Having lost his father, when very young, ne entered the naval service in 1765, at the early age of nine, under the patronage of his noble relative the last Earl of Marchmont, on board the Shannon frigate, commanded by Capt. Braithwaite. In 1768 he served as a midshipman of the St. Antonio under the command of his uncle Capt. Geo. A. Tonyn, with whom he removed into the Phoenix, on that officer being appointed Commodore on the African station, where he continued during the ensuing two years. He subsequently served as Master's Mate and Midshipman in the Flora, Rose, Ardent, Ramillies, and Eagle; the latter bearing the flag of Lord Howe, whom he accompanied to America, where he assisted at the reduction of Long Island, the capture of New York, and the various expeditions up the North and East rivers.

In 1777, three years after he had passed for that rank, Mr. Paterson was promoted by Lord Howe to be a Lieutenant in the Strombolo fire ship, which vessel formed part of several expeditions undertaken by his Lordship during his stay in America. On his return to New York, after assisting in the attack upon and capture of Philadelphia, he was removed into the Brune, in which he returned to England at the close of 1778. His next appointment was to the Ardent, as first Lieutenant; and from that ship he went, early in 1780, into the Alcide, and was present at the capture of St. Eustacia, Feb. 3, 1781. He then served under the flag of Sir George B. Rodney in the Sandwich, Gibraltar, and Formidable, until advanced by that gallant veteran in 1782 to the command of the Blast fire-vessel, which remained in the West Indies until the peace of 1783, when she returned to England, and was put out of commission. At the commencement of the war with the French republic, Capt. Paterson obtained the command of the Gorgon store-ship, in which he proceeded to the Mediterranean, and was promoted by Lord Hood to post rank in the Ariadne of 20 guns, by commission dated Jan. 20, 1794; and in the course of the same year removed into the Melpomene, a fine frigate taken possession of at Calvi, when that place surrendered to the British arms.

After the final subjugation of Corsica, where, as well as at Toulon, he had served with no inconsiderable degree of credit, he was ordered home, and continued out of employment until 1796, when he was appointed inspecting Captain of the Kicy Quota-men for the stewartry of turn udbright and shire of Wigtoun. Reyea ing from that duty in the following he received an appointment to the GENT. MAG. VOL. XV.

Admiral de Vries of 68 guns, armed en flute, in which he continued until Dec. 1799, and then assumed the temporary command of the Montagu, a third-rate ship, in the most relaxed state of discipline, whose crew he had the satisfaction of restoring to a state of subordination, and received due applause from Adm. Whitshed under whom he was serving. His next appointment was to the St. Fiorenzo, in which frigate he had the honour of attending King George the Third during two succeeding seasons at Weymouth. He also made a trip to the Mediterranean, for the purpose of affording protection to the trade bound thither; and on his return was employed in the blockade of Havre de Grace, on which service he continued until the peace of Amiens.

Capt. Paterson was not again called into service until Jan. 1810, when he was ordered by Lord Mulgrave to superintend the depôt for prisoners of war at Portchester Castle in Hants. Early in the following year he was appointed to the Puissant; the command of which he retained until Aug. 12, 1812, when he was advanced to the rank of Rear-Admiral. His commission as Vice-Admiral bore date 1819, and that of full Admira 11837.

Adm. Paterson married, in March 1801, Jane Ellen, eldest daughter of the late David Yeats, esq. Registrar of the Province of East Florida, and great-granddaughter of the before mentioned Major Tonyn; the Admiral's mother and Mrs. Paterson's grandmother being sisters.

CAPT. WALTER CROKER, R. N. This daring and chivalrous officer was the son of the late Edward Croker, of Lisnabrin House, near Tallow, co. Cork, Esq. by Thomasine, daughter of the Rev. Charles Phillips, Rector of Magoorney, in the same county. He was born on the 9th March, 1784, and commenced his career early in 1798, as midshipman on board the Galatea frigate, commanded by Capt. George Byug, un. der whom he served four years. During the peace of Amiens we find him in the Culloden 74, Captain C. H. Lane, and in March 1803, joining the Plantagenet, of similar force, Captain G. E. Hamond, which, in the month of July 1803, captured l'Atalante, a Bourdeaux privateer, of 22 guns, and 120 men. The night coming on, together with a gale of wind, one boat load of prisoners could only be received on board the Plantagenet, and Lieut. Batt, Mr. Croker, and another midshipman, with about fifteen seamen, remained on board the privateer. The ships parted company in the night, and 4 P

the Plantagenet never saw the Atalante again. The French crew, then consisting of upwards of a hundred, rose upon the captors more than once, and nothing but great courage and perseverance on their part succeeded in getting the privateer into Falmouth, after having continued seven days and nights in this perilous situation.

