Staines revisited Valparaiso and Callao, touched at Coquimbo and Juan Fernandez, and continued in the Pacific, affording protection to the British interests, until April 1815, at the latter end of which month he returned to Rio Janeiro, and delivered a letter to his commander-in-chief, of which the following is a copy:
“Sir,– The undersigned English merchants resident in Chile, think it their duly most respectfully to inform you, that they conceive the presence of an English ship of war in the South Seas, essentially necessary for the protection of their interests here, during the present very unsettled state of these countries; and they therefore join in requesting that before the Indefatigable leaves these seas she may be replaced by another vessel of war, if it be not incompatible with his Majesty’s service.
“In case this application should meet with, as we doubt not it will, your approbation, we beg leave to add, that from the highly honourable character of Sir Thomas Staines, and from the useful services he has always so willingly lent to British interests here, we conceive him most peculiarly qualified in every respect to promote the commercial interests of our country, and to maintain and protect its character.
“We have the honor to subscribe ourselves, with the greatest respect, your most obedient servants,
| (Signed) | “Colin Campbell. | “Andrew Blest. |
| “Jno. Jas. Barnard. | “John Blest. | |
| “N. Crompton. | “T. Beetenson. | |
| “George Cood. | “James Ingram. |
“To Vice-Admiral Manly Dixon.”
On his arrival at Rio Janeiro, Sir Thomas Staines found the commander-in-chief preparing to return home, in consequence of the termination of hostilities between Great Britain and America; and, notwithstanding the above application, he received orders to accompany that officer, with whom he arrived at Plymouth on the 8th July, 1815.
The Briton being shortly afterwards put out of commission, we find no farther mention of Sir Thomas Staines until July 19, 1821, on which day he attended the coronation of his present Majesty, and was marshalled, as a K.C.B., next to Sir James Alexander Gordon, a gentleman who had also lost a limb in battle, and whose services we have already recorded[1].
- ↑ Sir Thomas Staines was nominated a K.C.B., Jan. 2, 1815.
