204 



THE HEROES OF THE OLD FALMOUTH PACKET SERVICE, 



By the Rev. W. lAGO, B. A. (a Vice-President, &c., of the Royal Institution 

 of Cornwall) ; Westheath, Bodmin. 



The Oil-Painting which the accompanying illustration 

 represents, in reduced form, has a special interest for Cornish 

 folk, as it pourtrays one of the numerous defence-fights in 

 which the grandfathers and other relatives of many of them 

 had to engage, when, — in the service of their Country, — they 

 were ruthlessly attacked on the high seas by out-numbering 

 foreign foes. 



It is not a mere fancy picture, but was painted by an 

 eminent contemporary artist from details supplied by the 

 survivors of the action. It is a portrait group, and its general 

 character throws light on the exploits of a host of brave men 

 connected with the Falmouth Packet Service, this contest being 

 one link in a long, exciting series. There were many actions 

 very similar ; and some, in certain respects, even more remark- 

 able ; whilst several, less fortunate in their issue, were not less 

 heroic, for none of those involved could foresee whether their 

 struggles would result in Victory, Captivity, or Death. 



The Falmouth Packets were not an attacking force, but were 

 occupied in the peaceful pursuits of Commerce. They were 

 commissioned to carry the Mails, and many of their Commanders 

 were Officers of the Royal Navy, yet the Government very 

 inadequately provided them with even the means of self-defence. 

 This last-mentioned fact has awakened feelings of never-ending 



Not having been furnished with the amount of armed 

 support they ought to have received, the Packet heroes had to 

 contend against terrible odds, and suffered accordingly. The 

 brave Cornish won, — they lost, — numbers of them were 

 grievously wounded or slain, and many of them were compelled 

 to endure for lengthened periods the horrors of loathsome 

 dungeons in foreign lands. 



Small bands of heroic men, defying hordes of enemies, 

 often succeeded, after superhuman exertion, in saving what 

 remained of their battered ships, but most of those who chanced 

 to survive had no defenders to thank, and received little besides 

 their lives as recompense. Prize-taking was not, in their case, 

 recognised. As to pecuniary profits, only a small number of 

 those concerned were so fortunate as to obtain, after many 

 voyages in course of years, enough for a moderate retirement, 

 whilst many of the families of those who fell were left without 

 a maintenance. 



