Memoir of Admiral Sir Thomas Sabine Pasley (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1858 edition. Excerpt: ... chapter xh. haslab. 1846--1862. It was now more than eight years, since Sir Edward had been appointed to the post of Comptroller of Steam Machinery at the Admiralty. His health had, latterly, derived much and lasting benefit from the skillful and generous care of his friend and early schoolfellow, F. Salmon, Esq.; but it soon became evident that he could not much longer stand the severe and increasing pressure of work, to which" he was daily subjected. Accordingly, on the 1st of November, 1846, he wrote a letter to Lord Melville, First Lord of the Admiralty, accepting, conditionally, a proposal for retirement, which had been recently offered to post captains. It would have been a matter of surprise, had his long and important services been recompensed with retirement, at a time of life when his powers of body and mind were, under ordinary circumstances, as vigorous as ever. Almost by return of post, he received an answer from his lordship, in which he expressed "the high esteem he felt for Sir Edward's personal and private character," and, "lamenting the cause which had induced him to make an application for retirement," offered to his acceptance the post of Captain-Superintendent of the Eoyal Clarence Yard, and of the Naval Hospital at Haslar. It is almost needless to say that the offer, made in so handsome a manner, was gratefully accepted. lie felt that the position was one in every way congenial to his tastes, as bringing him, once more, into immediate connection with members of his own profession; and, on the 2d of December, he received his official appointment to Haslar. On the same day, all the officers of the establishment were, according to the usual custom, separately introduced to him by his predecessor, Captain Carter. Among...