In May 1848 the Vindictive was met by Vice-Admiral the Earl of Dundonald in the Wellesley. Lord Dundonald was to take over the command from Sir Francis. We have no record of any meeting between these two officers since the days when Lord Cochrane in the Speedy and Captain Austen in the Peterel were in the Mediterranean together, almost half a century earlier. Sir Francis’ letters mention with pleasure the desire on the part of his successor to continue matters on the same lines.
SIR FRANCIS AUSTEN, G.C.B., ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET
His return to England was coincident with promotion to the rank of Admiral. In 1854, at the outbreak of the Crimean War, the Portsmouth command was declined as too onerous for an octogenarian.
In 1860 Sir Francis received the G.C.B., and in 1862 the successive honours of Rear-Admiral and Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom, followed in 1863 by promotion to the senior position in the British Navy as Admiral of the Fleet.
“The Admiralty, April 27, 1863.
“Sir,—I am happy to acquaint you that I have had the pleasure of bringing your name before the Queen for promotion to Admiral of the Fleet, and that her Majesty has been graciously pleased to approve of the appointment ‘as a well-deserved reward for your brilliant services.’
“I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
“Somerset.”
From the year 1858 Sir Francis had become gradually less able to move about. He retained all his faculties and his ability to write, almost as clearly as ever, until just before his death in August 1865.
The strong sense of justice, manifest in his rigid adherence to discipline as a young man, was tempered later in life by his love for children and grandchildren, constant through so many years.