East and West Scheldt, and are by this time at the mouth of the Thames, if not at the places of their respective destination: I enclose the Commodore’s report of his proceedings. It is my duty to draw their Lordships’ attention to the excellent conduct of Commodore Owen in the discharge of the various and arduous duties he had to perform; and I beg, in the most earnest manner, to recommend to their Lordships’ notice, the zeal, bravery, and perseverance of the captains, officers, and seamen, composing the flotilla under the Commodore’s orders[1].
We next find Commodore Owen with his broad pendant on board the Inconstant frigate, in the Gulf of Mexico, where that dreadful scourge the yellow fever appears to have carried off many of his officers and crew, about the month of April 1811. He subsequently commanded the Cornwall of 74 guns, employed in the North Sea; and at the close of 1813, distinguished himself by his exemplary conduct at the head of the Royal Marines, landed from the British fleet to co-operate with the Dutch royalists in the island of South Beveland, which was soon freed from the presence of their quondam allies.
For some time after the termination of hostilities, our officer commanded a royal yacht. He was nominated a K.C.B. Jan. 2, 1815; obtained a Colonelcy of Royal Marines, July 19, 1821; and in Nov. 1822, was ordered to hoist a broad pendant on board the Gloucester of 74 guns, in which ship he proceeded to the West Indies, where he still continues. The House of Assembly at Jamaica, has recently passed a vote of thanks to him for his prompt attention to the commercial and naval interests, charing the period of his, command on that station.
Agents.– Messrs. Maude.
GEORGE JAMES SHIRLEY, Esq
[Post-Captain of 1798.]
This officer was a Lieutenant of the Royal George, a first rate, during the mutiny at Spithead, in 1797[2]; commanded the Megaera fire-vessel, in the same year; and was posted into
- ↑ Commodore Owen’s report, alluded to in the foregoing letter, will be found at length in the Nav. Chron. v. 23, pp. 78, 79, 82, et seq. For a great variety of naval state papers relating to the expedition, see id. pp. 113 to 135; 200 to 241; 301 to 308; and 423 to 428. The preceding vol. abounds with Gazette letters written by the different naval and military commanders during its progress.
- ↑ See Vol. I. p. 548, et seq.
