by John Marshall

“ I really have little or no interest with the Admiralty; and I am at a loss how to obtain an appointment for my son, to place him in the way of promotion. Your pretensions are good; and I recommend your applying to Lord Melville, who often acts from the impulse of the moment, and may lend a favorable ear to officers of merit. ”

“ In December 1813, lieutenant Roberts was recommended by his warm and constant friend Lord Henry Paulet, then at the Board of Admiralty, to Sir Alexander Cochrane, who had just obtained the chief command on the North American station. On the 30th of the same month, he was appointed to that officer’s flag-ship, the Asia 74; and we subsequently find him following the vice-admiral into the Tonnant 80. During the operations against Washington and Baltimore, he was actively employed in boats and on shore ”

“ Roberts received, through the interest of Lord Henry Paulet, an appointment from Lord Collingwood, to act as lieutenant of the Terrible; which was confirmed by the Admiralty on the 3d March, 1810. His next appointment was, about May 1811, to the Dreadnought 98, Captain Samuel Hood Linzee, then preparing to sail for the Baltic ”