Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v4p2.djvu/266

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was there a finer display of it than on this occasion. The boats, as they advanced, were exposed to a heavy fire of grape and musketry; and it was not till they were fairly alongside that the enemy slackened their fire, and were driven from their vessels with great loss. * * * * * * Lieutenant Hood speaks in the highest possible terms of acting Lieutenant Webb, who distinguished himself in January last. * * * * * I regret to say we have suffered severely, though not so much as might have been expected. Two seamen and one marine killed, five seamen and one marine wounded. This was a Neapolitan flotilla, from Ancona bound to Barletta, under the direction of French officers. * * * * * * I have the honor to be, &c.

(Signed)W. Hoste.”

Other dashing and important services, in which Mr. Webb participated, have been noticed in our memoirs of Sir William Hoste, Captain Donat H. O’Brien, and Commander Silas T. Hood, in Vol. II. Part I., Suppl. Part IV., and Vol IV. Part I.

Mr. Webb was promoted to the rank of lieutenant on the 14th June, 1813; appointed to the Cephalus sloop. Captain John Furneaux, Oct. 7th, 1814; to the Queen Charlotte 108, flag-ship of Sir James H. Whitshed, commander-in-chief at Portsmouth, Feb. 8th, 1821; to the Hind 20, Captain the Hon. H. J. Rous, Feb. 14th, 1822; and advanced to his present rank, Sept. 29th, 1827.



CHARLES MORTON, Esq.
[Commander.]

Is descended from a family who for some centuries have farmed a small patrimony in the West-Riding of Yorkshire. His father being a younger son was educated as a professional man, and practised in the British metropolis.

This officer was born in the vicinity of London; and in Oct. 1807, being then very young, embarked as midshipman on board the Volontaire frigate, commanded by the present Captain-Superintendent Charles Bullen, C.B., under whom he had the honor to serve in every ship to which that officer was subsequently appointed. The following is an outline of the services in which he participated during the war.

In 1807, the Volontaire, after conveying the Duke of