As the order of St. Vladimir conferred no distinction in England, nor was even noticed by a distinctive mark on the navy list. Lieutenant Woollnough did not then apply for the royal permission to accept and wear it; but in 1827, when his present Majesty, then Lord High Admiral, was graciously pleased to direct that the names of officers having foreign orders should be inserted in that list, and a distinguishing mark placed against their names as they stood in seniority, it became desirable to attain it; and he accordingly applied through the proper channel. About twelve months afterwards, he was told that the Board of Admiralty could not recommend him to his Majesty for permission to wear the order, as it did not appear that he had been under fire while before Hamburgh. Captain Marshall, Commander Banks, and Lieutenant Edgecombe, had each received permission to wear their respective orders; though the only firing which took place at Hamburgh was on the occasion mentioned in p. 284, which led to no result, and where the former and the latter officers only were present, Commander Banks, as well as Lieutenant Woollnough, being on the other side of the river, separated from them by a long range of islands. On no occasion was Commander Banks under fire, that Lieutenant Woollnough was not so likewise; yet the former gentleman obtained permission, and the latter was denied it. Lieutenant Woollnough could not help feeling also, that on him, under the direction of Commander Banks, had rested the equipment of the gun-boats for this service in the first instance; that he had been afterwards selected for the rather delicate missions to Davoust and the Danish authorities at Gluckstadt; and that he had finally received the thanks of the senior officer for his exertions. To the determination of their Lordships, he felt it to be his duty to bow without a murmur; but still he could not help feeling, that, whatever regulations might have been more recently made, his own case was a hard one.
The Blazer was paid off, at Sheerness, Aug. 18th, 1814; and on the following day, we find Lieutenant Woollnough appointed to the Hearty sloop, Commander James Rose, on
