British Hydrographic Surveys in the Mediterranean in the early years of the Nineteenth Century
By Andrew David
Abstract ^ In the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars there was a resurgence of hydrographic activity around the world. In the Mediterranean the British effort was spearheaded by William Henry Smyth with Francis Beaufort also making a considerable contribution. Smyth also carried out joint surveys with Neapolitan and Austrian surveyors in the Adriatic and co-operated with the French Captain Pierre-Henri Guattier, in an early example of international co-operation in the field of hydrography.
m m Résumé Les guerres napoléoniennes ont eu pour corollaire la résurgence des activités hydrographiques à travers le monde. En Méditerranée, les travaux britanniques ont été conduits par William Henry Smyth avec la remarqua ble contribution de Francis Beaufort. Smyth a également effectué des levés conjoints avec les hydrographes napolitains et autrichiens, dans l’Adriatique, et a coopéré avec le capitaine de vaisseau français Pierre-Henri Guattier, un des pre miers exemples de coopération internationale dans le domaine de l’hydrographie.
Resumen En las condiciones que resultaron de las Guerras Napoleônicas hubo una resurgencia de actividad hidrogrâfica en el mundo. En el Medite- rrâneo, el esfuerzo britânico fue encabezado por William Henry SMYTH, habiendo efectuado también una considerable contribuciôn Francis BEAUFORT. SMYTH tam- bién Ilevô a cabo levantamientos conjuntos con los hidrôgrafos napolitanos y aus- triacos en el Adriâtico y coopéré con el Capitân de Navîo francés Pierre-Henri GUATTIER, en un prematuro ejemplo de cooperaciôn internacionai en el campo de la hidrografia. When the British Hydrographic Office was estab Captain Francis Beaufort, however, also made an lished in 1795, the task of Alexander Dalrymple, important contribution. In 1811 Beaufort was the first Hydrographer to the Admiralty, was at cruising in the Greek Archipelago, in command of first merely concerned with cataloguing the the frigate Frederickstein, when he was ordered to numerous surveys held in the Admiralty and survey the uncharted southern coast of Asia Minor, deciding which were suitable for publication. which was known in those days as Karamania. There was no regular programme of surveying and Beaufort was a good choice as he had already car the occasional major surveys that were undertak ried out a number of excellent surveys, chiefly in en were initiated by the Admiralty and not by the South America, as well as being skilled at astro Hydrographer. In consequence, at the start of the nomical observations. Having first obtained the nineteenth century, most of the surveys of the necessary ferman or passport from the Porte in Mediterranean reaching the Hydrographic Office Smyrna, present day Izmir, Beaufort started his were the work of enthusiastic but unskilled naval survey at Makry [Kurtoglu Burnu], a point on the officers carried out during the course of their nor Turkish mainland about 40 miles eastward of mal duties. Nevertheless, Dalrymple was able to Rhodes, by fixing its geographical position. An publish a number of Admiralty charts to support observatory was set up ashore where latitude was the British fleet in the Mediterranean under the obtained using an excellent circle by Troughton and command of Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson (David longitude by observing the eclipses of Jupiter's 2005). No regular coastal surveys had been car satellites with a two-inch reflecting telescope. Lon ried out in the Mediterranean, and the geographi gitude was then carried forward to the next observ cal positions of few places there were accurately ing station by Frederickstein’s three chronometers. known. In 1814, Captain Thomas Hurd, Dalrym- Latitude was carried forward by further observa ple’s successor as Hydrographer to the Admiralty, tions ashore with Troughton’s circle, or by observa in a lengthy report to J.W. Croker, the Secretary of tion on board by sextants. Having fixed the position the Admiralty, on the state of hydrography pointed of Makry, Beaufort commenced his survey in an out that in the Mediterranean eastward direction, landing at frequent intervals to delineate the coastline, while the frigate’s boats, ...our knowledge is very limited, particularly on the under sails or oars, fixed the positions of any off- Southern Coasts thereof, from Algiers to Alexan lying rocks and obtained the necessary soundings dria, and from thence along the Syrian Shore to the by lead-line. As he explored the coastline Beaufort Gulf of Scanderoon [Iskenderon Kôrfezi], where found numerous remains of former civilisations, Captain Beaufort's late survey ended. Likewise of mainly Greek and Roman, though some dated from the Coast and Islands in the Archipelago, together the time of the Crusades. Although it delayed his with the whole Eastern Side of the Adriatic, of main survey a little, Beaufort felt it was his duty to which Sea our ignorance is so great as to leave us examine the more interesting ruins and to draw without any information as to the real extent or plans and sketches of them. As some made excel width of its entrance from the Mediterranean (Day lent navigational marks, their positions had to be 1967). fixed in any case.
