Britain. An embargo also took place in the Russian ports as early as the 15th Nov.; notwithstanding which a very few ships only remained, as they met with every facility in getting ready and proceeding, from the Russian government, until the embargo actually took place; the military even assisting in loading the vessels.
Captain Fraser remained off Copenhagen till the 21st. Nov. and then dropt down to Helsinburgh to collect the last ships for the season, and proceed with them to England on the 30th, agreeably to his orders. On his arrival, he found, to his great astonishment, that instead of receiving the thanks of the mercantile world, whose property he had protected, he was called upon to answer the allegations of some of those bodies, who, utterly ignorant of the existing circumstances, either of the continued and decided hostilities of the Danes, or the embargo which had taken place in Russia, had complained that the squadron had left the Sound at too early a period, and even hinted that Captain Fraser had acted contrary to his orders; he had the pleasure, however, of fully satisfying the Admiralty Board, which entirely approved of his conduct.
On the Vanguard being ordered again to Copenhagen, in Jan. 1808, our officer, whose health had been considerably impaired, obtained leave of absence, and soon after the command of the sea fencibles at Dundee, in which he remained until the final discharge of that corps in 1810. On the 1st. Aug. in that year, he was appointed to the William and Mary yacht, and at the same time selected by the Duke of Cambridge to be one of H. R. H’s equerries. His advancement to the rank of Rear-Admiral took place Aug. 1st, 1811, and on the 12th Aug. 1819, he was made a Vice-Admiral. At the latter end of the same year, he presided at a meeting of half-pay officers, held at Edinburgh, for the purpose of tendering their services in support of the civil authorities. Their loyal determination was transmitted to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, through the Board of Admiralty.
Our officer married, 1788, Helen, eldest daughter of John Bruce, of Sunburgh, Esq. Advocate, and Collector of the Customs in Shetland. By this lady he had three sons and two daughters; the eldest of the former is an officer in the
