the land; and adjudged him “to be severely reprimanded, and put at the bottom of the list” of all those who had attained the same rank as himself previous to the day of his trial, Mar. 9th, 1805. “I did not expect this,” declared the heroic and humane admiral; “but it is all my fault; never mind, I’ll get you over it.” On the ensuing day, he wrote to the then head of the naval administration in terms as follow:–
“My dear Lord, – I enclose some remarks made by Captain Layman whilst he was in Spain, after the very unfortunate loss of that fine sloop which your lordship was so good as to give him the command of. Your lordship will find the remarks flow from a most intelligent and active mind, and may be useful, should any expedition take place against Cadiz. And, my dear Lord, give me leave to recommend Captain Layman to your kind protection; for, notwithstanding the court-martial has thought him deserving of censure, for his running in with the land, yet, my Lord, allow me to say, that his misfortune was, perhaps, conceiving that other people’s abilities were equal to his own, which, indeed, very few people’s are.
“I own myself one of those who do not fear the shore; for hardly any great things are done in a small ship by a man that does; – therefore I make very great allowances for him: indeed his station was intended never to be from the shore in the Straits, and if he did not every day risk his sloop, he would be useless upon that station. Captain Layman has served with me in three ships, and I am well acquainted with his bravery, zeal, judgment, and activity; nor do I regret the loss of the Raven, compared to the value of Captain Layman’s services, which are a national loss.
“You must, my dear Lord, forgive the warmth which I express for Captain Layman; but he is in adversity, and therefore has the more claim to my attention and regard. If I had been censured every time I have run ships or fleets under my command into great danger, I should long ago have been out of the service, and never in the House of Peers. Believe me, my dear Lord, &c.
“To Henry Viscount Melville.”
(Enclosure).
