Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 24, 2025
'This was my dear father's last letter. He lost his life on the 5th, visiting the St. Vincent at Spithead, which ship had Lord Hotham's flag bound for the Mediterranean. This letter was given to me at sea by Sir H. Hotham on my way home, having read in Galignani my Father's death. The following note by my late brother gives all that is known of the accident: *
The latter had done nothing, although its co-operation had been promised; except Nelson's little squadron, in which was but one small ship-of-the-line out of the twenty-three under Hotham's command, it had not been seen. Nelson was determined, as far as in him lay, to remove all grounds for reproach. He urged the admiral to send him more ships, and abounded in willingness towards De Vins.
Life of Lord Minto, vol. iii. pp. 242-243. It is purposely given entire, except immaterial postscripts. The author is indebted to Prof. J. Knox Laughton for some extracts from Hotham's diary. Beckford's Memoirs, London, 1859, vol. ii. p. 127. Locker's Greenwich Gallery, article "Torrington." Nicolas, vol. ii. p. 353.
He commanded a Neapolitan warship called the Tancredi, and had fought in Admiral Hotham's action on the 14th March, 1795, and gained distinction, accompanying the Royal Family to Palermo. He was given permission by the King to return for the purpose of protecting his large property.
With the looseness and lack of particularity which characterize most logs and despatches remaining from those days, and make the comprehension of naval engagements, other than the greatest, a matter of painful and uncertain inference, it is impossible accurately to realize the entire situation; but it seems difficult to imagine that among all the other thirteen captains, "where emulation was common to all and zeal for his Majesty's service the general description of the fleet," to use Hotham's words, none could have been on the spot to support so promising an attempt, had there been "common" that sort of emulation which takes a man ever to the front, not merely in battle but at all times, the spirit that will not and cannot rest while anything remains to be done, ever pressing onward to the mark.
The manner in which Nelson was received is said to have excited some envy. One captain observed to him: "You did just as you pleased in Lord Hood's time, the same in Admiral Hotham's, and now again with Sir John Jervis: it makes no difference to you who is commander-in-chief."
Word Of The Day
Others Looking