“The Illustrious Board of Cabildo having resolved, that the sum of one hundred guineas be appropriated to the purchase of a sword to be presented to your Excellency, in testimony of the high sense the Board entertains of your merits, and of the effectual protection afforded by your Excellency to the maritime interests of the colony, during the period of your command, they now beg leave to communicate the resolution, and to request your Excellency’s acceptance of it.
“By command of the Board,
(Signed)“H. Murray, Sec.”
“Sir – We have the honour, in the name of the Merchants of St. Thomas’s, to express their gratitude for your Excellency’s condescension in so promptly according to their request, that this island should again be made the last port of rendezvous for the homeward-bound fleets.
“The Merchants of St. Thomas’s will never forget their obligations to your Excellency, for the protection on so many occasions afforded to their trade; and they beg your Excellency’s acceptance of a Star[1], appropriate to the order of merit conferred on you by his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, which they hope your Excellency will have the goodnes to wear as a token of their respect and esteem.
“We have the honour to be, Sir,
“Your Excellency’s most obedient humble servants,
“By order of the Committee,
(Signed)“Christ. D. l’Etend,
(Signed)“E. Sarquy.
(Signed)“John King.
“To his Excellency Sir P. Charles Durham, K.C.B.
“Rear-Admiral of the Red, Commander-in-Chief, &c. &c. &c.”
Sir Philip C. Durham also received votes of thanks from the Members of his Majesty’s Council, and the House of Assembly of St. Vincent’s, and from the Commercial Committee of Barbadoes, by whom a grand dinner was given to the squadron, previous to the Rear-Admiral’s departure for England, where he arrived in the spring of 1816.
The following passage we extract from the Barbadoes paper, which contained the ratification of the treaty of peace with America:–
“We cannot let this opportunity pass, without noticing the highly important services rendered to their country during the recent contest, by the Commauder-in-Chief, and the officers in subordinate authority on this station. Local circumstances have rendered these seas a scene of unexampled activity; and whenever opportunities have offered, by falling in with American cruisers, our ships of war have been uniformly distinguished for their spirited intrepidity. Although the Caribbean Sea has literally swarmed- ↑ A beautiful Diamond Star, of great value.
