foreyard sprung; the spanker-boom broke in two; and the small cutter carried away from the davits[1].
We next find Captain Penrose commanding Vice-Admiral Murray’s flag-ship, the Resolution, during the absence of Captain Francis Pender, then acting as commissioner at Bermuda. Towards the latter end of 1796 he again returned to the Cleopatra; and had the melancholy satisfaction of conveying his much respected patron to England, that valuabla officer having been seized with a paralytic affection, from which he never recovered[2].
On his passage home Captain Penrose captured l’Hirondelle French privateer, of 12 guns and 70 men; many of whom were young persons of family and fortune, whose dread of being forced into the army, as conscripts, had induced them to hazard their safety on the ocean. The subject of this memoir is the author of a pamphlet, entitled “Observations on Corporal Punishment, Impressment, and other Matters relative to the present State of his Majesty’s Royal Navy[3].” In that small, but ably written book, he gives the following instances of the effect of well-timed indulgence to a ship’s company, “and seasonable ad-
- ↑ When compiling our first volume, we were led to believe that the Cleopatra was commanded by Captain Israel Pellew at the time the above occurrence took place.
- ↑ Vice-Admiral the Hon. George Murray, brother to John, third Duke of Athol, died Dec. 28, 1796. Throughout his long professional career he evinced a sound judgment, an unbending integrity, and a perseverance in the execution of his duty, that stamped him a truly valuable officer. It may be mentioned as an extraordinary, if not an unparalleled, circumstance, that Mr. Penrose never served at sea under the command of any other officer until he was himself made a commander; that he was posted by him, and that he continued to serve under his flag until the Vice-Admiral became incapable of further service. During the long period of 22 years, not a single circumstance ever occurred to interrupt, even for a moment, the most cordial esteem and friendship which existed between them: one commanded with kindness and judgment; the other obeyed with attention and respect; sentiments of the most sincere mutual regard blending the difference of rank in friendly intercourse.
- ↑ Published by Whitaker, London, July, 1824, at which period Sir Charles Penrose had attained the rank of Vice-Admiral.