The Plantagenet was subsequently commanded by Capt. (afterwards Adm.) the Hon. Michael de Courcy, under whom Mr. Croker completed his time of servitude as midshipman, and always conducted himself with great activity, vigilance, and correctness; showing himself forward for any enterprise, and setting an admirable example to those around him.

In 1804 and 1805 Mr. Croker was successively appointed to act as Lieutenant of the Topaze 36, Capt. W. T. Lake; Amsterdam 32, Capt. William Terris; and Centaur 74, Capt. Murray Maxwell: the two latter ships employed in the West Indies, to which station he had been sent out on promotion. On the 29th July 1805, the Centaur encountered a tremendous hurricane, in which she lost all her masts, and in the most shattered state, with only about a dozen guns remaining, was towed to Halifax by the Eagle 75.

On his return home Mr. Croker was promoted into the Active frigate, Capt. Moubray, by commission dated Feb. 6th, 1806. She formed part of the squadron under Sir John T. Duckworth, at the forcing of the passage of the Dardanelles, Feb. 19, 1807, on which occasion Lieut. Croker led the boarders sent in boats to attack a fine Turkish frigate of 56 guns and 450 men, which was destroyed, and he had the honour to cut down the Ottoman colours with his own hand. Two days after this event he commanded a party of the Active's seamen employed in completing the demolition of the formidable battery on Point Pesquies, under the orders of Lieut. Carroll, of the Pompée 74.

In the beginning of 1808 he joined the Thames frigate, commanded by his friend Capt. B. W. Taylor, in which situation he performed two most gallant achieve ments: one was the saving of lives from a prize trabaccolo, during an awful gale; and the other the cutting out of a large store ship from the harbour of Corfu. The Thames returned home under the command of Capt. the Hon. G. G. Waldegrave (since Lord Radstock), and Lieut. Croker was soon afterwards sent out to the West Indies, on the admiralty list for promotion. He there served in the Melampus frigate, under the

command of Capt. Edward Hawker; and was with that officer when he captured le Beauharnois, of 16 guns, laden with

stores.

After assisting at the reduction of Guadaloupe, Mr. Croker was appointed First Lieut. of the Papillon sloop, Capt. James Hay, by which vessel some im. portant despatches were subsequently brought to England. We next find him proceeding to the West Indies, as second of the Leda frigate, Capt. George Sayer: from which station he returned, in illhealth, first of the Diomede 50, Capt. Hugh Cook. In Nov. 1811, he was appointed senior lieut. of the Furieuse frigate, Capt. W. Mounsey, who spoke highly of his conduct at the reduction of Ponza, an island near the Neapolitan coast, Feb. 26, 1813. He bad previously assisted in capturing two French privateers, each mounting four guns; and he afterwards commanded the boats of the Furieuse at the capture and destruction of several other vessels. The Furieuse formed part of the squadron under Sir Josias Rowley, at the unsuccessful attempt upon Leghorn, in Dec. 1813. Lieut. Croker also assisted at the reduction of Genoa and its dependencies, in the month of April following. His promotion to the rank of commander took place Nov. 2, 1814; on which occasion he was appointed to the Wizard sloop, in the Mediterranean. About this period Capt. Croker detained seven French vessels, some of them under Buonapartean colours; but, at the particular request of the Duc d'Angoulême, they were liberated by him about a month previous to the battle of Waterloo. He likewise embarked the Dauphin's principal aidede-camp, the Marquis (afterwards Duc) de Rivière, with the whole of his suite, whom he had on very particular service for several weeks. In Aug. 1815, his brig was found defective, and ordered home, shortly before which he drew up a memoir on the subject of the sufferings of the Christian slaves in Barbary, and addressed it to a Member of Parliament," which is believed to have caused the expedition sent to Algiers, and is largely quoted in Marshall's Royal Naval Biography.

