Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v3p2.djvu/45

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34
captains of 1828.

Captain Campbell, and have no reason to approve of the conduct of the Genoa, from the time of the command of her having devolved on Captain Dickinson. As it is probable that the selection of Captain Dickinson for the distinction in question, may have arisen from Captain Bathurst having been reported, in the return signed by Captain Dickinson and the surgeon, as killed in the action, it is incumbent on me to inform their Lordships, that Captain Dickinson himself conducted me down to Captain Bathurst, in the cockpit of the Genoa, at eight o’clock in the evening of the 20th of October, several hours after the battle was over, and that both he and the surgeon must have heard Captain Bathurst calmly and collectedly describing to me what had passed upon deck before he was wounded. In fact, Captain Dickinson, when subsequently reproved by me for having made this false return, acknowledged his recollection of having so conducted me into the cockpit, and of Captain Bathurst not having expired until about three o’clock in the morning of the 21st. I have the honor to be, &c.

(Signed)Edward Codrington.”

To the Secretary of the Admiralty.

In consequence of this letter, the Board of Admiralty directed Captain Dickinson to return the order of St. Wladimer, that the mistake of two honorary distinctions having been sent to him might be explained to the Russian ambassador. On the 17th of the following month, Sir Edward Codrington again wrote to their Lordships’ secretary as follows:

“Sir,– In obedience to the desire of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that I should slate specifically all the points of Captain Dickinson’s conduct with which I was dissatisfied during the period of his being in temporary command of His Majesty’s ship Genoa, in order that the same may be investigated before a court-martial, (a measure which their Lordships are pleased to consider due as well to the character of Captain Dickinson as to the interests of the public service), I have the honor to state for their Lordships’ information, that from not making proper use of her springs directed by my order of the 19th of October, 1827, to be placed on the anchors, the broadside of the Genoa was not directed to her regular opponent in the Ottoman line, and that in such a position, she could not fire any of her guns except those of her stern and quarters without endangering the Asia, and others of the allied squadron on her larboard side, and Albion and others on her starboard side; that, consequently, shot which injured the Asia, and which came in that direction, were apparently fired by the Genoa, and that the Genoa did positively fire into the Albion, probably (according to her log-book) mistaking that ship for one of the Ottoman fleet, although the Albion had an English ensign at her mast-head to prevent such mistakes; – that Captain Dickinson hav-