several of the ships composing the East India squadron were ordered home, and the remainder gradually relieved. At the close of 1816, Rear-Admiral Sir Richard King having arrived from Europe as successor to Sir George Burlton, Captain Sayer resigned the command to that officer, and returned to England after an absence of nearly seven years. Previous to his departure from India he received a letter, of which the following is an extract, from Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Brownrigg, Governor of his Majesty’s possessions in the island of Ceylon, &c.
“Your attention during the interral of Sir Samuel Hood’s absence (in 1814) on a voyage to the Eastern seas, left no doubt of your friendly disposition towards this island, and prepared me to expect that communication of your sentiments for which I beg you will be pleased to accept my grateful thanks. I shall always be happy to have an opportunity of making my acknowledgments for the ready attention with which you have honored my applications in the prosecution of my duties here; and my humble testimony of your exertions in the public service will never be withheld.”
Captain Sayer received a gold medal, and, in common with his brother officers, was honored with the thanks of Parliament for his services at the reduction of the enemy’s settlements in the Eastern hemisphere[1]. He was nominated a C.B. in 1815.
Agents.– Messrs. Goode and Clarke.
ROBERT MANSEL, Esq
[Post-Captain of 1801.]
This officer is the second son of Major-General Mansel, who was killed at the head of a brigade of dragoons, when serving under the command of H.R.H. the Duke of York, in 1794.
He entered the naval service as a Midshipman on board the Sampson 64, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Milbanke in
- ↑ On the 10th Jan. 1812, the thanks of both Houses of Parliament were unanimously voted to the naval and military commanders, officers, &c. &c. employed at the capture of Batavia and its dependencies, for their “skilful, gallant, and meritorious exertions.”
