Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v2p2.djvu/468

  “. I regret that, in the hurry of drawing up this Narrative, I should have omitted to make more particular mention of Captain Richard Thomas, R.N., from whose great professional skill and advice, throughout the whole of our perilous voyage, I derived the greatest assistance.”

The character of the work from which we have made the foregoing extracts, and the praise to which Captain Fellowes and his associates in misfortune are entitled, for their firm and pious conduct in the hour of danger, are so admirably touched in the following minute thereon, made by their Lordships the Post-Master-General, as to render any farther eulogium on our part unnecessary.

“August, 1803.

“We have perused this report with a mixed sentiment of sympathy and admiration. We are satisfied, that in the loss of the packet and of the public correspondence, no blame is imputable to Captain Fellowes, to his officers, or to his seamen. In their exertion after the ship had struck on the floating mass of ice, and in their subsequent conduct, they appear to have shewn all the talents and virtue which can distinguish the naval character.

“Let a proper letter be written in our names to the friends and family of the very worthy French officer who perished. And we shall be solicitous to learn the entire recovery of the other passengers, who met such dangers and sufferings with the most exemplary fortitude.

“Mr. Freeling will return the Narrative to Captain Fellowes, with our permission to him to communicate it to his friends; or, if he shall think proper, to give it to the public. It cannot fail to impress on the minds of all who may read it, the benefit of religion, and the consolation of prayer under the pressure of calamity; and also an awful sense of the interposition and mercies of Providence, in a case of extreme peril and distress. To seamen it will more especially shew that discipline, order, generosity of mind, good temper, mutual benevolence, and patient exertion, are, under the favor of Heaven, the best safeguards in all their difficulties.

“With respect to Captain Fellowes, we feel highly gratified in having