‘Only look how nobly the brig behaves!’”[1] Nineteen days after the event we have just recorded, we find the Grasshopper, in company with the Rapid 12, Lieut.-Commander Henry Baugh, effecting the capture, at the end of a severe action of two hours and a half, fought among shoals and within grape-shot distance of a battery, of two Spanish vessels laden with cargoes worth 30,000l. each, and further protected by four gun-boats, two of which were forced to surrender, and the remainder driven on shore.[2] The collective loss of the Grasshopper in the affairs we have here sketched amounted to 1 man killed and 10 wounded, including, in the last one, her Captain, who, with much modesty, although shot through the thigh by a musket-ball, only reported himself as “slightly wounded.” In the action which preceded the capture of the San Josef he had been wounded by a splinter in the head, but had not made any allusion to the circumstance. His valour was at length rewarded by a Post-commission dated 25 April, 1808. He left the Grasshopper in the following July; and was subsequently appointed – 18 Feb. 1809, for 9 or 10 months, to the Frederickstein 32, in the Mediterranean – 6 July and 1 Aug. 1810, to the Hannibal and Elizabeth 74’s, the latter employed on the North Sea and Lisbon stations – 8 May, 1811, to the Druid frigate, in which he co-operated in the defence of Tarifa, and served in the Mediterranean until 28 July, 1812 1 Sept. 1818, to the Hyperion 42 – and, 1 Aug. 1836, to the Victory 104, Ordinary guard-ship at Portsmouth, where he remained three years. While in command of the Hyperion, which frigate was paid off 25 April, 1821, he was in attendance upon George IV. during an aquatic excursion in the neighbourhood of Portsmouth, and made a voyage to South America, whence he returned with specie to the amount of half-a-million sterling. He was nominated a C.B. 4 June, 1815; and advanced to Flag-rank 9 Nov. 1846.
On leaving the Grasshopper, in 1808, Capt. Searle was presented by the crew with a sword, valued at 80 guineas, as a mark of their respect and attachment. In the course of the same year he received a piece of plate from Lloyd’s, worth 100 guineas. He married a daughter of Joseph Maddock, Esq., of H.M. dockyard at Portsmouth, and has issue. One of his daughters, Jane Splatt, was married, in 1828, to the late Capt. Rich. Dickinson, R.N., C.B.; a second, Amelia Emma, in 1831, to Major Henry Semple, of the 35th Foot; a third, Charlotte Augusta, in 1838, to Capt. Henry John Worth, R.N.; and a fourth, Cecilia Caroline, in 1841, to H. Burney, Esq., LL.D., of Gosport. Agent – J. Hinxman.
SEATON, K.T.S. (Lieutenant, 1815. f-p., 10; h-p., 30.)
John Seaton was born 22 May, 1791. This officer entered the Navy, 29 Aug. 1807, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Princess of Orange 74, Capt. Joshua Sydney Horton, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Bartholomew Sam. Rowley in the Downs; and from 27 March, 1808, until transferred, in Feb. 1814, to the Tonnant 80, flag-ship on the coast of North America of Hon. Sir Alex. Cochrane, was borne, as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, on the books of the Ranger 18, commanded in the Baltic by Capts. Geo. Acklom and Fras. Geo. Dickins. During that period he assisted in taking the island of Anholdt, was frequently sent home in charge of captured vessels, and on one occasion, while so employed, fell into the hands of the Danes, who kept him a prisoner from 15 May, 1812, until 14 Nov. 1813. He also commanded the Pickle tender, fitted as a rocket-vessel, in two attacks made by the combined squadrons of England and Russia on the French batteries at Danzig. In July, 1814, he invalided home from North America in the Belvidere 46, Capt. Rich. Byron; and on 9 March, 1815, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. His last appointment afloat was, 30 Oct. 1823, to the Lively 46, Capt. Wm. Elliott, in which frigate, prior to Aug. 1825, when he returned to England an invalid in the Icarus 10, Capt. John Geo. Graham, he visited the Tagus, escorted Don Miguel to Brest, went on a mission to Algiers, and served on the West India station. While in the Tagus he was created a Knight of the Tower and Sword by Don John, who had taken refuge, during a popular commotion, on board the Windsor Castle 74. Since 20 Oct. 1826 he has been in charge of a station in the Coast Guard.
Lieut. Seaton married, 28 June, 1838, Esther, eldest daughter of Thos. Saunders, Esq., H.M. Consul at St. Valery, in France, by whom he has issue. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.
SEAVER. (Lieutenant, 1830.)
Charles Seaver is youngest son of the late Jonathan Seaver, Esq., of Heath Hail, High Sheriff of Armagh in 1807; and brother (with Lieut. Joseph Seaver, 21st Foot, and the late Lieut. John Pockrich Seaver, 15th Foot) of the present Thos. Seaver, Esq., of Heath Hall, a Magistrate for that co., who served in 1816 as High Sheriff for Monaghan. This officer entered the Navy 24 Dec. 1811; passed his examination in 1818; and obtained his commission 22 July, 1830. His succeeding appointments were – 24 Nov. 1838, to the Coast Guard – 8 March, 1842, to the Jaseur 16, Capt. Wm. Alex. Willis, in the Mediterranean – 20 Oct. 1842, to the Shearwater surveying-vessel, Capt. John Washington, at Woolwich – 16 March, 1843, again to the Coast Guard – 9 Aug. 1843, to the Imaum 72, receiving- ship at Jamaica, Commodore Alex. Renton Sharpe – and, 20 Jan. 1845, after two months of half-pay, to the Racehorse sloop, Capts. Geo. Jas. Hay and Edw. Southwell Sotheby, on the East India station, whence he returned in 1848. In all the vessels above mentioned he was First-Lieutenant.
He is married. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.
SEAWARD. (Lieutenant, 1830.)
William Seaward entered the Navy 4 April, 1811; passed his examination in 1819; and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 22 July, 1830. He was afterwards employed – from 22 April, 1830, until 1833, from 28 April, 1834, until the spring of 1838, and from 27 Sept. 1838 until May, 1839, in the Coast Guard – from 16 May, 1839, until the following Dec. in command of the Sprightly Revenue-cruizer – from 4 May, 1840, until March, 1843, again in the Coast Guard – and, for a short time in the latter year, as Admiralty Agent in a contract mail steam-vessel. He has since been on half-pay. Agent Joseph Woodhead.
SECCOMBE. (Lieutenant, 1825.)
Charles Julius Seccombe entered the Navy 10 May, 1815; passed his examination in 1821; and obtained his commission 25 Sept. 1825. He has not been since afloat.
SECCOMBE. (Lieutenant, 1842.)
John Seccombe entered the Navy 1 May, 1829; passed his examination 29 June, 1835; and after serving on the South American and Cape of Good Hope stations, as Mate, in the Sparrow ketch, Lieut.-Commander John Tyssen, and Grecian 16 Capt. Wm. Smyth, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 14 Dec. 1842. His appointments have since been – 27 May, 1843, and 27 Jan. and 24 July 1845, to the Espoir 10, Capt. Geo. Sumner Hand Growler steam-sloop, Capt. Claude Henry Mason Buckle, and Waterwitch 10, Capt. Thos. Francis Birch, all on the coast of Africa, where he served in the two last as First-Lieutenant, until the close of 1845-20 April, 1846, to the Queen 110, flag-ship of Sir John West at Devonport – and 26 July, 1847 as Senior, to the Trincomalee 24, Capt. Rich. Laird
