a short time previous to her very noble action with the Danish 20-gun brig Lougen and six heavy gun-boats, near Christiansand, the particulars of which have been given at p. 377 et seq. of Suppl. Part I. The following is an extract of his gallant commander’s official letter reporting the destruction of the Seagull:–
“I cannot speak in terms adequate to the deserts of every officer and man under my command on this trying occasion. I received that support from Mr. Hatton, the first lieutenant, I had every reason to expect from his general good conduct; and the officers and crew have my warmest thanks for their cool and steady behaviour: I consider it a duty I owe to them to add, that British valour was never displayed in a more striking manner than on this occasion, opposed as they were to so very superior a force.”
In this desperate battle. Lieutenant Hatton lost an arm, and received two other wounds, one of which, in the knee, nearly deprived him of the use of his right leg. So highly was his meritorious behaviour appreciated by the court-martial, assembled to enquire into the circumstances attending the loss of the Seagull, that that tribunal deviated from the usual practice in such cases, by distinctly mentioning him in the sentence, of which we shall here give an extract:–
“The Court cannot but express the highest approbation of the conduct of Lieutenant Villiers Francis Hatton, who, although most dangerously wounded, continued to give his support and encouragement to ihe last; as well as of the noble and steady behaviour of the other officers, and the crew of the Seagull, during so sanguinary and unequal a conflict, – a circumstance which, while it reflects the highest honor on them, does no less credit to the discipline of the King’s sloop; and the Court doth therefore most honorably acquit Lieutenant Hatton, the officers and crew; and they are most honorably acquitted accordingly.”
It is scarcely necessary to add, that the subject of this memoir was immediately made a commander: his commission as such bears date June 19, 1808, the day on which he so nobly distinguished himself. The pension first granted to him for the loss of his arm, &c. was of very trifling amount, but it has since been increased to 300l. per annum.
Early in 1810, Captain Hatton was appointed to the Wildboar brig; but that vessel was unfortunately wrecked, near Scilly, before he had an opportunity of joining her[1]. We
