he says, “That I will take care of my friend Graham as long as I live, you may rest assured; and I flatter myself his going into the Queen Charlotte with me will be no disadvantage to him in point of education. He is vastly well, and nobody can conduct himself better than he does in every respect.”
In the Queen Charlotte Mr. Hamond witnessed the recapture of his Majesty’s ship Castor, and part of the Lisbon fleet, which had been taken whilst under her protection; the destruction of a French national cutter; and the capture of a corvette and a brig of war. He also had the honor of sharing in the glorious battle of June 1, 1794, on which occasion his gallant relative received a severe wound, from the effects of which he never recovered[1].
On the 30th Dec. in the same year, Mr. Hamond was removed into the Princess Augusta yacht, then fitting at Deptford, for the purpose of conveying the Princess Caroline of Brunswick to England; and about a month afterwards, from that vessel to the Jupiter of 50 guns, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore Payne, who commanded the ships selected to escort H.S.H. from Cuxhaven[2]. Previous, however, to the final departure of the squadron from the Nore, Mr. Hamond was ordered back to the Queen Charlotte, and very soon after appointed to act as a Lieutenant in the Aquilon frigate, where he continued about three months. He subsequently joined the Zealous 74, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Dickson, and about to sail for the Mediterranean; but being detained by contrary winds, he obtained permission to proceed thither across the continent, by which means he was enabled to join the British fleet just after the partial action off Frejus, July 13, 1795, and time enough to witness the blowing up of l’Alcide, a French 74[3]. On the 23d of the same month he was appointed junior Lieutenant of Vice-Admiral Hotham’s flag-ship, the Britannia of 100 guns. His commission was confirmed by the Admiralty, Oct. 19th following.
Lieutenant Hamond remained in the Britannia until July
