Christian officer, whose advice to his young midshipmen when
joining is worthy of being noted: "If you are a Christian, nail your
colours to the mast and fight under them; you will be sure, in the end,
to overcome your opponents!" While belonging to the _Hastings_, he was
gazetted as having served with the rocket-boats at the bombardment of
Sveaborg. After commanding the gunboat _Goshawk_, he proceeded to
China, where he joined the _Calcutta_, flagship; and was gazetted on
four occasions: for the capture of a large snake-boat from pirates in
the Canton River, for being thrice in action in boats for the
destruction of Chinese war-junks, for gallant services at the assault
and capture of Canton, and for services on shore at the capture of the
Chinese forts in the Peiho River. He now obtained the rank of
commander, and returned for a brief time to England. After this he had
for three years the command of the _Reynard_, on the China station. He
next served as commander on board the _Revenge_, in the Channel
squadron, and in 1863 was promoted to the rank of captain. During a
residence on shore of about eighteen months he married. In 1864 he was
sent by the Admiralty to America to visit the dockyards of the United
States, and, at the end of that year, he went out to the Mediterranean
as captain of the _Victoria_, flagship of Sir Robert Smart.

For five years, until 1870, he was in command of the _Minotaur_. The
high esteem in which he was held was shown by his having been selected
to assist in the revictualling of Paris after the Prussian siege, and
also in distributing the peasant relief fund, when, accompanied by his
wife, he gained the affection of all with whom he came in contact.

In 1871 the Admiralty again employed him to visit and report on the
naval dockyards of Russia, Austria, Italy, and France,--another proof of
the confidence reposed in him.

At length, on the 22nd of May 1873, he was appointed to command HMS
_Pearl_, as commodore on the Australian station. He went out with the
determination of doing his utmost for the advancement of science and for
furthering the cause of humanity. In the duties he had undertaken he
was engaged for nearly two years, during which, while cruising through
various parts of the Western Pacific, he never failed when visiting
islands inhabited by savage races to endeavour by every means in his
power to establish with them a friendly intercourse. On the 12th of
August he h