In a further report to Croker on 26 June 1816, After he had surveyed about 100 miles of coast Hurd requested that Commander William Henry line, Beaufort decided it was time to obtain anoth Smyth, who on his own initiative had been carrying er geographical position. A convenient place for his out surveys in the Mediterranean since 1809, observatory would have been Adalia, the modern should be furnished with a ship (UKHO Letter Antalya, as it was the largest port in the vicinity, Book}, thus setting his survey work on a much but on reaching Cape Avova [Koca Burnu], 18 miles more officiai basis. As a result, by 1825, when south of Adalia, Beaufort was surprised to hear Smyth finally returned to England, most of the defi gunfire. This he learnt was an attempt by a ciencies pointed out by Hurd had been made good, deposed Bay to retake the town. Beaufort there mainly by the efforts of Smyth and his subordi fore decided to remain at Cape Avova and set up nates. Smyth added so much to the knowledge of his observatory there, where a satisfactory obser the area that he was known in later years as vation was obtained, using an eclipse of the Moon ‘Mediterranean Smyth’. to obtain an excellent longitude. Beaufort had hoped that by remaining at the cape his presence ‘Undoubtedly’ replied the Governor, ‘for so am I would not be detected as he had no wish to enjoined to do by the ferman, but as it contains no become involved in local disputes. These hopes directions about your coming out again, you will were in vain. Adalia had been recaptured and soon perhaps forgive this momentary pause, before we a large body of defeated troops arrived at the pass the drawbridge’ (Beaufort 1817). The French beach abreast the ship, requesting protection. This captain, not wishing to put this to the test, left was at first refused, but the next morning with the without seeing the marbles. Beaufort likewise arrival of pursuing cavalry and an armed vessel, deemed it wise not to press the point. By now the Beaufort embarked the refugees as he was not season was well advanced and after examining prepared to stand by and see them butchered in some uninhabited islands to establish the neces cold blood. After first attempting to land them on sary quarantine, Beaufort sailed for Malta where the mainland further up the coast and then at he was to spend the winter. Rhodes, the refugees were eventually put ashore on the island of Kos. This gave Beaufort the oppor In the spring of 1812 Beaufort resumed his survey tunity to survey the island and adjacent mainland, at Cape Avova where its progress had been halted where he visited and surveyed the port of Bood- the previous year by his encounter with the fugitive room [Bodrum]. Here once more there were inter Turks. In spite of his help for the rebels, Beaufort esting ruins to be examined, which he decided had a friendly reception from the Bey when he first were the remains of the ancient city of Halicarnas reached Adalia. Later, however, he was treated sus. Beaufort was particularly keen to see inside with suspicion as the Bey clearly thought that the local fort, where it was said there were some Beaufort had been sent from the Porte to depose interesting marbles. On requesting permission him. In spite of being unwelcome ashore, Beaufort from the Governor, Beaufort was told the story of a was still able to note that the town had a thriving French frigate captain who had also expressed a trade; English and German goods were being sold desire to see the marbles. The Governor told him in the market and in the harbour wheat was being that he had no authority to grant his request with loaded into ships for British garrisons in the out direct orders from the Porte. The French cap Mediterranean. tain was, however, determined to see the marbles and left to obtain the necessary permission. Hav As he continued his survey to the east, Beaufort ing successfully obtained the appropriate ferman found many more Greek and Roman ruins, all of the Frenchman presented it to the Governor and which he was at pains to identify with their classical together they proceeded to the entrance to the origins. At the site of the ancient town of Sidé, about fort. Here the Governor paused, saying that the midway between Antalya and Alanya, there were orders of his Master must be implicitly obeyed. ‘Let some magnificent ruins in an excellent state of me in, then’, exclaimed the impatient captain. preservation, the most striking of which was a the
