shaken, by either political or other considerations; and it will always give me pleasure in shewing my regard for the Father by attentions to the Son.”
The son alluded to by Nelson is the subject of the following sketch.
The Hon. Robert Cavendish Spencer was born Oct. 24, 1791; and he appears to have commenced his naval career in Aug. 1804, at which period we find him embarking as midshipman on board the Tigre 80, Captain Benjamin Hallowell, under whom he continued to serve, in that ship and the Malta 84, until he received an order to take charge of the Pelorus brig, in Oct. 1812.
The manner in which the Tigre and Malta were employed will be seen by reference to pp. 482, 483, and 811 of our first volume; but it is necessary to state, that Mr. Spencer was employed in all the boat services which took place during the period of the second expedition to Egypt, and at both the unsuccessful attacks of Rosetta, under the immediate orders of Captain (now Rear-Admiral) Fellowes, who commanded the gun-boats on the Nile, acting in co-operation with the army against fort St. Julian.
Mr. Spencer also assisted at the capture and destruction of the French convoy in the bay of Rosas, Nov. 1, 1809[1]. On that occasion he was employed in the Tigre’s launch, under Lieutenant Edward Boxer, the senior officer, and leader of the starboard line of boats.
The launch’s officers and crew were amongst the first, who, hauling up on the inshore side of la Lamproie[2], penetrated under the boarding nettings, which the French on that side had neglected to lace down, trusting no doubt to the tremendous fire of musketry, &c[3]. from the beach, which was expected to render any attempt to board from that side impossible.
Mr. Spencer’s commission as lieutenant bears date Dec. 13 1810; his promotion to the rank of commander took place Jan. 22, 1813. On the latter occasion he was appointed to the Kite brig, of 16 guns; and soon after to the Espoir
