served in the same expedition, junior to myself in rank, and who had only arrived on the coast the preceding day, having merely communicated with the existing government, and landed a few marines, had received the royal permission to accept and wear the third Order of William III., as appears by the London Gazette, I naturally conceived that I had a similar claim to the same indulgence.
“Without desiring to detract, in the slightest degree, from the merits of that gallant and distinguished officer, I beg leave to observe, that he was not engaged with the enemy any more than myself; the service consisted in both of us having landed men, arms, ammunition, &c.
“The King of the Netherlands, and the British Ambassador, the Earl of Clancarty, having both expressed, in the strongest manner, their sense of my services on that occasion, which you will find recorded in your own office, I am induced to hope, that his Majesty’s Government will, on a reconsideration of my case, remove the invidious distinction that has, from some misapprehension no doubt, been thus drawn between myself and an officer acting under me, and by giving their sanction to my wearing the Order intended for me, dismiss those impressions which must be unfavorable to me as a naval officer. I have the honor to be,
“My dear Sir,
“Your most obedient and very humble Servant,
(Signed)“Torrington.”
In reply to this appeal, Viscount Torrington received a very polite note from the Prime Minister, who, however, declined to interfere in his behalf.
It is worthy of remark, that the late monarch of France, as well as the present sovereign of the Netherlands,was once under his lordship’s protection. The former, while proceeding to Rostock, with his eldest son and suite, all huddled together in a British gun-brig, was fallen in with, at the entrance of the Great Belt, by the Warrior, and escorted by her to the squadron under the late Sir George Hope, then cruising off the island of Rugen.
It has been remarked by a contemporary writer, that “the naval battles of Great Britain, from the accession of the illustrious House of Hanover, commence with the name of Byng[1];” and it might justly have been added, that the loyalty and zeal then manifested by the Nelson of that age, has ever since been emulated by his descendants; for no family in
- ↑ Ekins’ Review of Naval Battles, 2d edit. p. 1.