W est ‘Harbour of Boodroom, the antient Halicarnassus'; original drawing by Francis Beaufort; UKHO, OD 524. Reproduced by permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office
"^fbotu- d R OOOROOM ihc a r u i e n t and the UK Hydrographic Office. atre capable of accommodating over 13,000 specta angles into many prominent features, including the tors. Beaufort regretted he could not spare the time coast of Cyprus, 60 miles away. to examine all the ruins adequately since the survey had to take priority and there was a great length of About 40 miles eastward of Seliniti Beaufort reached coastline still to be explored. However, Beaufort had the impressive castle of Anamôur [Anamur], inhabit to examine the ruins of Seliniti, which he identified ed by a friendly Agha. In the castle Beaufort set up with the ancient Trajanopolis, known to the Turks as his observatory once more, for what was to prove his Gazipaça, since they commanded such a magnifi last observation for geographical position. Further to cent view. From the ruins of the castle, situated on the east another place of interest was the ruins of a lofty cape, the surveyors were able to observe Soli or Pompeiopolis, near the town of Mersin [icel]
Sailc o f TarcLr. !.]-i : j.l i i-i-i.l where there had once been a well constructed artifi marshes. It was in the gulf, on 20 June 1812 that cial harbour. Beaufort measured the remains of the the survey came to an abrupt halt. Beaufort and his moles and found them to be 50 feet thick. Further party were embarking instruments in a little cove on on, a place of particular interest was the ancient city the north side of the guif when an armed party of of Tarsus, which lay only a few hours ride inland. Turks tried to rush the boat. Beaufort fired his fowl Beaufort, to his regret, could not spare the time to ing piece over their heads, gaining sufficient time to visit this famous place, although a party of his offi turn the boat and almost get clear of the cove. How cers was able to make the trip. However, he can have ever, one of the Turks was more resolute than the missed very little since his officers were not very well rest and took deliberate aim at Beaufort who was received by the Governor of the city and there were seriously wounded. Another boat was also attacked few antiquities left to see. This reception prompted and a young midshipman killed. This caused the sur Beaufort to remark that they invariably found the civil vey to be broken off and the Frederickstein accord ity of the natives to be exactly in the inverse ratio of ingly returned to Malta. For a time Beaufort’s life their distance from the ship; and of course her guns! hung in the balance and all thoughts of continuing the survey had to be abandoned. From Tarsus the survey continued to the east into the Gulf of Iskenderoon [iskenderon Kôrfezi], where In spite of not being able to complete his survey, the coastline became very flat and fringed with Beaufort delineated over 400 miles of almost
'Plan of Cape Anamôur’; original survey drawn by Francis Beaufort; UKHO, E l 18. Reproduced by permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office and the UK Hydrographic Office. unknown coastline. In addition to this routine sur surveys. This was done so well that they were vey work, magnetic variation was observed whenev ready for the engraver without any further alter er possible so that it could be shown on the com ations or additions. They were eventually published pleted charts. Care was also taken to obtain the by Hurd in 1819 and consisted of an index chart, local names from the various Aghas so that they six coastal sheets with inset plans of harbours and could be given on the charts in their Turkish four sheets of plans. Although much of Beaufort’s spelling as well as being transliterated into Eng work has now been superseded by later surveys, lish. Inscriptions still visible on ruins of public chart 2632, based on his original survey was only buildings often enabled Beaufort to add the withdrawn in 1988. His charts were available sep ancient name as well. Views were taken of the arately or, as was common practise in those days, coast in many places but Beaufort regretted that bound together in an atlas. In 1820 a Memoir they were mostly too close inshore to be of any use (Beaufort 1820) was published to accompany the for navigation. To have stood out to sea to obtain atlas as sailing directions; it also gave details of them would have interfered with his