswellasinhernovels,shedisplayedthesamecapacityoftakinginfinitepains,whichdescendedtoherson。Whenshewasaboutforty(asnearasheragewasknown)shelosthervoice;setherselfatoncetolearnthepiano,workingeighthoursaday;andattainedtosuchproficiencythathercollaborationinchambermusicwascourtedbyprofessionals。Andmorethantwentyyearslater,theoldladymighthavebeenseendauntlesslybeginningthestudyofHebrew。Thisisthemoreetherealpartofcourage;norwasshewantinginthemorematerial。Oncewhenaneighbouringgroom,amarriedman,hadseducedhermaid,Mrs。Jenkinmountedherhorse,rodeovertothestableentranceandhorsewhippedthemanwithherownhand。
Howamatchcameaboutbetweenthistalentedandspiritedgirlandtheyoungmidshipman,isnotveryIeasytoconceive。CharlesJenkinwasoneofthefinestcreaturesbreathing;loyalty,devotion,simplenaturalpiety,boyishcheerfulness,tenderandmanlysentimentintheoldsailorfashion,wereinhiminherentandinextinguishableeitherbyage,suffering,orinjustice。Helooked,ashewas,everyinchagentleman;hemusthavebeeneverywherenotable,evenamonghandsomemen,bothforhisfaceandhisgallantbearing;notsomuchthatofasailor,youwouldhavesaid,aslikeoneofthosegentleandgracefulsoldiersthat,tothisday,arethemostpleasantofEnglishmentosee。Butthoughhewasinthesewaysnoble,theduncescholarofNorthiamwastotheendnogenius。Uponallpointsthatamanmustunderstandtobeagentleman,tobeupright,gallant,affectionateanddeadtoself,CaptainJenkinwasmoreknowingthanoneamongathousand;
outsideofthat,hismindwasverylargelyblank。Hehadindeedasimplicitythatcameneartovacancy;andinthefirstfortyyearsofhismarriedlife,thiswantgrewmoreaccentuated。Inbothfamiliesimprudentmarriageshadbeentherule;butneitherJenkinnorCampbellhadeverenteredintoamoreunequalunion。Itwasthecaptain’sgoodlooks,wemaysuppose,thatgainedforhimthiselevation;andinsomewaysandformanyyearsofhislife,hehadtopaythepenalty。Hiswife,impatientofhisincapacityandsurroundedbybrilliantfriends,usedhimwithacertaincontempt。
Shewasthemanagingpartner;thelifewashers,nothis;afterhisretirementtheylivedmuchabroad,wherethepoorcaptain,whocouldneverlearnanylanguagebuthisown,satinthecornermumchance;andevenhisson,carriedawaybyhisbrightmother,didnotrecogniseforlongthetreasuresofsimplechivalrythatlayburiedintheheartofhisfather。Yetitwouldbeanerrortoregardthismarriageasunfortunate。Itnotonlylastedlongenoughtojustifyitselfinabeautifulandtouchingepilogue,butitgavetotheworldthescientificworkandwhat(whiletimewas)
wereoffargreatervalue,thedelightfulqualitiesofFleemingJenkin。TheKentish—Welshfamily,facile,extravagant,generoustoafaultandfarfrombrilliant,hadgiventhefather,anextremeexampleofitshumblevirtues。Ontheotherside,thewild,cruel,proud,andsomewhatblackguardstockoftheScotchCampbell—
Jacksons,hadputforth,inthepersonofthemotherallitsforceandcourage。
