Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v4p2.djvu/126

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
110
commanders.

the end of October[1]. From Mar. 24th, 1810, until Oct. 10th, 1816, he was employed as an agent of transports, on the coasts of Spain and Portugal, in the Mediterranean, and at Halifax and Quebec. Whilst on the Lisbon station, he was attached to the army at Salva-terra, upon the banks of the Tagus, about forty-five miles up the river, a considerable distance above the French lines on the opposite side, in charge of pontoons, flat-boats, and river craft, to convey the army across; and materials for constructing temporary bridges, and, if necessary, to replace those at Punkete, Abrantes, and Villa Velha. Whilst at Quebec, he had charge of the prisoner-of-war department after the death of Captain Kempt, the principal agent of transports on that station, and to execute various other extra duties required of him by the Commander-in-chief upon the lakes and waters of Canada. In 1815, he was presented with a piece of plate bearing the following inscription:–

“We, the Masters of Transports serving in Canada, offer this as a mark of the esteem borne by us to Lieut. D. J. Woodriff, whilst serving under his immediate direction.”

Lieutenant Woodriff also received several very gratifying letters from Commodore William Fitzwilliam Owen, of which the following are extracts:–

Kingston, Upper Canada, Dec. 16th, 1815.

“Your exertions to save the Lady Hamilton, are highly creditable to you, and I must hope have been fully successful.”

May 5th, 1816.

“Your known zeal in the public service renders it unnecessary to urge you to spare no exertion to save the Emma or her stores[2].”

May 20th, 1816.
“I have no hesitation in certifying that his Majesty’s service has very materially benefited by your being at Quebec during the late winter, as being the only agent or officer of the naval department to whom I could have entrusted the duties which, during my command, have fallen to you;
  1. Senegal and Gorée were evacuated by the British, agreeably to the treaty of 1814.
  2. Both the Lady Hamilton and the Emma were laden with ordnance stores for the use of the navy upon the lakes.