son thus spoken of by Sir Richard, it should not be omitted: On the 27th Mar. 1805, the mercantile community of the rock thus addressed Lieutenant-Governor the Hon. Fox.
“Sir,– It may not hitherto have been officially communicated to your Excellency, the strong representation made in last year by most of the principal merchants and inhabitants of this place materially concerned in the extension of its trade, so very beneficial to the mother country, in favor of Captain Layman, R.N., then commander of the Weazel brig of war, appointed to this station. That gentleman’s superior knowledge and information with regard to the tides and currents of this bay, and the whole of the Straits in general, from his long practice in going between this place and the Barbary and Spanish coasts, east and west, gave us all a superior satisfaction and security that we had not previously thereto experienced, by the terror he caused, and the unusual diligence he performed in keeping the enemies’ cruisers in general from annoying our trade.
“We now find Captain Layman here on his way to England, after the loss of a very fine sloop he commanded, the Raven, that was meant to be stationed here, and would have given us every protection. The formidable appearance and strength of the enemies’ cruisers at present in and about this bay and neighbourhood, requires the most serious attention and vigilance; not any provision that we know of has hitherto been made to obstruct such formidable enemies.
“We have therefore most earnestly to request your excellency, that after taking the fullest information from Captain Layman, of the best methods to be adopted to protect and keep open our communication with the rest of Europe, that we shall consider ourselves under particular obligations to your excellency, if you will strenuously recommend, countenance, and support Captain Layman’s application to have a particular command, for the purpose of protecting our trade, being assured his endeavours will be exerted for the general benefit; as under his directions, with suitable cruisers, we flatter ourselves he may be able to set aside all the formidable opposition which the enemy have provided towards annihilating our trade.”
Commander Layman arrived at Portsmouth in May 1805, and on the 3th Sept. following. Lord Nelson addressed a letter, which we shall now transcribe, to J. D. Thompson, Esq. nephew and private secretary to the then First Lord of the Admiralty.
“My dear Sir,– This will be delivered to you by Captain Layman, who, if he had not been a very active zealous officer, I am certain would not have lost his fine sloop, the Raven.
“The sentence of the court-martial, placing him at the bottom of the list, I have too much respect for such a tribunal to say a word about. But