portant feature in this transaction, that it had not interfered with other services; that it had been accomplished without an armament from Europe, which had on former occasions been required; but that the ability of the officers abroad had been adequate to the purpose, without any effort from home. His Lordship concluded a long speech with moving, that the thanks of the House be given to Lieutenant-General Beckwith, Sir Alexander Cochrane, and the other officers, soldiers, seamen, and marines, for their able, gallant, and meritorious services in effecting the conquest of that Island. The resolutions were agreed to, nem. con. A similar vote of thanks was unanimously passed in the House of Lords.
On the 25th Oct., 1809, Sir Alexander Cochrane was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral; and early in the following year we find him co-operating with Sir George Beckwith, in the reduction of Guadaloupe; which was quickly followed by the surrender of the Dutch islands of St. Martin’s, St. Eustatia, and Saba. The latter service was, in conjunction with Brigadier-General Harcourt, most ably performed by that judicious officer, Captain (now Rear-Admiral) Fahie, to whom Sir Alexander gave the temporary rank of Commodore during the expedition.
As a reward for these important services, our officer was, in the summer of 1810, appointed Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the island of Guadaloupe and its dependencies, which flattering mark of his Sovereign’s approbation of his conduct he enjoyed, we believe, until the year 1813, when he was selected to command the fleet employed on the coast of North America; where, on his arrival, after declaring the ports of the United States under blockade, he commenced a system of operations of the most vigorous description, by which he not only put a stop to the trade of that country, but kept the whole line of sea coast in a continual state of alarm. Of the destruction of Washington, and the various other important services performed by the different branches of the force under the orders of the Vice-Admiral, detailed accounts will be found in the memoirs of Sir George Cockburn, Sir Pulteney Malcolm, and the other officers, who commanded on those occasions.
In the spring of 1815, Sir Alexander Cochrane returned to
