by John Marshall

“ If no alarm is given, the centre division should enter the bay of Caseta, in flat-bottomed boats, three hours before daylight, and, leaving a detachment to possess the batteries on San Sebastian, land on a sandy beach within thirty yards of the parapet, which in that part is so low, and in such condition when I was there, that by a coup-de-main any number of troops might readily have entered Cadiz; after which, the enemy’s fleet at anchor off the city would not long contend with your lordship, as the guns of the fortress would be turned upon them. ”

“ We now find Captain Layman here on his way to England, after the loss of a very fine sloop he commanded, the Raven, that was meant to be stationed here, and would have given us every protection. The formidable appearance and strength of the enemies’ cruisers at present in and about this bay and neighbourhood, requires the most serious attention and vigilance; not any provision that we know of has hitherto been made to obstruct such formidable enemies. ”

“ Canning, of an intended motion respecting the cultivation of Trinidad, Lieutenant Layman submitted to His Majesty’s Ministers that the most effectual manner of doing away with the slave-trade would he to introduce the skill and industry of free labourers, together with the valuable productions of the East, into the West Indies; and at the same time he proposed the establishment of Chinese husbandmen in the island of Ceylon. ”

“ Your lordship will find the remarks flow from a most intelligent and active mind, and may be useful, should any expedition take place against Cadiz. And, my dear Lord, give me leave to recommend Captain Layman to your kind protection; for, notwithstanding the court-martial has thought him deserving of censure, for his running in with the land, yet, my Lord, allow me to say, that his misfortune was, perhaps, conceiving that other people’s abilities were equal to his own, which, indeed, very few people’s are.
“I own myself one of those who do not fear the shore ”

“ I beg leave to request, that in the event of boat duty, for either boarding, towing off the enemy’s fireships, carrying down our own, or any other particular service, your lordship will do me the favor of employment. And as the best concerted plans often miscarry, from one man being made to depend en another, should the nature of the service require hut one lieutenant, and I have the honor of being engaged in the undertaking, it will be an additional favor conferred on, my Lord, your most obedient, &c.
(Signed) ⁠“W. Layman.” ”

“ Viscount Melville, in reply, stated, that the Admiralty were at all times disposed to attend to this subject. But as no notice whatever was taken by the next session, Captain Layman thus addressed the First Lord:–
“May 3d, 1813. “My Lord, – I have the honor to inform your lordship, that having completed a series of experiments on improving the timber of Great Britain, as well as what is produced in the provinces, I am about to solicit Parliament for a Committee to inquire; into the practicability and advantages of my discovery, in augmenting the strength and duration of timber ”

“ I then retired to my cot, and about 12 o’clock was called by the officer of the watch, and acquainted that he saw the lights of the squadron; but before I could get on my things, the officer came down the ladder, and said they were the lights at Cadiz; at this time he appeared to me flurried. I instantly went on deck, veered ship, and hove the lead; had ten fathoms the first cast, but only five before the vessel was round, and we veered on each tack as the water shoaled ”

“ My wish at present is, to place Captain Layman well with Lord Barham, and that his lordship may possess my opinion of him.”
During Nelson’s short stay in England, after pursuing the combined fleets of France and Spain to and from the West Indies, he was desired by the Admiralty to submit his ideas of the best description of naval force to be employed at Gibraltar; strong representations having been made to Government of the depredations committed by French and Spanish cruisers in the Gut. ”

“ On joining the Earl’s flag-ship, Lieutenant Layman presented to his Lordship a plan for building a ship of the line and a frigate annually at Bombay, which was soon afterwards ordered to be carried into execution. He also suggested, during the scarcity in 1800, the propriety of restricting ships bound to India from carrying out superfluous bread and stores ”

“ General Maitland is encouraging them to make sugar in Ceylon, which is in some progress. I am, dear Layman, your’s sincerely,
(Signed) ⁠“William Le Blanc [2] .” On the 28th May 1803, Lieutenant Layman, then again serving under Nelson, was appointed prize-master of l’Ambuscade 32, in which ship he captured two of the enemy’s merchant vessels, whilst on his passage to Gibraltar. In October following, he was promoted to the command of the Weazle sloop ”

“ Sir,– It may not hitherto have been officially communicated to your Excellency, the strong representation made in last year by most of the principal merchants and inhabitants of this place materially concerned in the extension of its trade, so very beneficial to the mother country, in favor of Captain Layman, R.N., then commander of the Weazel brig of war, appointed to this station. ”

“ The subject, however, must be admitted to be of the greatest national importance, both in point of maritime strength and finance. I have therefore been preparing a memoir, with a view of having the subject brought before parliament; but as your lordship may perhaps deem the matter deserving of previous investigation, I beg leave to state, that if proper encouragement is given, I shall be happy to lay before your lordship the most valuable and important information ”

“ General Maitland, the governor, being desirous of having a large morass cleared and drained, had some time before applied to some of the natives of Ceylon, who had given in an estimate of the expence and time within which they would undertake, with 100 men, to complete it. ”

“ The wonderful accession of force derived from these alterations, and the great advantages to be derived from them in chase, in clearing an enemy’s coast, &c. are too obvious to need a comment.”
In Feb. 1805, Commander Layman, then a prisoner-of-war at Puerto-Santa-Maria, near Cadiz, made the following report to Lord Nelson:–
“It is my painful duty to narrate to your lordship an event as grievous as unexpected ”