Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v3p1.djvu/157

 station, and was astonished to find Lieutenant Smyth carrying on an extensive series of hydrographical operations, connecting Barbary, Sicily, and Italy, entirely on his own means, and without any official instructions. After fully acquainting himself with all the bearings of the case, he made several efforts to procure a proper establishment for the enterprising surveyor; and we insert one of his letters, with the greater pleasure, because it is mainly owing to this occurrence, that the study of hydrography has since been so widely cultivated:–

“H.M.S. Queen, at Sea, 4th April, 1815.

“Sir,– Lieutenant Smyth having delivered to my charge some finished plans of ports in Sicily, requesting me to forward them for the inspection of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, I have promised to do so by the first safe opportunity.

“I feel it my duty to add, that the celebrated Piazzi, as well as the officers of engineers, and all other judges, give ample testimony to the extreme accuracy of the observations and calculations of Lieutenant Smyth, and I have had opportunities of comparing some on the spot, which fully corroborate it. His written remarks, both in a nautical and military point of view, are very valuable; and he has the advantage of uniting great celerity of operation with extreme exactitude.

“The respectable light in which he is held by all the Sicilian ministers and authorities will enable him to act with much greater effect than any other person.

“I venture to press the merits of Mr. Smyth with more confidence because he was entirely unknown to me, till I saw the utility of his professional labours in Sicily.

“The very great errors detected in former charts, exhibit the value of the present survey in a strong light. I have the honor to be, &c.

(Signed)“, Rear-Admiral.

“To J. W. Croker, Esq. Admiralty.”

Lieutenant Smyth continued his important labours, in a borrowed Sicilian gun-boat, long after the British troops had evacuated the island; and during the progress of his survey, gave such satisfaction to the Admiralty, that he was not only advanced to the rank of Commander, Sept. 18th, 1815, but, says the Secretary, in a letter to Rear-Admiral Penrose, – “I am commanded by their Lordships to acquaint you, that they are much pleased with Captain Smyth’s zeal and ability, and that they are more particularly satisfied with the beauty and