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patron and steadfast friend, of which the following is a copy:–

“Dear Sir,– I need not assure you of the infinite satisfaction afforded me by the information which I received some days ago from Lord Melville, of the intention of H.R.H. the Prince Regent to confer upon you a mark of distinction, in consideration of your zealous and meritorious services. I am, dear Sir, Your sincere friend,

“Sidmouth.”

In addition to the above honorable rewards, the Patriotic Society voted Captain Tayler 100l. for the purchase of a sword or vase; and the Corporation of Devizes presented him with the freedom of that borough, in a manner highly gratifying to his feelings.

Captain Tayler has always been considered the first broad-swordsman in the naval service; and the very same exercise which he introduced in the Leopard, Maida, Spencer, Heroine, Goldfinch, and Sparrow, has since been adopted at the Horse Guards; but even there some superior cuts are not known, that he is able to shew. During his voyage from the West Indies to England, in 1811, he framed a code of signals, to be made by means of telegraphic shades instead of flags; and invented a transporting carriage for ships’ guns, when landed for field service, the want of which was much felt by the naval brigade at Copenhagen: his improved sights for sea-ordnance we have already noticed. Since the peace, he has submitted different plans to the Admiralty, with many practical observations on naval gunnery; the following is an extract of his correspondence:–

“Feb. 19, 1822.

“My Lords, – Having lately read a publication by Sir Howard Douglas and Colonel Congreve on naval gunnery, exhibiting a new invention of sights for ships’ guns, I beg to call your lordships’ attention to a similar plan I had the honor of transmitting to the Board of Admiralty in the year 1815. Presuming, from the silence observed, that their lordships did not deem it prudent to bring into general practice any important improvements made. during peace, I refrained from troubling them with other plans connected therewith; but as Sir H. Douglas’s publication is now sanctioned by your lordships, I beg leave to know if it is correct that a committee of naval officers are employed arranging a new system of naval gunnery; and if so, whether any practical experiments made during the war will be deemed useful for their information * * * * *. I gave the sights I invented on board the Sparrow to Captain John Parish, in the year 1812, and he states