tion, and, of course, desirous of enlarged command, the greatest pleasure he derived from his promotion to a flag, was the thought that it relieved him from superintending punishment at the gang-way[1].” Another officer, who was with Lord Hugh Seymour at the time of his death, describes him as “an accomplished gentleman, a zealous gallant officer, a fond and affectionate husband and father, and a sincere friend.” “In no man,” says he, “was ever more conspicuous the dignity of high birth, or the true consequence of an elevated situation; yet such was the conciliating manner and elegant grace which accompanied his words and actions, that as he never rose too high on professional, so he never sank too low on convivial occasions. His ambition was confined within the most just bounds; he sought honor only by truly honorable means, and he was governed at all times by principles of genuine rectitude.” Lord Hugh was successively elected M.P. for Newport, in Cornwall; for Tregony, Wendover, and Portsmouth. Although his flag was never struck but for a short period, his name appears as a Lord of the Admiralty, from Mar. 1795 until the latter end of 1798.
The subject of the following sketch is the eldest son of Lord Hugh Seymour, by Anne Horatia, daughter of Maria Duchess of Gloucester, by her first husband, James Earl of Waldegrave. He obtained the rank of Lieutenant in Feb. 1804, on which occasion he was appointed to the Donegal 74, on the Mediterranean station. We subsequently find him serving on board the Northumberland 74, and receiving a severe wound in the battle off St. Domingo[2], immediately after which he was made a Commander into the Kingfisher sloop of war. His post commission, and appointment to the Aurora frigate, bears date July 29, 1806.
In the spring of 1808, Captain Seymour was removed into the Pallas 32, which ship formed part of the fleet under Lord Gambler at the destruction of four French two-deckers and a frigate, in Aix roads, April 12, 1809. She afterwards accompanied the expedition sent against Antwerp, under the command of Earl Chatham and Sir Richard J. Strachan, was present at the siege of Flushing, and bore a part in the subsequent operations against the enemy’s forces in the Scheldt[3].
- ↑ “Observations on Corporal Punishment,” by Vice-Admiral Sir C. V. Penrose, K.C.B. p. 6.
- ↑ See Vol. I. note at p. 262. N.B. Lieutenant Seymour is represented to have been “struck by a grape-shot, which penetrated his jaw, and carried away several teeth”.
- ↑ See p. 150.
