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 and 1839. One of the latter, ‘A Christmas Hymn,’ deservedly attracted general attention. In 1839 Domett issued a second volume, a poem on Venice. Meanwhile he was living a life of ease, for the most part in London, but at times diversified by tours in Europe and America. His most intimate friend was Mr. Robert Browning, the poet. In 1841 he was called to the bar at the Middle Temple, and shared chambers with Joseph Arnold, afterwards chief justice of Bombay. In May 1842 he purchased land of the New Zealand Company and emigrated to the colony. Mr. Browning mourned his sudden departure in the poem entitled ‘Waring,’ first published in ‘Bells and Pomegranates’ (1842). In New Zealand Domett filled in succession nearly all the chief administrative offices. He was colonial secretary for New Munster (1848), secretary for the whole colony (1851), commissioner of crown lands and resident magistrate at Hawke's Bay (1853–6), M.P. for Nelson (1855), prime minister (1862–3), secretary for crown lands, legislative councillor, and commissioner of old land claims (1864), registrar-general of land (1865), and administrator of confiscated lands (1870). He married an English lady, and returned to England in 1871. Settling in London, he renewed his acquaintance with Mr. Browning, who had testified to his continued affection for his old friend during his absence in his ‘Guardian Angel’ (1855). In 1872 Domett issued a volume of verse entitled ‘Ranolf and Amolia, a South Sea Day Dream,’ descriptive of New Zealand scenery and Maori customs, in which he incidentally eulogised Mr. Browning's genius. A second edition appeared in 1883. His latest publication was ‘Flotsam and Jetsam, Rhymes Old and New’ (1877), dedicated to Mr. Browning. He was made C.M.G. in 1880. Domett died on 2 Nov. 1887.

Besides the literary work mentioned above, Domett was the author of the following official publications: ‘Narrative of the Wairoan Massacre,’ 1843; ‘Petition to the House of Commons for the recall of Governor Fitzroy,’ 1845; ‘Ordinances of New Zealand Classified,’ 1850.

[Men of the Time, 12th edit.; W. Gisborne's New Zealand Rulers and Statesmen (1886), 134 et seq. (with portrait); Dr. Furnivall's Browning Bibliography.] 

DOMETT, WILLIAM (1754–1828), admiral, entered the navy in 1769 under the patronage of Captain Alexander Hood (afterwards Lord Bridport), and after serving under Lord Ducie, Captain Elphinstone (afterwards Lord Keith), Captain Samuel Hood (afterwards Lord Hood), and others, was in 1777 promoted to be lieutenant, and shortly afterwards appointed to the Robust with Captain Alexander Hood, in which ship he was present in the action off Ushant on 27 July 1778. He was still in the Robust when, under Captain Cosby, she led Arbuthnot's line in the action off Cape Henry on 16 March 1781; was afterwards removed into the Invincible, in which he was present in the action of the Chesapeake on 5 Sept. 1781; was then taken by Sir Samuel Hood as his signal officer on board the Barfleur, and served in that capacity in the operations at St. Kitts in January 1782 and in the action off Dominica on 12 April 1782. A few days afterwards, Hood, having been detached from the fleet, captured four of the enemy's ships in the Mona passage, to the command of one of which, the Ceres sloop, Domett was promoted by Sir George Rodney, and sent to England with despatches. On 9 Sept. he was advanced to post rank and appointed as flag captain to Rear-admiral Sir Alexander Hood on board the Queen of 98 guns, one of the fleet which under Lord Howe relieved Gibraltar and repelled the attack of the enemy off Cape Spartel on 20 Oct.

During the peace he was actively employed on the coast of Scotland, in the West Indies, and Newfoundland. In the Spanish armament of 1790 he was again Sir Alexander Hood's flag captain on board the London; afterwards he commanded the Pegasus frigate on the coast of Newfoundland, and the Romney in the Mediterranean, as flag captain to Rear-admiral Goodall. When the war with France broke out in 1793 he was reappointed flag captain to Sir Alexander Hood in the Royal George, in which office he remained during seven years and a half, till Hood, created Viscount Bridport after the battle of 1 June 1794, struck his flag in 1800 [see ], a period including not only the battle of 1 June, but also that off L'Orient on 23 June 1795, when Lord Bridport was commander-in-chief, and the mutiny at Spithead in April 1797. In November 1800 Domett was moved into the Belle Isle, from which early in 1801 he was appointed captain of the fleet ordered for service in the Baltic, under Sir Hyde Parker, and, after Parker's return home, under Lord Nelson. On coming back from the Baltic he resumed the command of the Belle Isle, but was shortly afterwards appointed captain of the fleet off Brest, under Admiral Cornwallis, in which capacity he served till the peace of Amiens, and again, on the resumption of hostilities, till 23 April 1804, when he was promoted to be rear-admiral. Towards