was the sole cause of his not continuing in active service. We should have added, that he applied for the command of another ship, in the late war, as soon as he became convalescent; that he accepted the office of commissioner afloat at Plymouth, on being assured, though not officially, from what he considered the best authority, that, like his predecessors, he would be as certain of obtaining his flag as if he were serving at sea; that, when a war with Spain, on account of Portugal, was anticipated, he immediately volunteered his services; and that, on the promulgation of the Order in Council of June 30th, 1827 (prohibiting in future the promotion of captains who shall not “have commanded one or more rated ship or ships four complete years during war, or six complete years during peace, or five complete years of war and peace ccmbined”), he most earnestly solicited, both verbally and by letter, any appointment which would give him a chance of qualifying himself for advancement as a flag officer, agreeably to that regulation. All his efforts, however, proved unavailing, and he had the bitter mortification to be placed on the list of retired rear-admirals, July 22d, 1830.
This officer’s second son, Edward Littlehales, served as midshipman under the flag of Sir Harry Neale, Bart. &c. in the Revenge 78, on the Mediterranean station; obtained a lieutenant’s commission, appointing him to the Success 28, Captain James Stirling, employed in the East Indies, Mar. 11th, 1828; and continued in that ship, under the command of Captain William Clarke Jervoise, until paid off at Portsmouth, Dec. 16th, 1831. By reference to p. 447 of Vol. III. Part II. the reader will perceive that this young officer’s exemplary conduct at the time when the Success was all but lost on a reef, whilst making for Cockburn Sound, in Western Australia, drew forth the expression of his persevering captain’s warmest approbation; and we have to add, that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty highly approving thereof, were pleased to allow him to succeed the present Commander Edmund Yonge as first lieutenant, and to remain in that capacity until put out of commission.
