ralty April 5, 1803; and he remained on the East India station, chiefly employed on confidential detached services, till Jan. 1805, when he was obliged to resign his ship on account of a debilitated state of health, and the recent demise of his eldest brother rendering it necessary for him to attend the settlement of some important family affairs. His application for permission to do so was thus answered by the officer under whose command he had then served for an uninterrupted period of more than eight years:
“Trident, Port Cornwallis, Prince of Wales’s Island,
Jan. 23, 1805.
“Sir,– In answer to your letter of yesterday’s date, requesting permission to resign the command of H.M.S. la Dedaigneuse, in order to attend to some very pressing and important family concerns, the management whereof indispensably demands your presence in London, I have to acquaint you, that I think it but justice due to your very meritorious and faithful services, to grant you that permission; and in farther gratification of your request, I shall, with much pleasure, assure my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty of my firm persuasion that your application has originated from no other motive than that you have stated, which I have no doubt will appear perfectly satisfactory to their Lordships, and, when the state of your private affairs will admit, induce them to attend to your solicitation to be again appointed to the command of one of H.M. ships.
“I cannot help testifying my sincere regret on parting with so able and active an officer as yourself from the squadron I have the honor to command; and I request your acceptance of my best wishes for the successful accomplishment of the business that has been the occasion of it. I remain with much respect, Sir, your very faithful humble servant.
“To Peter Heywood, Esq.
Captain H.M.S. Dedaigneuse.”
Captain Heywood, while commanding the Leopard, was ordered to survey the east coast of Ceylon, more especially the shoals off the N.E. part of that island, and the whole extent between them and Point Calymere, then utterly unknown. In addition to the performance of this valuable service, he ascertained the exact position of almost every place on the Indian coast, and of the different islands to the eastward, which enabled him to render material assistance to James Horsburgh, Esq. (the present hydrographer to the East India Company), as will be seen by the following ex-
