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of the battle when, from five guns only working, you, by great exertions, manned and replaced the whole of the larboard battery, and that under a fire from the enemy, which the state of the Isis, after the engagement, fully bore testimony to the weight of. Not having been on board the same ship with you on that memorable day, I have only to state my firm reliance on the accuracy of every degree of honor which was attributed to you; and, after having heard but one general opinion in the Baltic fleet on the subject, it is with regret, as well as surprise, that I now learn, from your letter, that the noble lord at the head of the Admiralty considers your services, which were great as well as voluntary on the occasion in question, as but of small importance. My information, as well as the general opinion at the above period, must have widely erred, if such a subsequent review of your conduct can now prove to be a correct one, or what is merited by you. With every expression of wish for your future success in your profession, I beg leave to subscribe myself, &c.

(Signed)“W. Stewart^[1].”

During the peace of Amiens, notice having been given in the House of Commons, by Mr. Canning, of an intended motion respecting the cultivation of Trinidad, Lieutenant Layman submitted to His Majesty’s Ministers that the most effectual manner of doing away with the slave-trade would he to introduce the skill and industry of free labourers, together with the valuable productions of the East, into the West Indies; and at the same time he proposed the establishment of Chinese husbandmen in the island of Ceylon. Both of these suggestions were considered deserving of adoption, as shewn in the following letters:–

“H.M.S. Centaur, Sept 3d, 1806.

“Sir,– I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, on the subject of a plan you submitted to Government in 1802, for the cultivation of Trinidad, which was referred by the Secretary of State to the Commissioners for that island, and in consequence of which you met us by appointment at the Treasury, and were informed by the Right Hon. John Sullivan, then Under Secretary of State, that the execution of the measure only waited an official report of the Commissioners. The termination of the commission, owing to the disagreement between Colonels Fullerton and Picton, certainly prevented the report; and as you state it is unknown to his Majesty’s present Ministers in whom the idea first originated, I have

1. Commander of the land forces employed in the expedition against the Northern Confederacy.