by John Marshall

“ Several shot struck the Hermione; one, a 24-pounder, passing through her under-water, obliged the captors to rig the pumps immediately, and it was with difficulty the leak was kept under by heeling the ship. The main and spring stays were both shot away; and there being a great headswell, the mast was with difficulty secured. When the ship had been towed out of gun-shot of the batteries, the boats were called alongside; then, and not until then, had any of those people put their feet on board, being constantly employed towing, and greatly exposed to the enemy’s fire. ”

“ At the period of the Spanish armament, we find him on board the Melampus frigate, commanded by the present Sir Charles Morice Pole, and stationed in the Channel. During the subsequent dispute with Russia, he served in the Victory, a first rate, bearing the flag of Lord Hood, who had been appointed Commander-in-Chief of a squadron destined for the Baltic. When this armament was dismantled, Mr. Hamilton went over to the University of Caen, in Lower Normandy, and afterwards travelled through part of France, visiting all the sea-ports along the coast. ”

“ As generosity and humanity are generally allied to true courage and magnanimity, we cannot resist in this place giving a trait of our officer’s conduct in this respect. He rewarded the seamen who so much distinguished themselves on the above occasion, by dividing amongst them no less a sum than 500l. ”

“ About this period, Earl Spencer, then at the head of the Admiralty, in consideration of the number and severity of Sir Edward Hamilton’s wounds, gave directions for a pension of 300l. per annum to be settled on him for life ”

“ This was a plan of Captain Hamilton’s, and she appears not to have been complained of as a sailer. ↑ According to the plan of attack, six men were assigned to loose the above-mentioned sails; four to the former, two to the latter. ↑ Soon after the above brilliant affair, and subsequent to Captain Hamilton’s departure for England, a seaman who had belonged to his boat’s crew was taken up as a deserter from the Swallow sloop of war, and tried by a Court-Martial. At his trial it appeared in evidence that he had saved his gallant leader’s life, when lying on the Hermione’s quarter-deck disarmed. ”