Captain Knight was again selected to accompany him. In the fatigues of service at Toulon[1] and Corsica[2], he bore his full share, and received due encomiums from his noble patron, with whom he returned to England in the month of December, 1794. In the month of May following, his Lordship had prepared to resume his command, when most unexpectedly he was ordered to strike his flag, which was never after hoisted[3]. Captain Knight, however, continued to command the Victory as a private ship, and on the 25th May, sailed from St. Helen’s in company with a squadron commanded by Rear-Admiral Mann, and the trade for the Mediterranean.
In the partial action which took place between the British and French fleets, July 13, 1795[4], the Victory particularly distinguished herself, as will appear by the following extract from Admiral Hotham’s official despatches. “If the result of the day has not been so completely satisfactory as the commencement promised, it is my duty to state, that no exertions could be more unanimous than those of the fleet under my command; and it would be injustice to the general merit of all, to select individual instances of commendation, had not superiority of sailing placed some of the ships in an advanced situation, of which they availed themselves in the most distinguished and honourable manner; and amongst the number was the Victory, having Rear-Admiral Mann on board, who had shifted his flag to that ship upon this occasion.”
In the month of December following, Sir John Jervis having hoisted his flag on board the Victory, Captain Knight returned to England across the continent; and on his arrival was appointed to command the Montagu, of 74 guns, belonging to the North Sea fleet. Nothing material occurred until the spring of 1797; when it was discovered that the mutiny at Spithead[5] had spread its deleterious contagion through the ships employed under the orders of Admiral Duncan; for on that officer putting to sea, to cruize off the back of Yarmouth Sands, the Montagu and Nassau refused to weigh their an-
- ↑ See pp. 46, 60.
- ↑ See Admiral W. Wolseley.
- ↑ Viscount Hood was subsequently appointed Governor of Greenwich Hospital; his Lordship died at Bath, Jan. 27, 1816.
- ↑ See Admiral Sir John Sutton.
- ↑ See Vice-Admiral Edmund Griffith Colpoys.
