CONCLUSION. 



439 



happiness of your acquaintance and friendship, I had imagined 

 that the measure of my obligations was completely filled; but 

 your kind farewell letter, written with a feeling and delicacy 

 which have always characterized your deportment towards 

 me, has increased those obligations, and leaves me where I feel 

 I must always remain — your Lordship's most grateful debtor. 

 I thank your Lordship, not only for myself, but in the name 

 of the officers of this ship, for your kindness and attention to 

 us all — and assure you, that we unite in expressing our deep 

 and sincere regret, on the occasion of parting with so valued a 

 friend : and we all respond most cordially to the wishes, so 

 kindly expressed by your Lordship, that our destinies may at 

 some future time unite us in the bonds of friendship. As an 

 individual of a nation, linked to yours by feelings and asso- 

 ciations which can never fail to have their proper influence 

 upon me, I feel that your Lordship has, in the warmth of your 

 friendship, ascribed to me more merit than the little services, 

 occasionally rendered your countrymen, deserve. The gene- 

 rous examples which your Lordship kept continually in my 

 view, as well as those of my gallant friend, Captain Hope, and 

 others, left me no choice of action, and leaves me no other 

 merit, than that of having reciprocated them as nearly as my 

 abilities and circumstances would allow. A pleasing part of 

 my duty has been performed, in representing to the govern- 

 ment your friendly conduct towards the flag of our country, 

 and the important services rendered its commercial interest. 



<^ That your Lordship may ere long be happily restored to 

 your family and country, and long enjoy every blessing of this 

 life, is the sincere wish of, 



Your Lordship's 

 a Very grateful and obedient friend, 



F. H. Gregory." 



To the Lord James Townshend, 



Commaiiding H. B. M. Squadron, 

 Pacific Ocean.^^ 



Both in Peru and Chile, we left many choice American spi- 

 rits, — men whom any nation would be proud to rank among 



