character of British seamen, as to merit the public approbation of the French commander-in-chief. * * * * * The exertions of Captain Lyons have seldom been equalled, certainly not excelled, by any British officer; he was almost constantly in the trenches, and exposed to a tremendous fire of great guns and musketry. Lieutenants Luckraft and Dacres were twelve days and nights in the trenches; the three last of which they worked their battering guns with such effect as to expend upwards of 1000 eighteen-pound shot, and 6000 lbs. weight of powder: never were four guns worked with greater dexterity than those of the Blonde’s, which were placed on George the Fourth’s battery. * * * * Vice-Admiral De Rigny ought to have commanded the naval part of the expedition, but this he waived in favor of Captain Lyons.”
The insignia of the French Legion of Honor was immediately afterwards conferred upon Lieutenant Luckraft; but his promotion to the rank of commander did not take place until Oct. 28th, 1829, previous to which the Blonde had conveyed the British ambassador from Tenedos to Constantinople.
This officer’s subsequent appointments were, Nov. 30th, 1829, to the command of the Cameleon sloop, which vessel he paid off on the 22d Mar. 1830; and June 20th, 1831, to the Revenge 78; in which ship he served under Captains James Hillyar and Donald Hugh Mackay, principally on the Lisbon station, until put out of commission, Mar. 13th, 1834.
ARTHUR JAMES DOUGLAS, Esq.
[Commander.]
Entered the royal navy in Feb. 1816; obtained his first commission in Feb. 1825; and was advanced to his present rank on the 20th Nov. 1829.
JOHN COGHLAN FITZGERALD, Esq.
[Commander.]
Entered the royal navy in Oct. 1812; obtained his first commission in April, 1325, and was advanced to his present rank on the 27th Nov. 1829. In April, 1831, being then in command of the Alert sloop, and on his way to San