Themarriagefellinevildays。In1823,thebubbleoftheGoldenAunt’sinheritancehadburst。Shediedholdingthehandofthenephewshehadsowantonlydeceived;atthelastshedrewhimdownandseemedtoblesshim,surelywithsomeremorsefulfeeling;forwhenthewillwasopened,therewasnotfoundsomuchasthementionofhisname。Hewasdeeplyindebt;indebteventotheestateofhisdeceiver,sothathehadtosellapieceoflandtoclearhimself。’Mydearboy,’hesaidtoCharles,’therewillbenothingleftforyou。Iamaruinedman。’Andherefollowsformethestrangestpartofthisstory。Fromthedeathofthetreacherousaunt,CharlesJenkin,senior,hadstillsomenineyearstolive;itwasperhapstoolateforhimtoturntosaving,andperhapshisaffairswerepastrestoration。Buthisfamilyatleasthadallthiswhiletoprepare;theywerestillyoungmen,andknewwhattheyhadtolookforattheirfather’sdeath;andyetwhenthathappenedinSeptember,1831,theheirwasstillapatheticallywaiting。PoorJohn,thedaysofhiswhipsandspurs,andYeomanrydinners,werequiteover;andwiththatincrediblesoftnessoftheJenkinnature,hesettleddownfortherestofalonglife,intosomethingnotfarremovedaboveapeasant。ThemillfarmatStowtinghadbeensavedoutofthewreck;andherehebuilthimselfahouseontheMexicanmodel,andmadethetwoendsmeetwithrusticthrift,gatheringdungwithhisownhandsupontheroadandnotatallabashedathisemployment。Indress,voice,andmanner,hefellintomerecountryplainness;livedwithouttheleastcareforappearances,theleastregretforthepastordiscontentmentwiththepresent;andwhenhecametodie,diedwithStoiccheerfulness,announcingthathehadhadacomfortabletimeandwasyetwellpleasedtogo。Onewouldthinktherewaslittleactivevirtuetobeinheritedfromsucharace;andyetinthissamevoluntarypeasant,thespecialgiftofFleemingJenkinwasalreadyhalfdeveloped。Theoldmantotheendwasperpetuallyinventing;
hisstrange,ill—spelled,unpunctuatedcorrespondenceisfull(whenhedoesnotdropintocookeryreceipts)ofpumps,roadengines,steam—diggers,steam—ploughs,andsteam—threshingmachines;andI
haveitonFleeming’swordthatwhathedidwasfullofingenuity—
only,asifbysomecrossdestiny,useless。Thesedisappointmentshenotonlytookwithimperturbablegoodhumour,butrejoicedwithaparticularrelishoverhisnephew’ssuccessinthesamefield。
’Igloryintheprofessor,’hewrotetohisbrother;andtoFleeminghimself,withatouchofsimpledrollery,’Iwasmuchpleasedwithyourlecture,butwhydidyouhitmesohardwithConisure’s’(connoisseur’s,QUASIamateur’s)’engineering?Oh,whatpresumption!—eitherofyouorMYself!’Aquaint,patheticfigure,thisofuncleJohn,withhisdungcartandhisinventions;
andtheromanticfancyofhisMexicanhouse;andhiscrazeabouttheLostTribeswhichseemedtotheworthymanthekeyofallperplexities;andhisquietconscience,lookingbackonalifenotaltogethervain,forhewasagoodsontohisfatherwhilehisfatherlived,andwhenevildaysapproached,hehadprovedhimselfacheerfulStoic。
ItfollowedfromJohn’sinertia,thatthedutyofwindinguptheestatefellintothehandsofCharles。Hemanageditwithnomoreskillthanmightbeexpectedofasailorashore,savedabarelivelihoodforJohnandnothingfortherest。Eightmonthslater,hemarriedMissJackson;andwithhermoney,boughtinsometwo—
thirdsofStowting。InthebeginningofthelittlefamilyhistorywhichIhavebeenfollowingtosogreatanextent,theCaptainmentions,withadelightfulpride:’ACourtBaronandCourtLeetareregularlyheldbytheLadyoftheManor,Mrs。HenriettaCamillaJenkin’;andindeedthepleasureofsodescribinghiswife,wasthemostsolidbenefitoftheinvestment;forthepurchasewasheavilyencumberedandpaidthemnothingtillsomeyearsbeforetheirdeath。Inthemeanwhile,theJacksonfamilyalso,whatwithwildsons,anindulgentmotherandtheimpendingemancipationoftheslaves,wasmovingnearerandnearertobeggary;andthusoftwodoomedanddeclininghouses,thesubjectofthismemoirwasborn,heirtoanestateandtonomoney,yetwithinheritedqualitiesthatweretomakehimknownandloved。
