The Fly was wintering at St. John’s when Vice-Admiral Pickmore, died there, Feb. 24, 1818. The next day, she was ordered to commence cutting through the ice, for the purpose of conveying the body of the deceased governor to England; but although there were about 300 men, besides her own crew, daily employed on it, the canal was not sufficiently large to permit her to pass through until Mar. 18th, a period of three weeks. The distance cut was 2850 yards; the ice was from two and a half to five feet thick; the blocks cut out of it were from 33 to 35 feet in breadth, all of which were hauled up on the main body by a single rope. Added to this labour, the channel cut was almost every morning frozen to between six and seven inches thick; and the operation of clearing this away was obliged to be performed daily. The Fly arrived at Portsmouth, April 16, 1818, and was soon afterwards paid off for re-commissioning.
Captain Baldwin’s promotion to post rank took place Aug. 12th, 1819.
Agents.– Messrs. Cooke, Halford, and Son.
ROBERT RIDDELL CARRÉ, Esq.
[Post-Captain of 1819.]
This officer is the third son of William Riddell, of Camiestown, in Roxburghshire, Esq. by Elizabeth, only daughter of John Carré, of Cavers-Carré, in the same county, Esq. On both sides he is descended from ancient families, for many centuries settled in that part of Scotland. He was born in Edinburgh, Feb. 27, 1782 and did not add the name of Carré to that of his paternal ancestors until the year 1817’
Mr Robert Riddell entered the navy in 1796, as midshipman on board the Albatross brig, Captain (now Rear-Admiral) George Scott, where he remained until that officer’s promotion, in June, 1798. Previous to his leaving the Albatross he witnessed the suppression of a mutiny among her crew; and assisted in capturing two of the enemy’s privateers[1]. He after-
