Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v3p2.djvu/157

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captains of 1830.
143

night attack, made by four boats upon two large Danish transports and a national vessel of two long 18-pounders and 64 men, moored within half pistol-shot of a three-gun battery and numerous troops on shore, June 11th, 1808, was “particularly mentioned by Lieutenant Head,” (who commanded on the occasion) and duly reported by Captain Dundas, whose official letter was gazetted.

On the 6th Feb. 1812, Mr. Yeoman was promoted into the Acasta frigate, Captain Alexander Robert Kerr, under whom he served as lieutenant on the North American station, and was most actively employed in annoying the enemy’s coast and trade. His commission as commander bears date June 15th, 1815. In Sept. 1818, he was appointed to the Britomart sloop; and on the 5th Dec. following, to the Wolf; which latter vessel formed part of the royal escort when his late Majesty visited Ireland, in the year 1821. Whilst thus employed. Commander Yeoman had the distinguished honor of frequently dining with the King, on board his yacht; and when at Dublin, he lived with the household, attended the monarch to all public places which he visited, and was in fact considered as forming part of the royal suite; yet, strange to say, a junior as well as a senior commander of the same squadron, received immediate promotion for that service; whereas he was soon afterwards paid off, and not advanced to the rank of captain until July 22d, 1830. Had he been fairly dealt with, his commission would bear date Jan. 29th, 1822, the same as those of Sir Charles Burrard and Captain W. J. Mingay.

In June, 1827, the subject of this sketch was appointed Inspecting Commander of the Lymington district of Coast Guard; and during the three years in which he was thus employed, he succeeded in entirely suppressing smuggling on that part of the coast, where it had formerly prevailed to a very considerable extent. In the beginning of June 1830, he received the following letter from his Comptroller-General:

“Sir,– I have to acknowledge the receipt of your secret letter of the 30th ultimo, explaining the mode of smuggling silks practised by the egg-