Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-10-04

III po!ht OF Slf AieXander<S other frauds,
says Mr.. Mackenrot in his concluding pa
ragraph, which, if we include the illegal
expectations of prize produce before al
iuded to, amounts TO many thousands,
what sentence viii he deserve, when we
lind the other day, admiral William Brad
| ley sentenced to death at the Winchester
! assiZes, tor deirauding the postmaster at
| Gospcrt of the paItry sum of 81. IS. Cd.
and forging receipt for the same This
is what admiral Cochrane's avarice, not
ms distresses, have led him to.
We are now brought to the memoir of
sir Thomas John Cochraue, member of
parliament, who Mr. Mackenrot informs
us, Is son of sir Alexander Cochrane, and
commands at present II. NJ. S. Surprise, 4
new SO gun frigate, on the West India sta
ton. We shall forbear to interrupt the
narrative with any remarks as we pass
along, but give IS in sir Alexander's case,
whatever we have to put down of it, in Mr..
Mackenrots own words, reserving our
own thoughts concerning it until the last.
The rise and progress which this young
gentleman made in his profession, is so un-
commonly rapid, that we cannot deny our
selves thepieasure Of detecting the fatal
| effects miSapplied po1oer, patronage and
family interest, which guides the prone
ton OF Il certain department: and perhaps
we conld even aspire, most humbiY and
most respectfully, to undcceive the illus
trlous parsonage who now yields the sccp-
| tire OF these realms, and who is the cOnsti-
| tutionai fountain Of honor, by submitting
how little the subject OF these memoirs is
| deserving of the honor OF knighthood,s
conferred upon him by 'his royal highness
| the prince regent probably st the recon-
mendaticn OF one Of the confidential SER
wants OF the crown, whose representations
we must thence pronounce to have been a
| gross imposition.
The author then states, that Mr.. Tho
mas John COchrane arrived in the West
indies in 1905, as r midshipman, aud serv-
ell on board the Jason frigate, captain W.
burgundy Champaign, worthy veteran,
| and iull OF spirit, we may judge from his
name. lie was shortly after promoted TO
the rank OF lieutenant by his father, and
while serving iii that capacity on board the
same ship, he suffered her to get ashore of
| Porto Rico, during his watch upon deck
but as she WAC not materially injured, no
court martial was called TO try him for his
neglect. Some active service then reuuir.
Ing one of the officers of the ship to volun.
teer In heading the boats crew to board
and cut out the Spanish letter of marque
called hos Dolores, from under the bat
teTies of Porto Rico, Mr.. Thomas John
Cochrane very prudently remained behind,
allowing, contrary to the etiquette Of the
service, (he being third l;eutenant) his Sc
Nor officer, Elr. Patterson, to amuse
himself with the performance of this ex-
plot, III the most gallant manner. MIR.
Patterson, however, remained lieutenant
whilst the cowardly MIR. Cochrane was
promoted over his head to the rank of mas
ter and commander, and post captain in
which capacity he afterwards commanded
the same ship, the Jason, and all his for
mer senior officers, under whom he had
served as youngster.
lie was next put ON board the corvette
Melville, as master and commander-a
beautiful slyift-sailing vessel, captured
from the French by the Jason She mount
Ell % guns; and had complement of 1875
picked men. The admiral, anxious to see
| 'is son make his debut, expected he would
perform wonders in this crack ship. In
| this hope. however, he was woiGIy dsap-
pointed, for the Young commander took no.
thihg worth recording III the pages OF the
Gazette, bu two pitiful little French pri-
vaieers Of one gun each, and with a crew
of 25 or so men. Afterwards, when all
was alacrity and Joy on hoard the Mel
vile the brave tars eagerly anticipating
the glory and prizc-money they we're on
the point of earning-she ran away sud-
denly from French privat6er brig Of IS
guns, belonging to Guadaloupe, and hea-
ry iadeR English merchant shin, he, prize
worth 9G.OG0l. In consequence Of this,
| captain COchrane became the laughing
stock Of the whole island Of Antigua and
himself, as we'll as his officers, were, for a
( long time, quizzed on account Of the miser-
able adventure. lie did not long remain
in the Melville, however; for his father,
the admiral, soon took an opportunity to
promote him TO the rank Of post captain, in
| spite OF bis want Of conduct. knowledge
and experience, and, as IL is generally re-
ported. actually 62fDre bs had Gitaiagd the
age ~ t@oRtg-0ne ge1rs (; in direct contra
yentiOn Of TIVE regulations Of tic navy, and
without having distinguished himself in
! any ahape ~ warrant such premature pro-
motion. We cannot absolutely take upon
ourselves to say, chat false certificates oil
BAPTISM. or the Ike, were produced 10 the
admiralty, bl't tie extremely boyi5h APP
HnH