PKIVATE TEADE ON THE FALMOUTH PACKETS. 83 



Lords the Postmaster G-eneral. .never will consent that Mr 



the commander, or Mr. .... the surgeon, shall again be 

 employed in their service. The utmost their Lordships can do 

 in regard to the other individuals, after confirming their original 

 dismission from the Lisbon station, is to consent, and that they 

 do with hesitation, to their being permitted to serve with any of 

 the commanders who may choose to employ them on the West 

 Indian and American packets." 



The point of this last sentence was plain enough. On the 

 West India packets the private trade was already abolished, so 

 that fraud was no longer possible. 



The Inspector of Packets stated his opinion in the following 

 terms: — "I cannot help being of opinion that if during the 

 war officers and seamen are permitted to carry out merchandize 

 on commission or otherwise, there is reason to fear that the loss 

 of the packets on the Lisbon station may be very considerable, 

 unless indeed under disinterested or high-spirited commanders." 



In the light of these facts it is very difficult to avoid the 

 conclusion that some at least of the thirty -two packets captured 

 between 1793 and 1815 had been given away in the same 

 treacherous manner as the " Duke of York." Of the thirty -two 

 packets captured, twenty-one were taken on the homeward 

 voyage. 



In conclusion, I would seek to guard myself from appearing 

 to bring this grave charge against the whole body of Falmouth 

 commanders. I know of no evidence in existence which 

 implicates any individual except in the case just described. It 

 is beyond doubt that there were among the commanders men 

 whose reputation was above question, and of whom, if their 

 ships were captured, it would at once be said that they had done 

 all that courage and seamanship could do to save them. I do 

 not think the materials exist for pursuing the enquiry beyond 

 the point to which I have carried it. 



I should add, that an officer of the same name as the acting 

 commander of the "Duke of York," distinguished himself 

 greatly in an action during the American war, in which he was 

 severely wounded. 



