236 
THE BROME-WALTON FAMILY. 
Captain Thomas James, R.A., 1 2 who was also to command the two 
bomb-ships and two tenders; also 19 ships of war, under Admirals Sir 
Edward Hawke (blue) and Boseawen (red). The General was put 
under control of a council, consisting of the two Admirals and two 
Generals of Divisions (Sir John, afterwards Lord Ligonier, and Major- 
General Conway) : and without any artillery officers on the staff. The 
expedition sailed from the Isle of Wight on 6th September (after 
innumerable delays) ; and returned to Spithead in October without 
having accomplished anything beyond costing one million of money 
and destroying the fortress of Aix in the Isle of Rhe. For a full, true, 
and particular account of this expedition, and host of pamphlets to 
which it gave rise, see “ The Gentleman’s Magazine,” I 758, pp. 4, 5, 
27, 29, 32, with excellent charts on pp. 206, 588; also, the printed 
proceedings of General Court-Martial on Sir John Mordaunt, 1757. 
A complete history of the Royal Artillery should synchronise all the 
army and navy expeditions against Rochfort and its approach batteries 
since that of Capt. Valentine Pyne, R.A., Master-Gunner of England, 
in 1627; 3 but some items may prove of artillery interest. This was 
the first occasion on which the Engineers obtained army rank and com¬ 
mand apart from the Royal Artillery. 3 The courtesy of the Board of 
Ordnance towards Captain James, commanding R.A., is evidenced on 
p. 262 of the “ Cleaveland MSS.,” and is in marked contrast with the 
treatment of Lieut.-Colonel Robe on embarking for the Peninsula, 1809, 
in command of the artillery of Wellesley’s army. 4 Captain James’s 
“ Book of Artillery,” 1725 (particularised in Chapter III., foot note 5, 
and “ Proceedings ” R.A.I., Vol. XX., No. 9, p. 479), which he had with 
him at Culloden and at Rochfort, is now deposited with the “ Dickson 
MSS.” 
As Bomb-ships drew 11 feet of water, and ships of war from 23 to 
30 feet, 5 the long boat of each war-ship was, for the first time, armed 
with light ,6-pr. (brass) at the bow by Captain James, R.A., with two 
boxes of ammunition (grape and round shot), worked by the Royal 
Artillery ; 6 Captain James would have none of Abra. Tovey’s case shot, 
which had not had a fair trial on its first employment with Braddock’s 
ill-fated expedition [see Chapter IV.), and Captain Tovey was not em¬ 
ployed with present expedition. 
Of the two Bomb-ships —Infernal (commanded by Captain P. Innes, 
R.A., James Mackenzie, Master), and Firedrake —the former grounded 
in the Channel and was unsuccessfully attacked by French flat-bottom 
1 Now No. 1 Company, Western Division, R.A., at Bermuda, commanded by Major A. Tracey. 
For armament of ye Train, see “ CleavelandJMSS.,” p. 259. 
2 “Succession List of Master-Gunners of England,” anno 1627. “Proceedings” R.A.I., 
Vol. XIX., No. 6. 
3 “ Cleaveland MSS.,” p. 262. 
4 The first instance of “ personal allowance ” to officers travelling on extra regimental duty now 
occurred. Mrs. Pitt (not yet Countess of Chatham) summoned Captain James from Woolwich to 
Portsmouth, to explain the bombs and grape shot, which resulted in the following “ Orders to Pay¬ 
masters,” 1757, “To Capt. James, R.A., as a present, for attending Mrs. Pitt, at Portsmouth, 
£6.” 
5 “ Gentleman’s Magazine,” 1758, pp. 4-5. 
6 Beatson, Vol. II., p. 68, “ Cleaveland MSS.,” p. 269. 
