On the 7th June following, Captain O’Neill was appointed to the command of the Nimrod 18, then the finest and most handsome ship-sloop in the British navy; and on his application she was armed with 24 instead of 18-pounder carronades, and her complement increased from 86 to 121 men. Whilst employed in this vessel, with the Sea Gull sloop and two revenue cruisers under his orders, on the Mount’s Bay station, he was informed that some improper reports respecting him were in circulation at Poole, upon which he directed his informant to stick up in the town-hall a paper, wherein he dared the corporation and inhabitants, both generally and individually, to openly exhibit and substantiate any charges disreputable either to his private or public character. The result of this challenge was thus officially communicated to him:–
“Poole, 6th December, 1803.
“Sir,– Mr. Strong has communicated to me the subject of your letter lately addressed to him, and I can truly say, that my astonishment was only equalled by my indignation at the infamous insinuations which have been made to you respecting the intentions of the merchants of this place.
“I consider it a duty incumbent on me, and an act of justice due to them, to deny the truth of it in the most positive and unequivocal terms; and to pledge myself, that either individually or collectively, they have never, in the most distant manner, entertained so ungenerous an idea. Be assured. Sir, that they are as incapable of the meanness imputed to them, as they are satisfied that you are of any action unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman. I trust that you will think it a piece of justice due to them to trace, if possible, this malignant report, which I am satisfied will be found to have its origin in malevolence, that has perhaps equally for its object the merchants of Poole and yourself. I am. Sir, &c.
(Signed)“Mark Street, Mayor.”
About the same period. Captain O’Neill received the thanks of the Admiralty, for communicating to their lordships his ideas on the subject of a new code of signals. In July 1804, he felt himself obliged, in consequence of suffering most severely from sea-sickness in bad weather, occasioned, we are told, by the effects of an attack of brain-fever in early life, to resign the command of the Nimrod. That he was not a voluntary seceder from the service of his country, at so momentous a period, will be seen by the following document:–
