anxiety attending such a continuance of duty, and such a variety of harassing and perplexed service, returned to England for its re-establishment, in the month of December, 1794. In the month of May following, he had prepared to resume his command in the Mediterranean, with a reinforcement, when most unexpectedly, on the 2d of May, 1795, he was ordered to strike his flag." 4

१

In 1796, his Lordship was appointed Governor of Greenwich Hospital, which honourable and lucrative situation he still retains, and where he principally resides.

His Lordship is Admiral of the Red; and an elder brother of the Trinity-House.

His Lordship married, August 25th, 1749, Susanna, daughter of Edward Lindzee, Esq of Portsmouth, which Lady was created a Peeress of England by the title of BARONESS HOOD, of Catherington in Hampshire, March 27th, 1795. By her he had issue. Samuel and Thomas, who both died young; and an only surviving son,

HENRY, who succeeded his mother as LORD HOOD, of Catherington, at her death, on May 25th, 1806; and whose marriage and issue will be recorded under that title in vol. viii.

Titles. Samuel Hood, Viscount Hood of Whitley in Warwickshire, Baron Hood of Catherington (an Irish title) and Baronet.

Creations. Viscount Hood, of Whitley, June 1st, 1796; Baron Hood, of Catherington in Ireland, September 12th, 1788; Baronet May 19th, 1778.

Arms. Azure, a fret, Argent, on a chief, Gules, three crescents, Or.

Crest. A, Cornish chough proper, on a wreath Vert and Argent.

Supporters. On the dexter a triton with his trident resting on his right shoulder; on the sinister a mermaid, holding in her left hand a mirror resting on her left shoulder.

Motto: VERITIS SECUNDIS.

Chief Seals.

Catherington House, Hants; and Greenwich

Hospital.

q Naval Chronicle, vol. ii. p 2.

ALEXANDER, VISCOUNT BRIDPORT, younger brother of Samuel Viscount Hood, of whom an account has been given in the preceding article, was early destined for the sea service.

I shall copy the account of this Peer, (as of his brother) from the Naval Chronicle.

"Mr. Hood had left, for a considerable time, the peaceful retirements of his father, in Devonshire, a county whose coast was hereafter to be defended by his skill and diligence, and had gone through the first gradations of his professional rank, before we obtain any knowledge of his conduct. On the 2d of December 1746, he was made lieutenant; and being afterwards raised to the rank of commander, was on the 10th of June 1756, made post captain in the Prince George of 90 guns.

In 1758 Captain Hood served in the Mediterranean on board the St. George of 90 guns, Rear-Admiral Saunders, which ship formed a part of the fleet under the command of Admiral Osborne. He was therefore present in this squadron on the 28th of February, when M. du Quesne attempted to reinforce M. de la Clue, who was blocked up in the harbour of Carthagena. The St. George does not appear to have been engaged, as the action was supported only by those who were detached from their station to

१ In this glorious action the brave Captain Gardiner of the Monmouth Tost his life, whilst engaging the Foudroyant, which afterwards struck. The

chase. The diligence, however, of Captain Hood, in promoting the active designs of the commander-in-chief, should be appreciated in its due proportion: as by the judicious execution of his orders, Admiral Osborne was enabled to baffle the designs of an enemy, who had vainly hoped to elude his vigilance, and to pass the straits under cover of the long dark nights which then prevailed.

Captain Hood most probably returned from the Mediterranean with Rear-Admiral Saunders; who on being relieved by Admiral Broderick, sailed for England in the Montague, and arrived at Spithead on the 5th of July. On the 21st, Admiral Osborne returned also in the St. George. The time that Captain Hood spent under Admiral Saunders, though short, must have been sufficient to enable him to derive great advantage from the superior character of an officer, who had seen such a variety of service, and who particularly felt the advantage of employing those moments, that could be snatched from the duties of his profession, in the social and confidential intercourse of learned men.

Soon after his arrival in England, Captain Hood was appointed to the Minerva frigate, of 32 guns. The English nation was at this time threatened, by its old and inplacable enemy, with a powerful and long meditated invasion; which the skill and bravery of our naval force rendered, as we trust it ever will, ineffectual. Although the French asserted in every court in Europe, that the English, owing to the powerful squadrons which had been detached on different stations, would not be able to have a fleet in the Channel this year (1759) equal to that in Brest harbour, Sir Edward Hawke sailed from Spithead, to their great dismay, with twenty-five sail of the line, thirteen frigates, in which the Minerva, Captain Hood, was included, and two fire-ships. During the greater part of this year Captain Hood served under Commodore Duff, who relieved Captain Reynolds in blocking up

