his command. This accident, which happened about the month of Oct. 1796, was no doubt a source of much chagrin to Captain Hope, as it deprived him of the honor of participating in the victory obtained over the Dutch fleet, off Camperdown, on the 11th Oct. 1797. In the course of the same year, he was employed to equip ten sail of gun-brigs at Leith, by the particular desire of the Lord Lieutenant of Edinburgh, the country at that period expecting to be invaded by France.
Our officer’s next appointment was in Feb. 1798, to the Kent, a third rate of the largest class, then recently launched, and fitting for the flag of Lord Duncan; who, as soon as the ships destined to remain under his orders had repaired the damages sustained in the late action, returned again to his station, and by his continued vigilance almost annihilated the Dutch trade. The particulars of the expedition against Holland, by the combined forces of Great Britain and Russia, in the autumn of 1799, are fully detailed in our memoir of Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Hamilton, Bart.[1] On that occasion Captain Hope was present at the capture of the Helder, and the surrender of a Dutch squadron, commanded by Rear-Admiral Storey; and was afterwards charged with the official despatches to the Admiralty, announcing the important event. On his arrival in London, he had the gratification of receiving his Sovereign’s personal thanks for his services, together with a purse of 500l., for the purpose of purchasing a sword. At a shortly subsequent period, the Emperor of Russia was also pleased to send him the ribband and cross of a Knight of the Order of Malta[2].
At the commencement of 1800, Lord Duncan resigned the command in the North Sea; and in the ensuing month of June, the Kent was sent to reinforce the fleet under the orders of Lord Keith, on the Mediterranean station. In the
- ↑ See p. 414, et seq.
- ↑ Knights of the Order of Malta, anciently styled Knights Hospitallers of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, and afterwards Knights of Rhodes, were first instituted in the year 1043. H.I.M. the Emperor of all the Russias, is the Grand Patron of the Order, the insignia of which has never, we believe, been conferred on more than two British officers; viz. Sir W. Johnstone Hope, and the late Sir Home Riggs Popham, a memoir of whom will be found in the “Annual Biography and Obituary for 1822.”
