by John Marshall

“ Previous to his quitting the Adriatic, Lieutenant Hamley received a very handsome letter from the Emperor of Austria. He returned home first lieutenant of the Milford 74, and, on his arrival in England, found himself promoted to the rank of commander, by commission dated June 15th, 1814. In the following year, he obtained the royal licence and authority “to accept and wear the insignia of the order of Leopold, with which the emperor had been pleased to honor him, as a testimony of the high sense which his Imperial Majesty entertained of the services rendered by him at the siege of Zara.” ”

“ The country was extremely bad for trap porting cannon, with such means as we possessed: we had to drag them across swamps, ditches, &c., a distance of three miles; and were obliged to perform this service by night, to avoid being discovered. Every thing being ready, the command of the batteries was given to Lieutenant Hamley, whose whole force consisted of only sixty men: the officers under his orders were. Lieutenant Michael Quin, of the Weazle; Lieutenant Hockley, p.m.; and Messrs. Stewart and Hamilton, master’s-mates of the Havannah. ”

“ H.M.S. Havannah, at Sea, Sept. 7, 1812. “Sir,– Some of the enemy’s coasting; vessels having taken shelter under a battery of three 12-pounders, on the S.W. side of the Penmarks, I yesterday morning sent my first lieutenant (William Hamley) , with the boats of this ship, to spike the guns, and bring the vessels out or destroy them; which service he performed without the loss of a man, in a manner that does great credit to himself, as well as all the officers and men employed on the occasion. I have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed) ⁠“George Cadogan.” ”