Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp1.djvu/253

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238
POST-CAPTAINS OF 1807.

manfully step forth and offer thy services to extirpate slavery from the barbarian’s land, that wish of thine from our court was heard, and met its due applause; but when we heard how nobly thou didst contest the heathen, then was our joy complete, and shortly may’st thou return to thy Native Shore (our much loved isle) and meet the reward thy merit so transcendantly deserves. But now unto our state affairs. The ship thou dost command having not for a number of years crossed these West-Indian territories of mine, at least so my catalogue informs me, which likewise points to another glorious achievement in which thou didst display a most prominent feature – I shall not dwell on subjects, I mean that of la Seine, and le Vengeance; you find me a little digressing, but old men (Neptune) are fond sometimes of encouraging young men who are worthy thereof. I shall again allude to my catalogue, which gives mc information that thou hast under thy command several young officers, seamen, and marines, who have never entered these my dominions before. I shall now insist upon their complying with a custom, which has been time out of mind, but shall request your approbation, for I shall never consider those my children who have never been initiated into the mysteries of the Nautica Magica.

“Given under our hand and seal, at our Tropical Court, this 12th day of February, Anno Domino, 1819.


(Signed)Neptune.”

Captain Chetham married, June 1810, Margaret, youngest daughter of the late Peter Dean, of the Bahamas, Esq. and has issue five sons and three daughters. Two of his brothers are Lieutenant-Colonels; Richard, in the 47th regiment, and John, in the 61st. Mrs. Chetham’s sisters are united to Major-General Cuming, late of the 47th; and Captain John Serrell, R.N.

Agent.– A. C. Marsh, Esq.



GEORGE COCKS Esq.
[Post-Captain of 1807.]

Commanded the Thunder bomb during the siege of Copenhagen, in 1807. The following extracts from the journals of Admiral Gambier and Lord Cathcart, will show the nature of the operations in which he was engaged at that period:

“Aug. 15th, the fleet worked upfront abreast of Elsineur to Wilbek; the reserve anchored nearest the shore, covered by the Surveillante frigate, and by several sloops, bombs, and gun-brigs; 16th, the reserve landed at 5 A.M., with the ordnance of a light brigade, and occupied the heights. The