210 LIEUT. ROBERTON. [1846. 



was moved to Table Bay, there to await the arrival of 

 Admiral Dacres and convey his final Despatches for 

 England. Lieut. Roberton, whose name has frequently 

 been noticed in this narrative, and who was my frequent 

 associate on boat service, supplying the place of my 

 lamented friend Lieut. Baugh, who had been sent home 

 a year previously, was left behind at the Hospital ,at 

 Simon's Bay with the purpose of following in some of 

 the homeward-bound ships-of-war at a more favourable 

 season of the year. His health, since our return from 

 the Japanese cruize, continued to fail, and he was 

 now so far reduced as to afford little prospect of his 

 recovery. The pain of separating from all his associates 

 was sensibly felt. As a gentleman, and friend, I valued 

 him ; as an Officer, he was exemplary ; and, from his 

 untiring zeal, his conduct at all times merited my confi- 

 dence and entire approbation. I regret to say that the 

 receipt of recent intelligence has confirmed our worst 

 apprehensions ; he died very shortly after our departure. 

 The present visit to Table Bay, although not affording 

 the customary gaiety which the presence of the Governor 

 and garrison generally entailed, was sufficiently pleasant 

 amongst the personal friends I found remaining. Cape 

 Town was, indeed, dull; the troops absent on the Frontier, 

 and the military positions and barracks occupied by 

 the Burgher force. My occupations, however, afforded 

 me sufficient employment to prevent my feeling the 

 change. The principal object of our visit to Table Bay 

 was its re-survey, in consequence of the intended con- 

 struction of a Break-water ; and, although the measure, 

 by the papers supplied to me, appeared to have already 



