Captain Marryat cannot resign the command of H.M. sloop Larne, without expressing to the officers and ship’s company, who have survived the peculiar severity of the service upon which they have been employed, his most sincere thanks for their ready and praiseworthy support upon every occasion. To Mr. Dobson, first lieutenant, his thanks are particularly due, for the zeal and activity which he has invariably shewn, under constant sickness and prostration of strength, and more especially since he has commanded the Satellite, and, with so few English seamen to assist him, has rendered her more effective and useful than any of the Hon. Company’s cruisers. * * * * * *
Lieutenant Dobson subsequently received the following testimonial from the senior surviving naval officer employed in the Burmese war:–
“These are to certify that Lieutenant W. B. Dobson served under my orders at Rangoon, in command of the armed transport Satellite, and, being stationed in the advance for a considerable time, performed the most arduous and harassing duties with zeal, ability, and gallantry, and on three different expeditions up the river his good conduct was reported to the senior officer in India.
The Larne took her final departure from Rangoon on the 8th May, 1825, and Mr. Dobson continued to serve as first lieutenant under acting commander John Kingcome, until July 13th, 1820, on which day, being then at Madras, he received a commission from England, dated July 25th, 1825, promoting him to the command of that sloop. During the above period, he visited Pulo-Penang, Malacca, Sincapore, Sydney (N. S. Wales), Van Diemen’s Land, New Zealand, and Norfolk Island; passed through Torres Straits, and touched at Melville Island and Batavia.
Commander Dobson’s next appointment was, July 23d, 1830, to the Hyperion 42, Captain W. J. Mingaye, stationed at Newhaven for the suppression of smuggling, in which ship he continued until paid off, May 30th, 1831. He is now an inspecting commander in the coast guard service.
