ship had the misfortune of losing his arm*. By his spirited and judicious conduct, in effecting the return of the British troops and seamen from their disastrous attack, he had the satisfaction of endearing himself to that great Commander, that lamented Hero, whose loss we can never cease to deplore. After Rear-Admiral Nelson had been wounded, and carried back to his ship; after all the boats had been either sunk by the dreadful fire from the enemy's batteries, or swamped in the surf, Captain Hood and Sir Thomas Troubridge found themselves in the heart of the town of Santa Cruz, at the head of a few seamen and marines, armed with pikes, but surrounded by some thousands of Spaniards. Their situation was most critical. It was dark; and, for the present, the enemy were kept in check, from not being acquainted with the position, or number, of the invaders; but, by day-light, their miserable force must inevitably be discovered! They deliberated; and

"Decision followed, as the thunderbolt
The lightning's flash!"

Captain Hood immediately waited on the Spanish Governor, Don Juan Antoine Gutterry, with the following laconic message:-" I am come, Sir, from the commanding Officer of the British troops and seamen now within your walls, and in possession of the principal strutto, to say, that as we are disappointed in the object which we came for, (alluding to specie,) provided you will furnish us with boats-those we came in being all lost-we will return peaceably to our ships; but, should any means be taken to molest or retard us, we will fire your town in different places, and force our way out of it at the point of the bayonet." Taking out his watch, he added:"I am directed to give you ten minutes to consider of this offer."

The Governor was astonished at the proposal, made with such confidence, on the part of men whom he conceived to be already in his power. He observed, that he had thought they were his prisoners; but, as it was not so, he would hold a council with his officers, and let the British Commander know the

• Vide NAVAL CHRONICLE, VOL. II, page 178.

result in the course of an hour. To this Captain Hood coolly replied, that he was limited to a second, and that his friends were anxiously awaiting his return, to re-commence hostilities, should not his demand have been complied with. He was about to take his leave; when the Governor, alarmed at the probable consequences of driving Englishmen to extremity, acceded to his proposal. He accordingly provided boats, and sent all the English off to their ships, where they had ceased to be expected, laden with fruit, and various other refreshments.The conduct of the Spanish Governor was indeed eminently noble and generous. Previously to the embarkation of the invaders, he furnished them with a ratio of biscuit and wine; and gave orders, that such of the British, as had been wounded, ⚫ should be received into the hospital. He also intimated to Admiral Nelson, that he was at liberty to send on shore, and purchase whatever necessaries the squadron might be in need of, whilst it remained off the island.

In 1798, Captain Hood was employed in blockading the port of Rochfort. He was recalled from this station, for the purpose, it was said, of commanding a secret and remote expedition; and was only waiting to be relieved by Captain Keats, when some of the enemy's frigates, attempting to escape by night, afforded him another opportunity of displaying his vigilance and skill, in preventing the accomplishment of their object.

Instead, however, of being appointed to the command of an expedition, Captain Hood, in the Zealous, (with Sir Thomas Trowbridge, in the Culloden, and nine other ships,) was dispatched to reinforce the squadron of Lord Nelson.

On the memorable 1st of August, 1798, Captain Hood, having the look-out, first discovered the French fleet in the Bay of Aboukir, and was ordered, by signal, to reconnoitre their position. When Admiral Nelson, about six in the evening, arrived off the Bay of Shouls, he hove to, and hailed Captain Hood, to ask him, "What he thought of attacking the enemy that night?" His answer was, " We have now eleven fathoms water; and, if the Admiral will give me leave, I will lead in

making known my soundings by signal, and bring the van ship of the enemy to action." Late as it was, the firmness of this answer decided the Admiral, who said, "Go on, and I wish you success." During this conversation, the Goliath passed, and took the lead, which she kept; but, not bringing up alongside the first ship, went on to engage the second. On this, Captain Hood exclaimed to his officers :-" Thank God! my friend Foley has left me the van ship." He soon after took such a position on the bow of le Guerrier, the ship in question, as to shoot away all her masts, and effect her capture, in twelve minutes from the time that the Zealous commenced her fire. This was achieved without the loss of a man, or the slightest injury to Captain Hood's ship.

The Zealous afterwards engaged, alone, the four French ships which escaped *, until called off by signal. The total loss which she sustained in the conflict amounted to only one seaman killed, and seven wounded.