CHAPTERII。1833—1851。
BirthandChildhood—Edinburgh—Frankfort—on—the—Main—Paris—
TheRevolutionof1848—TheInsurrection—FlighttoItaly—
SympathywithItaly—TheInsurrectioninGenoa—AStudentinGenoa—TheLadandhisMother。
HENRYCHARLESFLEEMINGJENKIN(Fleeming,pronouncedFlemming,tohisfriendsandfamily)wasborninaGovernmentbuildingonthecoastofKent,nearDungeness,wherehisfatherwasservingatthetimeintheCoastguard,onMarch25,1833,andnamedafterAdmiralFleeming,oneofhisfather’sprotectorsinthenavy。
Hischildhoodwasvagrantlikehislife。OncehewasleftinthecareofhisgrandmotherJackson,whileMrs。Jenkinsailedinherhusband’sshipandstayedayearattheHavannah。Thetragicwomanwasbesidesfromtimetotimeamemberofthefamilyshewasindistressofmindandreducedinfortunebythemisconductofhersons;herdestitutionandsolitudemadeitarecurringdutytoreceiveher,herviolencecontinuallyenforcedfreshseparations。
Inherpassionofadisappointedmother,shewasafitobjectofpity;buthergrandson,whoheardherloadhisownmotherwithcruelinsultsandreproaches,conceivedforheranindignantandimpatienthatred,forwhichheblamedhimselfinlaterlife。ItisstrangefromthispointofviewtoseehischildishletterstoMrs。
Jackson;andtothinkthataman,distinguishedaboveallbystubborntruthfulness,shouldhavebeenbroughtuptosuchdissimulation。Butthisisofcourseunavoidableinlife;itdidnoharmtoJenkin;andwhetherhegotharmorbenefitfromasoearlyacquaintancewithviolentandhatefulscenes,ismorethanI
canguess。Theexperience,atleast,wasformative;andinjudginghischaracteritshouldnotbeforgotten。ButMrs。Jacksonwasnottheonlystrangerintheirgates;theCaptain’ssister,AuntAnnaJenkin,livedwiththemuntilherdeath;shehadalltheJenkinbeautyofcountenance,thoughshewasunhappilydeformedinbodyandoffrailhealth;andsheevenexcelledhergentleandineffectualfamilyinallamiablequalities。SothateachofthetworacesfromwhichFleemingsprang,hadanoutpostbyhisverycradle;theoneheinstinctivelyloved,theotherhated;andthelife—longwarinhismembershadbegunthusearlybyavictoryforwhatwasbest。
WecantracethefamilyfromonecountryplacetoanotherinthesouthofScotland;wherethechildlearnedhistasteforsportbyridinghometheponyfromthemoors。BeforehewasninehecouldwritesuchapassageasthisaboutaHallowe’enobservance:’I
pulledamiddling—sizedcabbage—runtwithaprettysumofgoldaboutit。NowitcheswouldrunaftermewhenIwassowingmyhempseedthisyear;mynutsblazedawaytogetherverycomfortablytotheendoftheirlives,andwhenmammaputhersinwhichweremeantforherselfandpapatheyblazedawayinthelikemanner。’
Beforehewastenhecouldwrite,withareallyirritatingprecocity,thathehadbeen’makingsomepicturesfromabookcalled"LesFrancaispeintspareuxmemes。"……Itisfullofpicturesofallclasses,withadescriptionofeachinFrench。Thepicturesarealittlecaricatured,butnotmuch。’Doubtlessthiswasonlyanechofromhismother,butitshowstheatmosphereinwhichhebreathed。ItmusthavebeenagoodchangeforthisartcritictobetheplaymateofMaryMacdonald,theirgardener’sdaughteratBarjarg,andtosupwithherfamilyonpotatoesandmilk;andFleeminghimselfattachedsomevaluetothisearlyandfriendlyexperienceofanotherclass。
