Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v3p2.djvu/378

  “Wood End, Sept. 30th, 1803.

“Dear Sir,– The officer who will deliver this is Mr. William Love, who served with me during the late war, until I hauled my flag down, when he was my first lieutenant, and was actually promised promotion by Lord St. Vincent: I believe he is not the only instance where disappointment has followed the most sanguine hopes; and as I cannot assign any reason for it, any more than his lordship, I must endeavour to provide for a most deserving officer in any way which will gain him employment, and bread for his numerous family. My own opinion of him is such, that if I were employed, Mr. Love would certainly be my first lieutenant, and I should spare no means to promote him; but as that is not likely to happen, I should really esteem it a favor if he could be employed in the transport service. I believe there are such things as resident agents, which, perhaps, may suit his convenience as well as my own; but as possibly no vacancy of this sort may at present occur, I shall equally be bound to you, to put him in any situation for which his zeal, talents, and honorable character may fit him. I remain, &c.

(Signed)“.”

“To Sir Rupert George, Bart.”

In consequence of this recommendation, Lieutenant Love was appointed principal agent for transports at Beer Haven in Ireland, with a division of victuallers under his pendant, to attend the western squadron. In 1804, on Rear-Admiral Berkeley being appointed to command the whole of the English Sea-Fencibles, he was selected by him to serve as his aide-de-camp and secretary. During the two years that he was thus employed, the whole coast between the river Thames and Bristol was visited, and the state and efficiency of the amphibious corps minutely inspected and reported on. In the spring of 1806, we find him proceeding to the North American station, as flag-lieutenant to his friend, then Vice-Admiral Berkeley, by whom he was, immediately on their arrival at Halifax, appointed acting commander of a sloop not yet launched; and soon afterwards to act as captain of the Cleopatra frigate, then heaving down, and ordered to be re-equipped with the utmost expedition, for the purpose of convoying two ships, laden with masts, to the West Indies. On the third day after this appointment he made the signal for his charge to weigh. After touching at Barbadoes, Antigua, and Jamaica, the Cleopatra returned to Bermuda, where Commander Love, whose promotion to that rank was confirmed by the 