For the service which Captain Hood rendered, in this glorious and important engagement, he was subsequently honoured with the thanks of Parliament; and was also presented with a sword by the City of London.

After the victory of Aboukir, Admiral Nelson proceeded to Naples, and left Captain Hood with the command of the following squadron, on the coast of Egypt :

* Le Guillaume Teil, of 80 guns; le Genereux, 74; la Diane, 48; and la

Justice, 44.

Returned to join the fleet under Admiral Nelson,

Joined afterwards,

With this force, Captain Hood kept the port of Alexandria closely blockaded. He also contributed, in a material degree, to the interests of this country, by his amicable communications with all the Pachas and Governors under the Grand Seignior; and particularly with Jezzar, Pacha of Acre, whose friendship he succeeded in acquiring.

While on this station, Captain Hood took, and destroyed, upwards of thirty of the neutral transports, which had carried the enemy's troops to Egypt; and, as an honorary reward for his services, was presented, by the Grand Seignior, with a handsome snuff-box, set with diamonds.

In the month of February, 1799, he joined Lord Nelson at Palermo, and was employed in reducing His Sicilian Majesty's subjects to obedience, and in driving the French out of the kingdom of Naples.-At Salerno *, with only forty marines belonging to the Zealous, Captain Hood kept in check a force of 3000 men, who were attacking that place, until the few Neapolitans that had taken up arms had time to escape. The enemy attempted to surround the little band of Neapolitan royalists; but, favoured by the exertions of Captain Hood, they had the good fortune to effect a retreat, with the loss of only two killed, nine wounded, and six prisoners. Twice also Captain Hood drove the French out of Salerno, by the fire from the Zealous.

Captain Hood was afterwards employed on shore at Naples, in taking charge of Castel Nuovo†; and kept the city perfectly

Salerno is a sea-port town of Italy, in the kingdom of Naples, and capital of the province of Principato Citra. It has a good harbour, fortified, and defended by a castle. It is situated at the distance of twenty-six miles, E.S.E. from Naples.

+ Castel Nuovo was taken possession of on the 26th of June, the French having previously evacuated the City of Naples. This is one of the five castles which protect the city. It has a communication with the royal palace, and on one side is contiguous to the sea. Its arsenal formerly contained 50,000 complete stand of arnis.

quiet, during the siege of St. Elmo*, and of Capua†, until the period of their reduction. His Sicilian Majesty acknowledged these services, by presenting him with a snuff-box, enriched with diamonds; and at the same time conferring on him the rank of Commander of the Order of St. Ferdinand and of Merit.

This honour was confirmed to Captain Hood, by his own Sovereign's royal license and permission, enclosed for him in the following letter to Lord Viscount Hood:

MY DEAR Lord,

College of Arms, May 1, 1801.

AS I am at present unacquainted with the address of Captain Samuel Hood, I take the liberty, at the suggestion of Sir Thomas Troubridge, to commit to your Lordship's obliging care the enclosed Royal License, authorizing your distinguished relative to accept the rank of Commander of the Order of St. Ferdinand and of Merit, and to bear the Insignia of the said Order; as also the letter of notification of His Sicilian Majesty's Secretary of State; both which instruments have been duly recorded in this College.

Captain Hood's Agents have discharged the usual fees accruing upon the occasion, at the Duke of Portland's Office, and at this College. I have the honour to be, with great respect,

Your Lordship's faithful and obedient humble Servant,
ISAAC HEARD,

Lord Viscount Hood, &c. &c. &c.

Garter.

The subjoined is a copy of His Majesty's License, for Captain Hood's acceptance of the Sicilian Order of St. Ferdinand and of Merit :

GEORGE R.

GEORGE the Third, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. To our right trusty and right entirely beloved

The French, when they evacuated Naples, retained possession of the fort of St. Elmo, or St. Eramo, which is hewn out of a rock, towards the west of the city. Its subterraneous works are wide, lofty, and bomb-proof; and it has eight reservoirs for water. The harbour is spacious, with a canal and a mole nearly 500 paces in length; and, on the whole, it is a place of great strength. On the present occasion, it held out eight days, during which time our heavy batteries were advanced within 180 yards of the ditch. Sir Thomas Troubridge, assisted first by Captain Ball, and afterwards by Captain (now Admiral) Hallowell, commanded the forces which were landed from the English squadron.

† Capua is situated fifteen miles north of Naples,