At the enlargement of the Order of the Bath, Jan. 2, Sir Thomas M. Hardy was nominated a K.C.B.; and in July, 1816, he obtained the command of a royal yatch. He was appointed to the Superb of 78 guns, Nov. 30, 1818; and in the following year hoisted a broad pendant in that ship, as Commodore of the squadron employed in South America; from which station he has returned since the first part of this memoir went to the press.
Of the nature of the service on the coast of South America, so little is generally known that a slight sketch of it may not be without interest to some of our readers.
Owing to the unacknowledged political existence of the South American governments, they have been diplomatically neglected by European nations; we at least have hitherto had no Ambassador there, no Consuls, nor indeed any public authorities whatever. But as the commerce of those countries, upon being freed from the Spanish yoke, became at once considerable, and was rapidly increasing; and as many British merchants were resident there, and much British capital floating about, it became necessary that some protection should be afforded to those interests, and a watchful eye kept over the proceedings of States which, though still in a state of infancy, were nevertheless respectable from their wealth and extent.
As it had ever been usual to station men of war wherever commerce was in activity, there was nothing novel, or calculated to excite jealousy, in having a squadron in South America. The duties of this squadron became important in proportion as the new States, feeling their growing strength, were inclined to give trouble, either by new and oppressive commercial laws, or by interfering with the personal liberty, and sometimes by. detaining the ships, of our countrymen. Many of the countries of which we are speaking were, it must be recollected, in a state of war. Some of their ports were blockaded, and every source of jealousy and distrust let loose. Others had more than one government and the consequent confusion was greatly augmented by the eagerness of commercial speculation, which led many individuals to despise all prudence, and all local regulations, in order, at every hazard, to force their trade: this was naturally follow-
