Page:Colnett - Voyage to the South Pacific (IA cihm 33242).djvu/19

 which was my original and favourite profeion. I had erved on the Quarter-deck of a man of war from the year 1769, and performed the econd circumnavigating voyage with Capt. Cooke as a midhipman, on board the Reolution: I had alo enjoyed for ixteen years the rank of a lieutenant. I accordingly addreed a letter to the Right Honourable the Lords Commiioners of the Admiralty, in which, after etting forth my ervices and ituation, I requeted their Lordhips, if the profeional exertions of my pat life did not appear, in their opinion, to merit profeional promotion, or if they had no employment to offer me in order to obtain it, that they would be pleaed to grant me permiion to re-engage in my commercial puruits. Captain Marhall, one of the Commiioners of the Victualling Office, under whoe command I had the honour to erve, during everal years, in the rank of firt lieutenant, upported me in this application, which was effectually forwarded by Mr. Stephens; who