thence to Surat. Captain Mackellar instantly sailed in the Terpsichore, accompanied by the Trident 64, Betsy armed brig, and two Indiamen, joined Captain Hargood at Goa; and such was the alacrity of all parties on this occasion, that in seven days from his leaving Bombay, 3000 troops were landed at Surat, the natives defeated, and Governor Duncan again in possession of the country. For his exertions in thus promoting the public service, Captain Mackellar was again honored with the thanks of the Bombay Government. We subsequently find him employed in the blockade of Goa.
In May 1804, the subject of this memoir was, after a short period of inactivity, appointed Agent for Transports and Prisoners of War, and Governor of the Naval Hospital at Halifax, where he continued about six years. Soon after his return, seeing no prospect of immediate employment afloat, he solicited permission to join the Spanish navy, and having procured strong letters of recommendation from Admiral Apodaca (the Ambassador at the Court of St. James’s) to the Cortes at Cadiz, he proceeded thither in the Prevoyante store-ship; but on his arrival found the Spanish marine in so cramped and inefficient a state, as to preclude all hope of obtaining a command suitable to his rank. He therefore relinquished the idea, and proceeded to his native island, at that time the rendezvous of the British fleet, from whence he returned to England in 1812.
On the 2d Aug. 1815, our officer was nominated Flag-Captain to Rear-Admiral J. E. Douglas, with whom he proceeded to Jamaica in the Salisbury of 58 guns; from which ship he exchanged into the Pique frigate, Mar. 17, 1817. Previous to his departure from the station, he had the gratification of receiving the following address from the principal merchants of Kingston:
“Sir. We the undersigned merchants of this city, cannot suffer you to leave the station without conveying to you the high sense we entertain of your conduct.
“Your kind solicitude evinced on every occasion for the welfare of the trade of this island, and your great attention to the safety of the convoys with which you have been entrusted, deserve the thanks of this community at large; but those who have known and felt the good effects of your exertions, are bound more particularly to address you on this occasion.