running sur how his survey was carried out. Earlier, in 1817, vey. Beaufort had hoped to have made good this Beaufort had published his famous book Karama- deficiency on his return westward as well as obtain nia with a fuller description of the area and an ing some offshore soundings. excellent account of the antiquities that he had found. This classic account is today much sought After recovering in Malta Beaufort returned to Eng after by archaeologists as still being one of the land in 1813 never to serve at sea again. The next best accounts of that part of the world. After com six years were spent in drawing his charts from his pleting his charts Beaufort was unemployed until
‘Alicant’; original survey drawn by W.H. Smyth; UKHO, L2207. Reproduced by permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office and the UK Hydrographic Office. .c- 1829 when he was appointed Hydrographer of the the opportunity arose. Between them they exam Navy, filling the post with great distinction for 26 ined the Hydrographic Office's archives in which years. they found many detached surveys but few geo graphical positions by which they could be connect Valuable as Beaufort’s contribution was to the sur ed. In consequence Hurd told Smyth that the prin vey of the Mediterranean it cannot be compared cipal requirement was a series of geographical with that of Smyth. Smyth first went to sea at an positions so that the various surveys could con early age serving in ships of the East India Compa nected thus enabling an accurate chart of the ny. Whilst in the Indian Ocean he carried out some Mediterranean as a whole to be drawn. surveys which reached the Admiralty anonymously in 1796 and 1797. In 1804 the Cornwallis in which On arrival in Sicily Sir Robert Hall offered Smyth Smyth was serving was bought into the Royal Navy every possible assistance to advance the pro with most of her crew, Smyth included. In her he posed surveys. Smyth's first discovery was that saw active service in many foreign waters before the plan of the Strait of Messina, which Hurd had returning to England in 1808. Joining the Milford in assured him was satisfactory, was in fact full of that year, Smyth eventually found himself in Cadiz errors. Smyth therefore started by making a new where he was given command of the Spanish gun survey of the strait, abandoning his intention to boat Mors-aut-Gloria for the defence of the city. confine his observations to the measurement of This enabled Smyth to meet Admiral Cayetano longitudes with two chronometers he had been Valdés, who had served under Alejandro Malaspina issued with. As well as the chronometers Hurd had during the later's expedition to the Pacific and had issued Smyth with a theodolite, a sextant, a tele commanded the schooner Mexicans surveying the scope and a station pointer. In addition Smyth had waters between Vancouver Island and the main spent £400 of his own money to buy sufficient land. Through Valdés Smyth acquired a copy of Don instruments for astronomical and magnetic obser Vicente Tofino's celebrated Atlas Maritimo de vations, including some of Six’s thermometers for Espana. Although Smyth held the highest regard for deep-sea temperatures and a marine barometer Tofino's work, he found that his survey of Cadiz and hygrometer for meteorological observations. contained various errors and omissions. When his Smyth was given command of a Sicilian gun-boat in other naval duties permitted, Smyth was able to which he carried out surveys when his naval duties make a number of valuable amendments to permitted. Sometimes these duties carried him to Tofino’s chart. As the British and Spanish armies Calabria or Naples, enabling him to run meridian fought their way up the Mediterranean coast of distances there from Palermo. At Palermo Obser Spain they were supported from seaward by the vatory Smyth met the amiable astronomer Abbaté Royal Navy. This enabled Smyth to make improve Giuseppe Piazzi who taught Smyth some improve ments to more of Tofino’s charts and also to carry ments in his observing techniques and calcula out some original surveys of his own. Alicante was tions and who became a life-long friend. When one such place that Smyth found time to survey. Smyth’s second son was born in Naples in 1819 Eventually the fleet reached and blockaded Toulon he was named Piazzi in the Abbaté's honour. It was where Smyth was able to make some valuable in Naples that Smyth met the Neapolitan General additions to the French