On its being determined to send a second expedition against Algiers, with orders to fight if negotiation failed, Capt. Croker made an instant tender of his services, but had the mortification to find his applications for employment disregarded. He even followed the fleet from Portsmouth to Plymouth, in the vain hope of being allowed to embark as a volunteer ; the necessary permission was withheld;

and he consequently returned home in disgust. Early in 1827, he proceeded to Paris, for the purpose of requesting a recommendation from the Duc d'Angoulême to Viscount Melville, when his Royal Highness was pleased to give him an autograph letter addressed to Prince de Polignac, and desiring that nobleman, who was then Ambassador at the British Court, to make an application in his favour. On this occasion, although twelve years had elapsed since they last met, the Duc de Rivière did not fail to remember and most heartily welcome his old friend, whom he informed, that the Dauphin had commanded him to be entertained at the table of the Duc de Bourdeaux, during his stay at Paris.

Capt. Croker was possessor of his paternal estate, Lisnabrin, and also of one half of Rovesmore. He married Mary, daughter of the Rev. Ponsonby May Carew, Rector of Ardmore, co. Waterford, and has had issue five children. his brothers are physicians, and another a captain on the half pay of Her Majesty's 84th regiment. One of his sisters was married to Counsellor Walter Giles.

Two of

In 1837 Capt. Croker was appointed to the Favourite, 18, fitting out at Devonport for the East Indies.

The death of this daring and somewhat rash officer occurred in July last in a manner characteristic of his earlier career. In command of H. M. S. Favourite, 18, visiting the island on which Williams, the missionary, met his death, he called at another, named Tonga, or more commonly Tongataboo (Tonga the Sacred), the inhabitants of which were engaged in an internal war, being divided into two opposite parties-namely, the Christian, or followers of the Methodist missionaries, and the heathen, or those retaining the ancient religion of the island, who were under the control and guidance of a Welshman, generally known by the cognomen of Jemmy the Devil.' The latter party had entrenched themselves in a strong fortress or stockade, to the great annoyance, it appears, of the Wesleyans and their disciples. These applied to the Favourite for assistance, which was almost immediately granted, and a considerable number of the crew offered themselves as volunteers for the expedition. To facilitate the destruction of the fort, three guns were brought ashore from the vessel and planted on an eminence immediately fronting its walls, where the British also posted themselves, attended by a large party of the Christian natives. Soon after this a parley was agreed upon between the belligerent parties, in consequence of which the heathen leader

(Jemmy the Devil) came out and held a consultation with Capt. Croker, who upon seeing him approach cried out, "Well, Jemmy, I am happy to find you are willing to come to terms; what can I do for you?" To which the other replied, "You can do a great deal, if you like," alluding, probably, to the punish. ment which he would receive if he fell into the hands of that gentleman. The captain then informed him that the only terms upon which peace could be restored would be to level with the ground the fortifications which had been raised by both parties, and to return to their former state of friendly intercourse; upon which the heathen champion requested half an hour to consult the native chiefs and return an answer, which was granted. The worthy envoy accordingly retired to his companions, but before the time had expired a message was sent from the fort, expressly stating that the heathen party were not willing to hold intercourse with their enemies, the Christian natives. At the expiration, therefore, of the appointed period, a fire was opened on the fort, which terminated in the death of Capt. W. Croker and George Freathy and John New, petty officers, besides whom Lieut. Dunlop and fourteen of the crew of the Favourite were severely wounded, and six seamen and marines slightly.

COMMANDER B. KENT, R.N Lately. At Stonehouse, Devonport, aged 55, Bartholomew Kent, esq. Commander R.N.

He was great nephew of the late ViceAdm. John Hunter, and the eldest son of the late John Kent, esq. many years a purser in the royal navy, who, in consideration of his long services, was, in 1803, appointed by Earl St. Vincent to the civil situation of steward of the Royal Naval Hospital at Plymouth, where he died in 1827.

