Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp2.djvu/81

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POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.
73

high road from Boston runs, for the purpose of cutting off all communication with that side of the country; whilst a naval and military force, under Captain Robert Barrie and Lieutenant-Colonel John, proceeded to attack Hamden; the result of which expedition has been stated at pp. 729–733 of Vol. II. Part II.

So soon as accounts were received from Captain Barrie, that the U.S. ship Adams was destroyed, and the force assembled for her protection dispersed, the troops stationed at Belfast were again embarked by Captain Stanfell, and arrangements made for sending them to take possession of Machias, the only place between Castine and Passamaquaddy bay, then occupied by the enemy. This service was performed without loss, under the directions of Captain Hyde Parker, commanding the Tenedos frigate, and Lieutenant-Colonel Pilkington, D.A.G.

Since the peace with America, the subject of this sketch has commanded the Phaeton frigate, and Conqueror 74. In the former ship he conveyed Sir Hudson Lowe from England to St. Helena; in the latter he served as Flag-Captain to Rear-Admiral Plamplin, during the last two years of that officer’s command at St. Helena.

The Conqueror was paid off Oct. 30, 1820; on which occasion her officers gave Captain Stanfell an elegant entertainment, at the Mitre hotel, Chatham, as a mark of their esteem for him, and an acknowledgment of his constant attention to their comforts. We very much regret that it is not in our power to give a fuller account of the services of such a kindhearted man, whom we likewise most highly respect.

Captain Stanfell married, Dec. 12, 1810, Elizabeth, second daughter of Captain (now Vice-Admiral) Robert Barton. One of his sisters was married to the late James Cobb, Esq. Secretary to the Hon. East India Company, a gentleman eminently distinguished by his literary attainments, as displayed in the operas of the “Haunted Tower,” “The Siege of Belgrade,” &c. &c. &c.[1]

  1. See Annual Biog. and Obit. for 1819, p. 363; and Nav. Chron. Vol. xxxix, p. 498.