by John Marshall

“ Charles Stuart O’Neill, the eldest, born on board the Tromp, off Madeira; served sixteen years as midshipman and master’s-mate; obtained most handsome certificates of superior talent and merit, from all his captains, together with strong recommendations for promotion, “as one who would do honor and credit to the service;” and died in command of the Cochin schooner, of 14 guns, tender to the flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Gage, on the East India station: the second son is married to a lady of fortune at Dublin ”

“ I consider it a duty incumbent on me, and an act of justice due to them, to deny the truth of it in the most positive and unequivocal terms; and to pledge myself, that either individually or collectively, they have never, in the most distant manner, entertained so ungenerous an idea. ”

“ The Tromp was destined to be converted into a prison-ship, and stationed at one of the Leeward Islands, the commander-in-chief on which station received instructions from the Admiralty to place Captain O’Neill in the way of further promotion. Lord Hugh Seymour, however, the officer to whom we have now occasion to allude, was under the necessity of suddenly proceeding to Jamaica, and unfortunately neglected to inform his successor, the late Sir John T. Duckworth, of Earl Spencer’s favorable intentions. ”

“ Soon after his arrival there, he had occasion to counteract >various attempts to bring that ever unpopular service (which had been in a manner forced upon him) into still greater disrepute. In the month of May following, he received a letter from the Earl’s private secretary, acquainting him that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty were well satisfied with his conduct, “and that it would not fail to operate in his favor.” He also received the following letter from one of the members for Poole, whose son he had obliged to apologize for some intemperate conduct:–
“London, 9th May, 1803. ”

“ In addition to the foregoing services, this active officer obtained information which led to the capture of two Dutch men-of-war by the Sirius frigate. Captain (now Sir Richard) King; an event which, owing to the hitherto improper representation thereof, we shall hereafter more fully notice. On the 25th April 1800, Lieutenant O’Neill received the following satisfactory announcement:–
“Lord Spencer has directed me to inform you, that you are appointed to the Tromp [1] , with the rank of master and commander. I am. ”

“ In consequence thereof. Captain O’Neill, after burying most of his officers, and nearly one-half of his crew, found himself under the necessity of returning home, at his own expence, passenger on board a transport; the Tromp having been placed, as was originally intended, under the command of a lieutenant. This most mortifying disappointment produced the following communication from Earl Spencer, then no longer in office:–
“St. ”