Hiseducation,intheformalsense,beganatJedburgh。ThencehewenttotheEdinburghAcademy,wherehewastheclassmateofTaitandClerkMaxwell,boreawaymanyprizes,andwasonceunjustlyfloggedbyRectorWilliams。Heusedtoinsistthatallhisbadschoolfellowshaddiedearly,abeliefamusinglycharacteristicoftheman’sconsistentoptimism。In1846themotherandsonproceededtoFrankfort—on—the—Main,wheretheyweresoonjoinedbythefather,nowreducedtoinactionandtoplaysomethinglikethirdfiddleinhisnarrowhousehold。Theemancipationoftheslaveshaddeprivedthemoftheirlastresourcebeyondthehalf—payofacaptain;andlifeabroadwasnotonlydesirableforthesakeofFleeming’seducation,itwasalmostenforcedbyreasonsofeconomy。Butitwas,nodoubt,somewhatharduponthecaptain。
Certainlythatperennialboyfoundacompanioninhisson;theywerebothactiveandeager,bothwillingtobeamused,bothyoung,ifnotinyears,thenincharacter。Theywentouttogetheronexcursionsandsketchedoldcastles,sittingsidebyside;theyhadanangryrivalryinwalking,doubtlessequallysincereuponbothsides;andindeedwemaysaythatFleemingwasexceptionallyfavoured,andthatnoboyhadeveracompanionmoreinnocent,engaging,gay,andairy。Butalthoughinthiscaseitwouldbeeasytoexaggerateitsimport,yet,intheJenkinfamilyalso,thetragedyofthegenerationswasproceeding,andthechildwasgrowingoutofhisfather’sknowledge。Hisartisticaptitudewasofadifferentorder。Alreadyhehadhisquicksightofmanysidesoflife;healreadyoverflowedwithdistinctionsandgeneralisations,contrastingthedramaticartandnationalcharacterofEngland,Germany,Italy,andFrance。Ifheweredull,hewouldwritestoriesandpoems。’Ihavewritten,’hesaysatthirteen,’averylongstoryinheroicmeasure,300lines,andanotherScotchstoryandinnumerablebitsofpoetry’;andatthesameagehehadnotonlyakeenfeelingforscenery,butcoulddosomethingwithhispentocallitup。IfeelIdoalwayslessthanjusticetothedelightfulmemoryofCaptainJenkin;butwithaladofthischaracter,cuttingtheteethofhisintelligence,hewassuretofallintothebackground。
Thefamilyremovedin1847toParis,whereFleemingwasputtoschoolunderoneDeluc。TherehelearnedFrench,and(ifthecaptainisright)firstbegantoshowatasteformathematics。ButafarmoreimportantteacherthanDelucwasathand;theyear1848,somomentousforEurope,wasmomentousalsoforFleeming’scharacter。ThefamilypoliticswereLiberal;Mrs。Jenkin,generousbeforeallthings,wassuretobeuponthesideofexiles;andinthehouseofaParisfriendofhers,Mrs。Turner—alreadyknowntofameasShelley’sCorneliadeBoinville—FleemingsawandheardsuchmenasManin,Gioberti,andtheRuffinis。Hewasthuspreparedtosympathisewithrevolution;andwhenthehourcame,andhefoundhimselfinthemidstofstirringandinfluentialevents,thelad’swholecharacterwasmoved。HecorrespondedatthattimewithayoungEdinburghfriend,oneFrankScott;andIamheregoingtodrawsomewhatlargelyonthisboyishcorrespondence。ItgivesusatonceapictureoftheRevolutionandaportraitofJenkinatfifteen;notsodifferent(hisfriendswillthink)fromtheJenkinoftheend—boyish,simple,opinionated,delightinginaction,delightingbeforeallthingsinanygeneroussentiment。