by John Marshall

“ Now, how many seamen, marines, and boys are masters of all our signal and telegraphic practice!
During the Spanish armament, Lieutenant Penrose again served under Captain Murray, in the Defence 74; and at the commencement of the French revolutionary war, he accompanied him to the West Indies, in the Duke 98; which ship formed part of the squadron under Rear-Admiral Gardner, at the attack of Martinique, in June, 1793 [3] . ”

“ George was instituted for the Ionian Islands, and for the ancient sovereignty of Malta and its dependencies. By the rules of that Order, the naval commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean is to be first and principal Knight Grand Cross thereof, but only for the time that he holds his professional appointment. Sir Charles Penrose, however, is specially authorised to bear the title and wear the insignia for life, in consequence of his long services on that station, and his having been there at the institution of the Order. ”

“ At the renewal of hostilities, in 1803, Captain Penrose accepted the command of the Padstow district of sea-fencibles; the effects of a coup-de-soleil, which he received previous to his departure from the West Indies, rendering it necessary that he should continue for some time longer on shore.
In the summer of 1810, an extensive flotilla establishment was ordered to be formed at Gibraltar, principally for the defence of Cadiz; and Captain Penrose was appointed to the chief command, with the rank of Commodore. ”

“ Respecting corporal punishment and the crew of the Sans Pareil, the subject of this memoir says:
“I hope and believe that it is in all respects true, that by vigilant good management some captains have governed well, without the necessity of any corporal punishment: but it must be recollected, that they were not without the power of inflicting such punishment; and if they had been divested of that power, they would not have had well-regulated ships. ”

“ I left the port at last with only two men absent without leave; and I should add, that during the time the ship was in dock many were employed in the disagreeable service of fitting out other ships. From a 74 and a frigate near me, under the same circumstances of long detention in harbour, no leave was granted; boats rowed guard every night to prevent desertion, and yet the loss by desertion was very great. ”

“ We next find Captain Penrose commanding Vice-Admiral Murray’s flag-ship, the Resolution, during the absence of Captain Francis Pender, then acting as commissioner at Bermuda. Towards the latter end of 1796 he again returned to the Cleopatra; and had the melancholy satisfaction of conveying his much respected patron to England, that valuabla officer having been seized with a paralytic affection, from which he never recovered [6] .
On his passage home Captain Penrose captured l’Hirondelle French privateer, of 12 guns and 70 men ”

“ Captain Penrose, who was in his cot, got a severe blow by being dashed violently against the beams. The ship, however, rose, throwing a vast body of water aft, which burst open the cabin bulk-head, breaking loose every thing upon deck but the guns. ”

“ During the long period of 22 years, not a single circumstance ever occurred to interrupt, even for a moment, the most cordial esteem and friendship which existed between them: one commanded with kindness and judgment; the other obeyed with attention and respect; sentiments of the most sincere mutual regard blending the difference of rank in friendly intercourse. ↑ Published by Whitaker, London, July, 1824, at which period Sir Charles Penrose had attained the rank of Vice-Admiral. ↑ Sir Edward Pellew. ↑ Lord Hugh Seymour went out in the Tamar frigate. ”

“ Her commander told Captain Penrose, that the name and figure meant and represented a needy Spaniard going out with a recommendation to a Viceroy, to put him in a way of filling his purse with money. The Guachapin was afterwards a British sloop of war.
Captain Penrose returned home in the Carnatic 74, many of the crew of which ship “had never set foot on land for 6 or 7 years, except in the dock-yard at Jamaica.” When paid off, at Plymouth, the ship’s company, exclusive of commissioned and warrant officers, received upwards of 22,000l. wages ”