He said, 'Don't ye come crying to me, Sir; you are a lord's son: I'll have nothing to do wi' ye.' Immediately after the capture of Bomarsund, the admiral detached a small squadron under Captain S---- to reconnoitre the Russian port of Abo.

Of that squadron the vessel of which I was commander formed one.

We left with sealed orders, which were not to be opened until we arrived at, or near to, our destination.
On sighting the enemy's port we perceived that every preparation was being made to give us a warm reception.

A council of war was held on board the senior officer's ship, at which council the sealed orders were opened, when to our disgust it was found within that we were ordered 'not to fight, merely to reconnoitre.' Sickening humiliation! There were the Russian gunboats inside the bar of the harbour of Abo, firing at us with all their might.

The forts on the heights, such as they were, very insignificant temporary batteries of field-pieces, had commenced to get the range of the ships; but as we were not to fight, we took a sulky shot or two at the enemy and retired.
To this day I cannot understand the policy that actuated this weak, vacillating conduct on the part of our chief.