charts. From time to time Visconti who co-operated with him in surveys in the fleet retired to Port Mahon in Minorca, which that vicinity. enabled Smyth to extend his surveys to the Balearic Islands as well. In the summer of 1814 the British army was with drawn from Sicily as invasion no longer threatened In 1812 Smyth returned to England where he sub and Sir Robert Hall left to take another appoint mitted his surveys to Captain Hurd and as a result ment. There were no orders for Smyth either to Smyth was promoted to lieutenant early in 1813. return to England or to join the Mediterranean fleet At the same time his old friend Sir Robert Hall and under Admiral Pellew. He therefore decided to former commodore of the gun-boat flotilla, request remain in Sicily and continue his survey. The local ed Smyth to join him in Sicily which was being authorities were agreeable to this proposal and put defended against the French. Before sailing, Smyth one of their best gun-boats at his disposal. Smyth consulted Hurd to plan what surveys he could do if was fortunately able to persuade two army officers also waiting for orders to assist him in his survey. year (Smyth 1823). The atlas was well illustrated In 1815, when peace was finally declared, Admiral with a number of interesting sketches of the coast Pellew’s fleet was recalled to England and Admiral line, as Smyth was a more than competent artist, Penrose came out to Malta as Commander-in-Chief. and a number of the charts were embellished with Penrose warmly approved Smyth’s actions and in examples of ancient coins of the locality. consequence Smyth was promoted Commander later that year. Smyth continued his surveys for a In 1817 Admiral Lord Exmouth was sent out to further two years without official backing from the North Africa to negotiate the abolition of Christian Admiralty, by which time he had completed his sur slavery with the Arab States concerned. Smyth per vey of Sicily, surveyed Malta and the adjacent suade Admiral Penrose to let him accompany islands and observed geographical positions at var Exmouth’s squadron to Tunis and Tripoli. At both ious places in Italy and the North African Coast. In places Exmouth’s mission was successful. At 1824 Smyth published an account of Sicily (Smyth Tripoli Smyth heard from the British Consul-Gener- 1824) intended to accompany an atlas of the island al that the Bashaw had offered the Prince Regent published by the Hydrographic Office the previous some architectural antiquities from the Roman
Harbour Bocks
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‘Plan of the Port of Pantellariaengraved survey by W.H. Smyth; from Plate 26 of Hydrography of Sicily, Malta and the adjacent Islands, London, 1823. Author's collection. ruins at Leptis Magna. Smyth, who had acquired an received an official appointment to conduct the interest in archaeology during his Sicilian survey, Mediterranean survey (Smyth 1854). After exten obtained permission to visit the ruins after the sive repairs to the Aid in Malta, Smyth first exam departure of the squadron and to report on them. ined Pantelleria and other islands between Sicily Smyth travelled 70 miles overland by camel to the and Cape Bon. Smyth then took the Aid to Leptis ruins which he examined and surveyed, paying par Magna where, in November 1817, he supervised ticular attention to the nearby beach to assess the the loading of the relics into the store ship Wey possibility of embarking the relics by sea. On his mouth. Having successfully completed this, Smyth return to Malta Smyth reported favourably on this once again visited Tripoli where he obtained per to Admiral Penrose and in due course an expedition mission from the Bashaw for an expedition east was arranged to collect the relics. When, at the ward along the coast towards Alexandria at some last moment, the officer appointed to take charge future date. One of the happy outcomes of embark refused to go, the appointment was offered to ing the relics was Smyth’s meeting with Thomas Smyth who naturally accepted. Meanwhile, on 7 Elson, the master of the Weymouth. Smyth was May 1817, as a result of Hurd’s request to the very impressed with the abilities of this officer and Admiralty, the 314-ton converted transport Aid obtained his transfer to the Aid shortly afterwards. arrived in Malta, having been sent from England as Elson was to become one of the most useful sur his command, and at the same time Smyth veying assistants during Smyth’s surveys.
