I have the greatest respect for you as a man, 'who, by the greatest merit, has raised him'self from the station of a foremast man to

the rank of an Admiral,-a circumstance 'which not only does you the highest honour, 'but would have led me to have expected you 'as an advocate instead of an opposer to such a necessary indulgence. Many of the poor 'men at the door have been your shipmates,

and once your companions. Never hurt a 'brother sailor; and let me warn you against 'two things more: The first is, in future not 'to interfere between me and my duty as 'Governor; and the second is, not to object to these brave men having great coats, 'whilst you are so fond of one as to wear it 'by the side of as good a fire as you are sitting by at present. There are very few 'young sailors that come to London without paying Greenwich Hospital a visit, and it 'shall be the rule of my conduct, as far as 'my authority extends, to render the old

men's lives so comfortable, that the younger 'shall say, when he goes away, "Who would "not be a sailor, to live as happy as a "Prince in his old age!" and Sir George

kept his word, for from that time every man was allowed a great coat *.

It was Sir George who first appointed the shoremen, as they are called, whose duty it is to watch and wash the retiring tide, thereby contributing to the salubrity of the Hospital, and to the comfort and convenience of its numerous visiters.

On the 18th of October, 1770, Sir George was made Vice-Admiral of the White; and on the 24th of October, in the year following, Vice-Admiral of the Red.

On the 23rd of January, 1771, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief at Jamaica, and having been required to resign his Government at Greenwich Hospital, he addressed a letter to the Earl of Sandwich, at that time at the head of the Admiralty, expressive of his hope that, with reference to precedents produced in favour of his pretensions, he

* By the humane exertions of that most able and excellent officer, Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Keats, the present Governor of Greenwich Hospital, and by the judicious regulations of the Directors of the establishment, the comforts of the pensioners may now be said to be consummated, both with regard to the clothing, discipline, and messing, as well as to the indulgencies allowed to those who have families.

might be permitted to retain that appoint

ment.

'TO THE EARL OF SANDWICH*.

'January 15th, 1771.

3

Your goodness, in thinking of employing

'me in the West Indies, which in all proba

Ibility will be the field of action should a war commence with Spain, lays me under 'the greatest obligation, and flatters my am'bition, that I am thought worthy by the 'King and your Lordship of a command of 'such consequence. Pardon me, however,

my Lord, if I feel myself a little disappointed in one circumstance which fell from your 'Lordship. I flattered myself that when his 'Majesty was most graciously pleased to 'honour me with the Government of his Royal Hospital at Greenwich, it would not 'be expected I should resign it on my being employed, but that I should enjoy it in the 'same manner as three out of four Admirals, 'who had been Governors thereof, had done; 'viz., Lord Aylmer, Sir John Jennings, and

The Earl of Sandwich was appointed First Lord of the Admiralty in the month of January, 1771.

Sir John Balchen, all of whom were em

ployed, and commanded fleets during their government of the Hospital.

6

My case is more particular, as I had the 'misfortune of being superseded in the com'mand of a successful fleet, entrusted to my 'care in the West Indies, at the very time I ' had sailed on another expedition against the 'enemy's squadron at the island of St. Domingo, and was thereby deprived of pursuing those conquests which so honourably attended upon another, and which secured 'him such great emoluments; nor should I,

in shewing to your Lordship the peculiar 'disadvantage to me to be deprived of the ' said Government, forget to remark, that when Admiral Boscawen was made General of Marines for the action off Lagos, and Sir Charles Saunders Lieutenant-General of 'Marines, upon the reduction of Quebec, it

was not intended they should lose the emo'luments arising therefrom, when commands ' in their own line made it be thought proper 'to employ them.

After suggesting these precedents, and ⚫ these considerations to your Lordship, allow

me to hope, that if I am thought deserving 'the honour of the command, I shall not be ' required to relinquish an appointment which I shall ever flatter myself was conferred as a 'mark of Royal approbation, and designed to ' be continued to me, notwithstanding another 'command may call for my services in a different quarter.

Fully sensible of your Lordship's friend

ship and goodness to me, I ought not to urge 'this point further than to beg I may expe'rience them once more in the case in question, than which nothing can so much 'oblige, or effectually bind me with that respect and veneration with which

'I am, my Lord,

' &c. &c. &c.'

It was not deemed expedient to comply with Sir George Rodney's request, and Sir Francis Holbourne was appointed in his stead to the Government of Greenwich Hospital.

Having hoisted his flag in the Princess Amelia, on the 13th of May, he sailed on the 3d of June from Plymouth, and arrived at Jamaica on the 7th of August.