Monmouth mounted only 64, twelve and twenty-four pounders; her complement of men 470. The Foudroyant had a 1000 men on board, and mounted 80 guns, forty-two and twenty-two pounders. Before Captain Gardiner expired he sent for his first lieutenant, Mr. Carket, and made it his dying request that he would never strike the colours. The lieutenant pledged his honour that they never should be hauled down: and immediately going on deck, nailed the flag to the ensign staff. This gentleman, in 1759, had the command of the Success, 22 guns, one of the squadron detached by Sir E. Hawke to Quiberon bay.

the French transports in the Morbian. Captain Hood also captured the Ecureuil, a Bayonne privateer of 14 guns and 122 men, but did not obtain any fresh addition of naval renown until the be

ginning of the year 1761; when the laurels he had already merited were advanced into public notice, by a most brave and gallant exploit, which restored to his country a ship, whose capture had produced the usual portion of rodomontade on the part of the enemy.

On the 23d of January, in latitude 45° 22′ N. Cape Pinas bearing S. by E. distant thirty leagues, a large sail was discerned from the Minerva soon after day-break. Captain Hood immediately gave orders to chase, and soon found his antagonist to be a ship of two decks. She was the Warwick, pierced for 60 guns, and now mounting 34, which had been taken from the English, commanded by M. le Verger de Belair. Her crew amounted to about 300 men, including a company of soldiers, destined to reinforce the garrison at Pondicherry. The wind blowing hard from the east, with a great sea, it was near twenty minutes past ten before the Minerva came up with her; when Captain Hood, notwithstanding her superiority, ran alongside and began an engagement which the French remember to this day. The fire on both sides was terrible. "At eleven," says the brave commander of the Minerva, in his letter to Mr. Cleveland, "her main and foretop mast went away, and soon after she came on board us on the starboard bow, and then fell alongside; but the sea soon parted us, when the enemy fell astern. About a quarter after eleven the Minerva's bowsprit went away, and the fore-mast soon followed it: these were very unfortunate accidents, and I almost despaired of being able to attack the enemy again; however, I cut the wreck away as soon as possible; and about one o'clock, cleared the ship of it, with the loss of one man, and the sheet anchor. I then wore the ship, and stood for the enemy, who was about three leagues to leeward of me. At four o'clock I came up close to the enemy, and renewed the attack about a quarter before five she struck; when I found she had fourteen killed, and thirty-two wounded. Our numbers are the boatswain and thirteen killed, and the gunner and thirty-three wounded; the former died on the 27th, and two seamen. I have given my

r Charnock.

• London Gazette, letter dated at Spithead, Feb, 3, 1761.

thanks to the officers and crew of his Majesty's ship, for their firm and spirited behaviour; and I have great pleasure in acquainting their Lordships with it. At nine o'clock the main-mast of the Minerva went away; at eleven the mizen-mast followed it." Captain Hood convoyed his prize in safety to Spithead, and, on the 8th of February, being introduced by Lord Anson to his Majesty, received his Sovereign's thanks and acknowledgment of his conduct.

Captain Hood had now risen, by his own bravery, high in the public estimation. His action with the Warwick gave that stamp of celebrity to his character, which placed his merit as an officer beyond the common level; and he was accordingly considered as one of those to whom his country might look for her future security and renown. He was appointed in August 1761, to form part of the squadron destined to convey the Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburgh Strelitz to England. He accordingly rendezvoused off Harwich on the 6th; and the signal being made by Lord Anson, on board the Royal Charlotte yacht, for sailing, in the evening of the 7th, the whole squadron got under weigh. On the 14th, the Minerva anchored at the Red Buoy, about seven leagues from Cuxhaven, with the Nottingham, Winchester, and Tartar; when the yacht went up the Elbe, and waited at Stade for the Princess, who arrived there the next day. About noon on the 6th of September, her Royal Highness landed at Harwich.

t

Towards the conclusion of 1761, the Africa, a third rate of 64 guns, was launched, and the command of her given to Captain Hood. Great Britain was at this time in a most precarious situation; and was engaged directly, or indirectly, in war with the most considerable part of the maritime strength of Europe. According to the ordinary computations, the navy of Spain consisted of more than an bundred ships of war: " whilst several communities in France engaged to fit out men of war at their own expense. It was however perceived that a rupture with Spain was unavoidable; and accordingly Sir Piercy Brett was sent out to reinforce Sir Charles Saunders in the Mediterranean, with a strong

The Royal Charlotte yacht was built at Deptford in 1749. Length of gun-deck, 90 feet 1 inch: of the keel, 72 feet 2 inches and an half. Breadth, 24 feet 7 inches. Depth, 11 feet. Tuns, 232 Men, 70. Guns, 10. "Dodsley's Annual Register.