- $62 
: | Account of the late Admiral Roddam. 
lieved to be one of the most ancient in the 
British dominions. Mr. Roddam (the subject 
_ of these memoirs) went to seaasa midshipman 
in the Lowestoffe, in the year 1735—6. He 
served also as midshipman in the Russell, 
Cumberland, and Boyne, and was upon the® 
Antigua. station with Captain Drummond 
ofthe Lowestoffe more than five years. 
Sir Oltaloner Ogle then took him into his 
own ship, on his way to Jamaica,~ to join 
Admiral Vernon, whom he accompanied 
on the different expeditions to Hispaniola, 
_Carthagena, the island of Cuba, Cumberland 
harbour, &c. The young sailor shewed 
great valour and intrepidity, yet had the 
good luck to escape without injury, though 
a part of his coat was shot off by a cannons 
ball. On the Sd of November, 1741, he 
was made third lieutenant of the Superb, 
in which he returned the same year to Eng- 
land, and, though so young an officer, had 
the good fortune to save the ship twice on her 
passage home. The Superb was paid off at 
Plymouth in 1742, and Mr. Roddam was 
commissioned third Lieutenant of the Mon- 
mouth. the 7th of September, 1742. Charles 
Wyndham, esq. commanded the Monmouth; 
Ihe was a most correct and excellent officer. 
Being on a cruize off the island of Teneriffe, 
the captain (as was his constant practice at 
night) gave particular orders that every in- 
cident should be inserted in the log-book. 
Lieut. Roddam, as first watch, received Capt. 
‘Wyndham’s commands to put the ship about 
at twelve o'clock, which he unsuccessfully 
attempted.to do three times, although there 
Was no apparent obstacle; and when Lieut. 
Hamilton went upon deck to relieve the 
watch, Roddam told him that witchcraft must 
have prevented the ship from going about, 
and bidding Hamilton go forward, in his pre- 
sence he once more attempted it, when the 
ship missed stays a fourth time ; a fortunate 
Circumstance, as it proved in the event; for 
so much time was thus occupied, that day- 
ight commencing, a sail was perceived a-liead 
of the Monmouth, which they chased, and 
took. She proved to be a Spanish ship of 
about one hundred thousand pounds value, 
and which would net. have been seen but for 
this accident. Lieut. Koddam related this 
circunsstance to his captain soon after, at the 
same time reminding him that his custom of 
inspecting the log-book had been neglected, 
or he would there have seen that bis com- 
mands had not been obeyed; but Captain 
W yndbam’s good jortune had of course made 
him forgetful of his rule, and he was much 
pleased at the lucky cizcumstance that had 
stayed the hand of his young lieutenant. 
On the 14th of July, 1744, young &oddam 
was made second lieutenant o: the same ship, 
Captain Henry Harrison then commander, 
and on the 14th or July, 1746, he was pro- 
moted to the commund of his Majesty’s sloop 
Viper. About this time-Lord Anson (then 
Bir. Anson) wert to Portsmouta to come 
a 
[May 1, 
mand the western squadron, and expressing a 
strong wish to all the captains te stop a fleet 
at that time lying at Plymouth, they urged 
the impracticability of the undertaking in a 
high south-west wind, and stated many other 
concurring obstacles. Mr. Roddam, the 
youngest captain, instantly undertook to try 
the possibility of stopping them, though his 
sloop being just off the stocks, was in every 
way incomplete, and he performed Mr. Anson’s 
wish with a readiness and alacrity, which 
shewed that quickness and steadiness are not 
incompatible, but when united, may effect 
what neither separately can accomplish. This 
was so strong a recommendation to that great 
naval officer, Lord Anson, that he immedi- 
ately wrote to the Lords of the Admiralty. for 
leave to take Captain Roddam under his com- 
mand. In the course of that year Admiral 
Sir Peter Warren, then commanding the 
western squadron, received intelligence from 
a Bristol privateer that more than thirty ves-. 
sels was in Sidera bay, near Cape Ortu- 
gal, laden with naval stores. Sir Peter en- 
quired if the privateer’s captain could carry in 
any of his Majesty’s ships ; to which he re- 
plied in the negative. The admiral then 
asked if any battery sheltered them ; and be- 
ing answered there were two, and that the 
entrance was very narrow, he determined to 
relinquish the attempt as impracticable.~ 
Capt. Harrison, of the Monmouth, being pre- 
sent, recommended the Admiral to send the 
Viper, which Roddam commanded, adding, 
‘« He would answer for that young man ef- 
fecting all that human nature could perform 3” 
and on that day, Captain Roddam received 
his orders, to sail in the evening, and was 
off the first battery next morning, which he 
carried, destroyed all the guns, and also teok 
a privateer then coming out: he proceeded 
into the bay, burnt more than thirty sail of 
vessels, and on the third day rejoined his Ad- 
miral with three or four prizes, not being 
able to man more from his little sloop of 
fourteen guns and ninety menand boys. The 
_town offered to surrender on his own terms; _ 
but Captain Roddam told the inhabitants that 
he cid not come to aggrandize himself and 
crew by distressing harmless individuals, but 
only such as armed against Great Britain, the 
number of whom at the first battery amounted 
to about five hundred men. Upon Captain 
Roddam’s return to the squadron, he was 
met at entering the port by Admiral Sir Peter 
Warren, who taking him in his arms, thanked 
hin most warmly for the most important ser- 
vice he had rendered his country, which with 
his answer to the inhabitants, so pleased and 
gratified this gallant and humame Admiral, 
that his statement or the affair to the Lords of 
the Admitairy immediately obtained Captain 
Reddam the command of the Greyhound fri- 
gate, of 24 guns, with the rank of post-cap- 
tain, to which he was appointed the 7th, of 
July, 1747. On-his return to England in 
the Viper, being eff Portsmouth, and no 
: otherwise — 
