terrupted friendship with the Ottoman empire, at that critical period, required that every possible care should be taken to prevent any umbrage being given on our part, and consequently the utmost forbearance and precaution were necessary in conducting the services generally entrusted to his charge. The satisfactory manner in which he acquitted himself, at a time when the French were employing every artifice and threat to injure the British interests at Constantinople, was officially acknowledged by H.M. Ambassador, who in a letter dated Nov. 28, 1812, says:–
“While I rejoice at the success of the measures you have adopted for the diminution of the number of the enemy’s cruisers in this part of the Mediterranean, I think it my duty to give you notice of any new danger that threatens us in that line, and send enclosed the copy of a letter I have just received from Consul Charnaud, of Salonica, notifying the approach of a French armament under the command of Captain Dabovitch into that bay.”
On the 31st May, 1813, Mr. Liston again wrote to Captain Clavell, as follows:
“Dear Sir,– Your two letters of the 14th, and those of the 15th of this month, have safely reached my hands, and I beg you will accept of my sincere thanks for your attention to my requests, whether of a public or a private nature. I cannot at the same time withhold the expression of my perfect approbation of the care you take to distribute your force so as to give the best protection to our commerce that the number of your ships can afford. As it is to be hoped that the communication overland to Hamburgh will soon be open, I may be able indirectly to add to the force you can apply to the protection of trade, by abstaining in future from so often requesting its employment in the conveyance of despatches. You will oblige me by letting me know a day or two before you are likely to honor us with a visit. We propose to go to the country in eight or ten days, and to stay two or three weeks, and I should be glad to take measures to have some one in the house in town to receive you on your arrival. I have the honor to be, with perfect truth and regard, dear Sir, your most faithful humble servant,
About the same time, Captain Clavell received an official letter from his commander-in-chief, of which we here give an extract:
