Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v4p2.djvu/313

 former charts, were laid down; and on this occasion he was honored with the following communication:–

“Prince Regent, in the Medway, Aug. 1827.

“Memo. – Having laid before his Royal Highness the Lord High Admiral your survey of the harbour and road of Sunderland, I have it in command to express to you H.R.H.’s satisfaction therewith, and with the zeal you have manifested in making the said survey.

(Signed)“, Vice-Admiral.”

“To Lieutenant Woollnough.”

The Surly was next employed on the coast of Scotland, where she continued till the beginning of the winter of 1827, during which season we find her stationed in the entrances of the Thames, for the suppression of a system of smuggling, supposed to be carried on to a great extent in loaded merchant vessels, and which it was extremely difficult to detect. For this purpose, the Asp cutter, tender to the flag-ship in the river Medway, was placed under his orders, together with a draft of men from the Prince Regent and Gloucester. During his continuance on this service no smuggling transaction was heard of.

While thus serving under the command of Sir Henry Blackwood, Lieutenant Woollnough, at his desire, drew up a memoir of what he believed to be the present state of the contraband trade carried on about the entrances of the Thames, and the probable mode of prevention. On the 8th May, 1828, he received a most gratifying note from that officer, to the following effect:–

Commander Woollnough was superseded on the 17th of the same month, since which he has not been employed. In 1829, he submitted to the Lords of the Admiralty the advantage of adopting a shorter and lighter piece, in small vessels of war, in lieu of the present long and heavy musket; and also a comparative estimate of the expense of the hired transports, and that of a certain class of men-of-war, fitted