each. The booms were soon destroyed, and, as we arrived up, the enemy abandoned their positions, with such precipitation that four 24-pounders were left in the works.
“The English boats were always in advance, and Admiral Muller has desired ine to say how much he is pleased with the exertions of Captain (John) Brenton and the lieutenants employed in the boats.
“The flotilla took possession of Mittau about noon; the enemy had not time to remove some very considerable magazines of clothing and grain, some arms and ammunition. He also left about 400 sick and wounded behind. In the evening, a detachment of the army entered the town.
“The Prussians retired from Olai upon Bourski, where they had about 120 pieces of cannon, intended for the siege of this place; they there received reinforcements on the 29th, which Macdonald had sent them from Jacobstadt.
“On the 30th, the Russians were compelled to retire from before a force of 25,000 men, who had nearly 80 pieces of cannon. As the troops had retired to the vicinity of Riga, the flotilla left Mittau in the evening of the 30th; and after destroying a bridge, which had been erected to facilitate the crossing of the troops and artillery, arrived at Danamunde last night.”
Captain Steuart continued at Riga until the enemies’ troops were altogether withdrawn from that neighbourhood, when he returned to England in the Reynard, and was promoted to post rank by commission dated Nov. 20, 1812. Previous thereto he had been presented by the Emperor Alexander with the order of St. Wladimir, of the 4th class, as a reward for his zealous co-operation with the Russian commanders. The following is an extract of a letter from Lord Keith to one of Captain Steuart’s friends, dated at Plymouth, April 4, 1813:
“Captain Steuart is also a connexion of mine, being cousin to my late wife. He is an officer I much respect and esteem, and one I should be very glad to have under my command; but I fear I have not influence enough to get him employed. When a secret service was intended here some time ago, I mentioned him to Lord Melville as an officer I wished to have with me; and should any thing of the sort turn up again, I shall not lose the opportunity.”
Captain Steuart’s next appointment was, Oct. 1, 1814, to the Towey 24, from which ship he was dismissed by the sentence of a court-martial on the East India station, in Dec. 1816.
One of Captain Steuart’s brothers (Thomas David) is a
