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 a part in the war then about to take place between Great Britain and the United States; but Captain Heywood’s local knowledge, and the manner in which he had acquitted himself in his intercourse with the Spanish authorities, were too highly appreciated to admit of any other arrangement being made.

After escorting the outward bound East India fleet to a certain latitude, and communicating with Lord Strangford, the British Ambassador at Rio Janeiro, Captain Heywood resumed his station as senior officer in la Plata; and continued to afford the most effectual protection to the merchants residing on its banks till July 1813, when he returned to the Brazilian capital, and was appointed by Rear-Admiral Dixon, then commander-in-Chief on that station, to the Montagu of 74 guns, in which ship he soon after took his final departure for England.

On his arrival at Portsmouth, (early in Oct. 1813), Captain Heywood had the satisfaction of finding that the merchants concerned in the trade which he had so long and ably supported, were equally grateful for the benefits they derived from his great exertions in their favor, as those who, from being on the spot, had had constant opportunities of witnessing them. Their letter to the Board of Admiralty will serve as a corroboration of what we have stated:

“London, 9th Oct. 1813.

“May it please your Lordships,– The account which we have some time past received from our agents in the Rio de la Plata, stalingthe advantages derived to our commerce in that quarter, from the judicious and impartial conduct of Captain Peter Heywood, late commander of H.M.S. Nereus, imposes on us the pleasing duty to express to your Lordships our gratitude for the selection of so meritorious an officer for that station, in the difficult situation of preserving a strict neutrality between contending and exasperated parties, and at the same time effectually protecting the British trade. Captain Heywood has not only attained these objects, but at the same time conciliated the respect and confidence of the Spanish authorities at Monte Video, the Government of Buenos Ayres, and of the British residents in those countries. The government of Buenos Ayres has on this occasion addressed Lord Strangford, H.M. Ambassador at Rio Janeiro, for the purpose of acknowledging their high sense of Captain Heywood’s conduct during his command in the Rio de la Plata. We also are persuaded that the permission lately given by that government for the exportation of specie, was in a great measure owing to the influence of