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 same alacrity, and cordial co-operation with the army, will have happier effects, I hope, and be crowned with complete success.

“I therefore request you will express to the officers and ship’s company of H.M. ship under your command my grateful sense of their recent exertions, and my confidence in the continuation of them wherever the opportunity shall be given.

“Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Pellew, Bart, the commander-in-chief, having moreover consigned to me the pleasing task of communicating his public thanks for the promptness and fidelity with which my orders have been uniformly executed by all ranks in the squadron, I have great satisfaction in signifying his sincere acknowledgments of the meritorious conduct of yourself, your officers, and ship’s company, on this present service, of which he has received abundant testimony, and I have to request that you will make this known to them accordingly. I have the honor to be, &c.

(Signed)“.”

“To Captain Peyton, H.M.S. Thames.”

Captain Peyton subsequently conveyed Lieutenant-General Sir John Murray to Alicant, and then proceeded with despatches to England. The Thames was put out of commission at Sheerness, in Sept. 1813, since which he has not been employed. He married, Oct. 1814, the daughter of the late Lieutenant Woodyear, R.N. of the island of St. Christopher’s, by whom he has two sons and three daughters. Mrs. Peyton’s brother was killed when serving as brigade-major of the Royal Artillery, at the battle of Vittoria.



 first find this officer serving under Sir Joseph S. Yorke, as senior lieutenant of the Christian VII. and commanding her boats at the capture and destruction of twelve French merchantmen, laden with wines, brandies, &c. near Rochelle, in Jan. 1810. His spirited conduct in a subsequent affair with the enemy is thus officially described:–

“H.M.S. Christian VII. in Basque Roads, Feb. 13, 1810.

“Three vessels, being part of a convoy of ten sail, laden with brandy, &c. that sailed last night in thick blowing weather, wind W.S.W. from the Charente, bound to the northward, having got on the reef that projects from the point of Chatelaillon, between Aix and Rochelle, I directed the boats of this squadron to destroy them. This was forthwith attempted to be executed, wlien the enemy made a movement to prevent it. Our