Mr. Bartholomew Kent commenced his naval career at the age of thirteen years, under the auspices of the late ViceAdm. Sir William Mitchell, and served with that officer and Captains the Hon. Alan Hyde (afterwards Viscount) Gardner, the Hon. John Murray, and Theophilus Jones, in the Resolution 74, and Atlas 98, attached to the Channel fleet, until the termination of hostilities in 1801. He then joined the Buffalo storeship, commanded by his uncle, Capt. William Kent, and destined to New South Wales; where, in April 1803, he received an appointment to act as Lieutenant, which was confirmed by the Admiralty on the 2d May 1801.

The Buffalo was principally employed

in conveying supplies to our settlements in that distant quarter, and surveying some of the South Sea Islands. In June 1805, Mr. Kent was appointed First Lieute nant of the Investigator sloop, then about to sail for England; and, on that ship being paid off in Jan. 1806, he immediately joined the Thames frigate, Capt. Brydges W. Taylor, employed in the blockade of Boulogne, and afterwards at Iceland, for the protection of the Greenland fishery. On her return home about March 1807, Lieut. Kent was appointed first of the Hussar 38, Capt. Robert Lloyd, in which he was present at the bombardment of Copenhagen, and the consequent surrender of the Danish navy, Aug. and Sept. 1807. She was subsequently employed, for eighteen months, in the West Indies and on the Halifax station, where she captured four letters of marque. On her being ordered home, Lieut. Kent followed Capt. Lloyd into the Guerriere 38, in which frigate he continued until she was captured by the United States' ship Constitution, after a severe action, Aug. 19th, 1812. On this unfortunate occasion he was wounded by a splinter, but continued to assist his Captain until the end of the conflict: his readiness to lead on the boarders, and his gallant exertions throughout the whole affair, were duly acknowledged. Previous to this unlucky rencontre, the Guerriere had been one of the most successful cruisers on the North American station, having, among other prizes, taken three vessels with very valuable cargoes, from Bourdeaux for a breach of the Orders in Council.

About a fortnight after their arrival at Boston, the Captain, surviving officers, and ship's company of the late Guerriere, were exchanged and sent to Halifax, where they underwent the usual trial by courtmartial, and obtained an honourable acquittal. This ordeal over, Lieut. Kent was preparing to return home, but had not completed his arrangements when Adm. Sir John B. Warren informed him that it was his intention to retain him on the station, and had appointed him to the command of the Nova Scotia brig, formerly an American privateer; in which vessel, during the winter of 1812, he was employed in convoying the trade between Halifax and New Brunswick, and cruising in the Bay of Fundy.

In June 1813 Lieut. Kent was sent home with the despatches announcing the capture of the American frigate Chesapeake. Being then placed on the Admiralty List for promotion, in North America, he immediately returned thither, and had the gratification to find that his

friend Capt. Robert Lloyd, having joined the fleet on that station, in the Planta. genet 74, had applied for him to be ap. pointed his First Lieutenant, a request most readily granted.

After cruising for some time among the West India Islands, in quest of the large American frigates, the Plantagenet was attached to the Jamaica station, then again recently become a separate command. In consequence of this arrangement, Lieut. Kent reluctantly left that ship, in order not to lose his chance of an Admiralty vacancy, and was appointed first of the Asia 74, Capt. Alex. Skene. He subsequently joined the Tonnant 80, bearing the flag of the Hou. Sir Alex. J. Cochrane, from whom he received an appointment to command the Weser troopship, dated Dec. 24, 1814. At this period Lieut. Kent was actively employed in the arduous service of disembarking the army destined against New Orleans. On the 22d Jan. 1815, be assumed the command of the Weser, in which he was present at the capture of Mobile, and afterwards employed in bringing home from Quebec the seamen who had been serving on the Canadian Lakes. The Weser was paid off at Portsmouth, Oct. 27, 1815.

Commander B. Kent married Aug. 23, 1823, Penelope-Percival, only sur viving child of his uncle Commander Henry Kent.

NICOLSON CALVERT, ESQ.

April 13. In Wimpole-street, aged 77, Nicolson Calvert, esq. of Hunsdonhouse, Hertfordshire, formerly M.P. for that county.

He was born on the 15th May, 1764, the eldest son of Felix Calvert, esq. the eminent brewer, who died in 1802, by Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Sir Robert Ladbroke. His name of Nicolson was derived from his great-grandfather Josias Nicolson, esq. of Clapham, by whom the manor of Hunsdon was purchased in the year 1743. Mr. Calvert's younger brother, the late Charles Calvert, esq. was well known as one of the Members for Southwark.

