pretation of it sent to him by Stratford Canning. On that score no blame could be attached to Codrington; and when, on the opening of parliament, 29 Jan. 1828, his majesty, lamenting the conflict, spoke of it as 'this untoward event,' the expression called forth angry protests in both houses, and drew from the ministry explanations and the distinct statement that 'they did not make the slightest charge, nor cast the least imputation upon the gallant officer who commanded at Navarino.' Notwithstanding this a feeling of dissatisfaction continued to exist. At the admiralty, too, there seems to have been some personal feeling, which was certainly able to keep back from the Duke of Wellington, and evenfrom the Duke of Clarence, several of Codrington's letters, and thus to present a very imperfect report of his further proceedings in the Mediterranean, and ultimately to lead to his somewhat summary recall, the news of which reached him at Corfu on 21 June 1828. It was of course some little time before he could be relieved, and he did not sail from Malta till 11 Sept. On 7 Oct. he arrived in England, and spent the winter in London, endeavouring, but of course in vain, to arrive at some understanding of his recall. The Duke of Wellington in a personal interview assured him of his esteem, but would give no explicit statement or explanation. Codrington then drew up and printed for private circulation a 'Narrative of his Proceedings' in the Mediterranean, which is now published in the 'Memoirs of his Life' (ii. 585), and, together with the mass of official and private correspondence, permits us to forma fair judgment of the whole transaction, and to say that while Codrington was certainly warranted by his instructions in acting as he did, he would have been equally warranted in doing the exact opposite; and that the determining cause was probably his own horror of the Turkish massacres and a knowledge that the public feeling of England was strongly Philhellenic. One thing appears certain, that the Duke of Clarence had practically no share in the determination. It was long the custom to attribute the whole of it to him, and to a letter couched in words said to be exactly quoted as 'Go in, my dear Ned, and smash these damned Turks.' There is no trace of any such letter ever having been written; but there are many letters inculcating the greatest possible caution; and though there are very many private and friendly letters, they are all addressed 'My dear Sir.' Another and more harmless story rests on good authority. Shortly after his return from the Mediterranean he met in town a casual country acquaintance, who greeted him with, 'Hallo, Codrington, how are you? I haven't seen you for some time. Had any good shooting lately?' 'Why yes,' answered Codrington, 'I've had some rather remarkable shooting;' and so passed on.
In September and October 1830 Codrington visited St. Petersburg, where he was received by the emperor with the highest distinction; and similarly by the king of France during a visit to Paris in the following January. In June 1831 he was appointed to the command of the Channel squadron for the summer experimental cruise, and hoisted his flag in the Caledonia till the end of the season, 24 Oct. On 10 Jan. 1837 he was advanced to be admiral of the blue, and on 22 Nov. 1839 was appointed commander-in-chief at Portsmouth. His active career ended with the termination of that command on 31 Dec. 1842, though he lived pleasantly and in good health for several years, and died after a few months' illness on 28 April 1851. He was buried in St. Peter's Church, Eaton Square, where there is a tablet to his memory; a memorial tablet has also been placed in the family church of Dodington.
Codrington married in December 1802 Jane, daughter of Jasper Hall of Kingston, Jamaica, and had by her three sons and two daughters. Of the sons one died young, lost by the upsetting of a boat; the other two, William John [q. v.] and Henry John [q. v.], rose to high distinction. The eldest daughter married Captain Sir Thomas Bourchier, who died superintendent of Chatham dockyard in 1849. Lady Bourchier has since published (1873, 2 vols. 8vo) a very full life of her father, which, in addition to its biographical interest, is rich in valuable reminiscences taken down at different times from his dictation, and is thus an important contribution to naval history. She has also had printed for private circulation a short life of her brother, Sir Henry John Codrington.
[Memoir of the Life of Admiral Sir Edward Codrington, with selections from his public and private correspondence, edited by his daughter, Lady Bourchier (with portraits and other illustrations).]
CODRINGTON, Sir HENRY JOHN (1808–1877), admiral of the fleet, third son of Admiral Sir Edward Codrington [q. v.], entered the navy in 1823 on board the Naiad frigate with Captain the Hon. Robert Cavendish Spencer, to whose early training he owed much. During 1824 the Naiad was actively employed during the little known Algerine war in blockading the coast and burning such of the corsairs as she could catch. She was afterwards for nearly two years on the