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'Port Argostoii in Cephaiionia '; original survey drawn by W.H. Smyth; UKHO, L1498/5. Reproduced by permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office and the UK Hydrographic Office. With the arrival of the Aid, Smyth consulted Admi 1818 to negotiate with the Neapolitan and Austri ral Penrose about future surveys and it was an authorities. Agreement was reached and it was agreed that after the relics had been embarked arranged that a party of four Austrian and four from Leptis Magna that the Ionian Islands, which Neapolitan officers should join the Aid. In addition had recently been occupied by British forces, the Austrian sloop Velox was put under Smyth’s should be surveyed first. British ships were often command with additional assistance of Austrian sent to these islands and, on arrival, almost as gun-boats promised at the principal ports. The co often ran aground due to the utter inadequacy of operation at sea was excellent, but ashore Smyth British charts. Meanwhile Smyth had been in cor was unable to see copies of former surveys until respondence with the Austrian authorities who he visited Milan towards the end of this survey. In were carrying on a land survey of their Adriatic consequence some of Smyth’s work duplicated coastline. On hearing of Smyth’s intended survey, that of the celebrated French surveyor Beautemps the Austrians proposed that the two surveys Beaupré. Much of the survey was occupied in tri should be combined, realising that the survey angulation amongst the many islands off the east could then be carried out along the whole of the ern shores of the Adriatic, but the major harbours coast of the Adriatic because of Turkish respect such as Trieste were surveyed in detail, as well as for the British flag. Accordingly, with the backing of minor ones in the Istrian Peninsula. By the end of Admiral Penrose, Smyth visited Naples early in 1819 the survey of the Adriatic was complete and Smyth was able to discharge the Austrian sloop resumed his survey of the Ionian Islands, paying and the foreign officers, much to everyone’s particular attention to the fine natural harbour of regret. Smyth wrote that they had always been on Argostoli in the island of Kefallonia, often used as the best of terms and that his orders had always a fleet anchorage by the British Mediterranean been obeyed with speed and good-will. Smyth now fleet in the years before World War II, extending England, the Aid following shortly afterwards to be *X ke ^«a.y o i paid off. I >S Tr A N o When Smyth was in Malta in 1816, Captain Pierre- ...... 0 a ..m .w 'jv, O r i.stano B ï l i r y ___ &Ï..M .4/Z’. Henri Guattier of the French Navy arrived there to I'&r-. tk A f / 3 ... /^,,06 - W measure meridian distances so that the various ' , 3 I* !*•
It would be unfair to the many fine surveyors who Smyth, W.H., 1824, Memoir Descriptive of the followed Smyth and Beaufort if their names were Resources, Inhabitants, and Hydrography, of Sicily not mentioned. Richard Copeland carried out and its Islands, interspersed with Antiquarian and numerous surveys in the Greek Archipelago; other Notices, London Graves surveyed much of the Aegean between 1831 and 1850; Thomas Saumarez Brock, a noted Smyth, W. H., 1823, Hydrography of Sicily, Malta water-colour artist, surveyed in the eastern and the adjacent Islands, London Mediterranean between 1836 and 1847; Thomas Spratt was employed in the Mediterranean continu Smyth, W. H., 1854, The Mediterranean: A Memoir ously from 1832 to 1863, first as a Midshipman physical Historical and Nautical, London, 361 under Graves and finally in command of the Spit fire, distinguishing himself in the Crimean War; Smyth, W.H., 1828, Sketch of the Present State of Arthur Mansell was also employed in the Mediter the Island of Sardinia, London ranean between 1834 and 1865, first under Graves, then under Spratt and finally in charge of Beechey, F.W. and H.W, 1818, Proceedings o f the the survey. Taking into account the work of all Expedition to explore the Northern Coast of Africa, these able surveyors, Smyth’s contribution was from Tripoly eastward, London still supreme. It can best be summed up by a trib ute that Beaufort paid to him in 1839 in a minute UK Hydrographic Office, Minute Book No 3, 120 to the Secretary to the Admiralty, ‘I think I am war ranted in stating that there is no person living to whom H.M. Naval Service is more deeply indebted Biography of the Author than to him - nor to whom some strong expression of the Lordship’s approbation and favour is more Andrew David is a retired Lieutenant Commander, justly due’ (UKHO Minute Book). Royal Navy, who specialised in hydrographic survey ing. He is the senior editor of the acclaimed The Charts and Coastal Views of Captain Cook’s Voy References ages, published in three volumes between 1988 and 1997 by the Hakluyt Society and also a co-editor of David, Andrew, 2005. Admiral Nelson, Alexander The Malaspina Expedition, published in three vol Dalrymple and the early years of the Hydrographi umes between 2001 and 2004 by the same Society. cal Office, Journal of the International Map Collec tor’s Society, No 102, 5-19 Fax number: +44 (1823) 412 547