The following is an extract of Rear-Admiral Freemantle’s public despatch, announcing the capture of Trieste, an event that has been recorded by us, at p. 358 of Suppl. Part II.
“I beg to recommend to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, Captain Moresby, of H.M. sloop Wizard. He commanded one of the batteries front the 16th until the 24th (Oct. 1813), when he was ordered to form a battery with four 32-pounders, within breaching distance: in the course of 56 hours, under all the disadvantages of weather, &c. he, with 50 men from the Milford, and 20 from the Wizard, completed the whole without any assistance whatever.”
For these and other important services performed by Captain Moresby, in co-operation with the Austrian troops on the coasts of the Adriatic, he obtained permission. May 23, 1814, to accept and wear the insignia of a Knight of the Imperial Military Order of Maria Theresa. His promotion to post rank took place on the 7th of the following month.
In April, 1819, Captain Moresby was appointed to the Menai 24, fitting for the Cape station, where, although a period of profound peace, he appears to have been very usefully employed. We are told, that he superintended the landing of the settlers at Algoa bay, in Southern Africa – incurred, with the utmost cheerfulness, the risks connected with that service; distributed the articles purchased for the emigrants; assisted them in erecting their tents; and, by his humane attentions to the women and children, diffused good humour and cheerfulness among all. We are also further informed, that he sent the governor of the Cape a series of valuable remarks on the rivers and coast between Cape Recife and the mouth of the Kelskahama, with a particular description of Port Elizabeth, Algoa bay, which he considers a more secure anchorage for a ship, in every season of the year, than either Torbay, Palermo bay or Table bay.
Captain Moresby married, Aug. 6, 1814, Elizabeth, youngest daughter of John Williams, of Malta, Esq. His only son died in 1826.
Agent.– Sir Francis M. Ommanney.
