Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp1.djvu/499

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POST-CAPTAINS OF 1809.
475

sary operation until a miniature picture of his wife was brought to him, when, having hung it round his neck, he desired him to “go on!” The worthy man did well, and, we believe, is still living. Five of the Temeraire’s men were slightly wounded by splinters on the same occasion.

After this affair, the Temeraire proceeded to Mahon for the purpose of shifting her mainmast, which had been sprung a considerable time. While there, a fever broke out among her officers and crew, and nearly half of them were soon in the hospital, to which her commander was also under the necessity of going. On the arrival of the fleet, the physician. Dr. Burnett, reported to Sir Edward Pellew, that the state of Captain Spear’s health rendered it absolutely necessary for him to hasten home; and the commander-in-chief was kind enough to allow him to do so without undergoing a survey. Rear-Admiral Pickmore having shifted his flag into the Royal George, a first rate, sent out to relieve the Temeraire, and to which ship Captain Spear would also have removed, had his health permitted him to continue in the Mediterranean[1].

The subject of this memoir married, 1st, in 1809, Grace, second daughter of Ludovick Grant, eldest son of James Grant, of Knockandow, in Murrayshire, Esq., by Lady Grizel Gordon, third daughter of Charles, second Earl of Aboyne: 2dly, Grace, eldest daughter of the Rev. Patrick Grant, and, as well as his former lady, a second cousin to the present Earl of Aboyne.

Agent.– Joseph Dufaur, Esq.

  1. On the above medical report being made to Sir Edward Pellew, he was kind enough to say that Captain Spear should go home in the command of his own ship; for he understood “she was well appointed,” and hoped that by the time Captain Spear got as far to the northward as Cape St. Vincent his health would be much better; which was the case.