Mr. Nicolson Calvert was returned to Parliament in 1802 as one of the members for the town of Hertford; he was rechosen in 1806, and at all subsequent elections until that of 1826, when he was elected for the county, in the room of the present Lord Melbourne; and he was rechosen at subsequent elections until 1835, when he retired. He had from the commencement of his parliamentary career supported Whig principles and parliamentary reform,

Mr. Calvert rebuilt his mansion at Hunsdon in the year 1804.

He married, at Bath, Jan. 9, 1789, the Hon. Frances Pery, youngest daughter of Edmund Sexton Viscount Pery, (uncle to the present Earl of Limerick), and sister to the Countess of Ranfurly.

By this lady, who survives him, he had issue twelve children, four of whom died in their infancy. The others were: 1. Felix, formerly Lieut.-Colonel of the 72d Foot; 2d. Isabella, married in 1810 to Sir James Maitland Strong, of Tynan, co. Armagh, Bart.; 3. Edmond Sexten Pery; 4. Lavinia Frances Jane; 5. Nicolson Robert; 6. William Henry; 7. Mary Caroline Felicia; and 8. Harriet Diana.

FOLLIOTT SANDFORD, ESQ.

April 29. At his residence, Kensington Place, Bath, in his 90th year, Folliott Sandford, esq. head of a very ancient Salopian family.*

Mr. Sandford succeeded his father, Humphrey Sandford, esq. in the possession of the family estate in the year 1791, who succeeded his father of the same name in the month of March 1741, so that the late Mr. Sandford and his father were in possession of the family estate for the space of more than one hundred years, a rare instance of a father and son retaining possession of the family inheritance for so long a period.

From his father Mr. Sandford inherited the Isle and Edgeton estates in the county of Salop. In early life Mr. Sandford received a legal education, but never practised in any department of the law. He was a justice of the peace, but declined the active duties of a magistrate. Having been selected to serve the office of high sheriff of his native county (which office his father filled in 1787), his love of retirement and a distaste for official pomp and parade induced him to accept the customary alternative.

In 1781 he married Isabella Deuchars, a lady of Scottish extraction, who predeceased him. By her he had the following issue:

Rev. Humphrey Sandford, A. M. of the Isle House, near Shrewsbury, who succeeds to his landed property.

Miss Elizabeth Sandford, now residing in Bath.

Rev. Folliott Sandford, A.B. of Haddenham, Cambridgeshire.

Rev. Richard Sandford, B.A. Vicar of Eaton, Salop.

*See Blakeway's Sheriffs of Shrop shire, and Burke's History of the Landed Gentry.

HENRY SANFORD, ESQ.

March 11. At Bath, after a long and severe illness, which he bore with the greatest patience and fortitude, Henry Sanford, esq.

Mr. Sanford was the descendant of an ancient family in Somersetshire, was born at Walford, near Taunton, on the 18th March 1780, and educated at Winchester School. After a short service in the army, he was appointed to a clerkship in the Treasury, a situation which he continued to hold till the year 1836, when he was obliged to retire, from ill health, and, leaving London and a numerous circle of friends, lived entirely at Bath.

In writing a brief memoir of Mr. Sanford, it is not intended to exaggerate his merits or to raise his character to an eminence for which nothing that he has done can seem to deserve a perpetuity of remembrance. He has left few traces of his existence but in the hearts of his friends scarcely aware of his own

:

powers, and of somewhat of an indolent habit of mind and body, he neither improved the world by scientific research, nor enriched literature by any display of erudition, though with a mind imbued with classical feeling, and a taste sufficiently refined to do justice to all subjects, he was content to take the tone of the circle in which he moved, and to follow otten where he might have led. not the pleasure of shining at the expense of others, but of catching the wit that was circulating around him, and returning it with added humour and improved originality.

His was

His courteous manner increased the charms of his conversation, and made him an acceptable guest to a large circle of friends and acquaintance, whose society he always cheered by his pointed observations and a happy choice of subjects: not too high for the mass, nor yet too low for the most refined and intellectual: nor let it be supposed that to these secondary merits is to be imputed the deep and last