3-039-191 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The British Flying Squadron passing the Diamond Rock, off Martinique, 1871. 'The flying or movable squadron of her Majesty's ships, under the command of Rear-Admiral Beauchamp Seymour, C.B., is still among the islands of the West Indies. By the latest accounts from Jamaica to the 9th April, it was at Port Royal, and would stay there till the 20th, when it was to leave for Havannah, and thence proceed to Bermuda. It consists of the Narcissus, 28, Captain Codrington, with the flag of Rear-Admiral Seymour, C.B.; Immortalité, 28, Captain Sullivan C.B.; Pylades, 17, Captain Buckley, V.C.; Cadmus, 17, Captain Whyte; and Volage, 8, Captain Seymour. There were also at Port Royal the Aboukir, 80, Commander Manwaring, with broad pendant of Commodore R. W. Courtenay; Sphinx 6, Captain Phillimore, C.B.; Lapwing, 3, Commander Knowles and Britomart, 1, Lieutenant Cochrane...the flying squadron...remained a fortnight at Barbadoes, where the officers were entertained at a ball given by the merchants of the place; and another ball with which the Governor treated them. At Port of Spain, Trinidad, where the squadron lay ten days, at Grenada, St. Vincent, and Santa Lucia, its officers and crews were hospitably received and made very welcome'. From "Illustrated London News", 1871.