We have now, in rather a hasty manner, followed Captain Travers through a course of active, enterprising, gallant, and zealous service of sixteen years, during which period he commanded at the capture and destruction of seven different batteries, two martello towers, and about sixty vessels, chiefly cut out of harbours or from under fortifications on various sea-coasts; besides which upwards of twenty of these vessels were well armed and manned: he was upwards of one hundred times engaged with the enemy, nine times honorably mentioned in gazetted despatches, and never unemployed, except for two months, when paid off from the Surveillante. For his distinguished conduct on so many occasions, he was presented with the freedom of Cork, of which city he is a native.
In 1827, Commander Travers submitted to H.R.H. the Lord High Admiral, a brief sketch of his services, wherein he truly observed, that he could with confidence refer to every captain he had sailed with for confirmation of the facts there stated ; and concluded with observing, that he did not hope the less from the royal Duke’s protection, because he had no interest to back the claims for advancement which those services enabled him to prefer. In a very short time afterwards he was appointed to the Scylla sloop, and, on that vessel being found defective, removed, July 23d, 1828, to the Rose of 18 guns, fitting out for the Halifax station. The Lord High Admiral was also pleased, at his own table, on board one of the royal yachts, to promise him promotion at the expiration of twelve months, the then recently established period of service afloat as a commander.
In the Rose, Commander Travers conveyed Commodore Schomberg, C.B. to Teneriffe, Rio Janeiro, and the Cape of Good Hope. He afterwards touched at St. Helena and
being no chance of meeting American vessels in the Mediterranean, their attachment to Captain Duncan inclined them to stay till the last with him. They were allowed to do so, and served most faithfully, distinguishing themselves on all occasions in the boats, and being the first on every enterprise against the enemy.
