who, during a residence of more than eight years at that place, was universally esteemed and respected. He has ever since been on half pay.
Captain Curry married, Jan. 18, 1804, Eliza, youngest daughter of Daniel Blachford, Esq., of Lower Tooting, in the county of Surrey, by whom he has eleven children now living.
Agents.– Messrs. Cooke, Halford, and Son.
SIR WILLIAM HOSTE, BART.
Knight Commander of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath; and a Knight of the Austrian Order of Maria Theresa.
[Post-Captain of 1802.]
This officer is descended from Jaques Hoste, Governor of Bruges, in Flanders, whose son Jaques was driven from Zealand by the persecution of the Duke of Alva against the Protestants, and came to England in the year 1569.
He entered the naval service as a Midshipman under the protection of the late Lord Nelson, at the commencement of the French revolutionary war, and served with that great commander in the Agamemnon and other ships, till after the expedition against Teneriffe; when his patron having lost an arm, transferred him to the care of Captain Ralph W. Miller, commanding the Theseus of 74 guns[1]. The following are extracts from Nelson’s correspondence relative to his protégé, previous to the latter attaining his sixteenth year:
To the Rev. Dixon Hoste, of Godwick, Norfolk, Feb. 14, 1794:– “You cannot, my dear Sir, receive more pleasure in reading this letter than I have in writing it, to say that your son is every thing which his dearest friends can wish him to he; and is a strong proof, that the greatest gallantry may lie under the most gentle behaviour. Two days ago it was necessary to take a small vessel from a number of people who had got on shore to prevent us; she was carried in a high style, and your good son was by my side[2].”
To the same, May 3d. “The little brashes we have lately had with the enemy only serve to convince me of the truth of what I have already said of him; and in his navigation you will find him equally forward. He highly deserves every thing I can do to make him happy.”
To Mrs. Nelson. “Hoste is indeed a most exceeding good boy, and will shine in our service.”
- ↑ See note † at p. 383.
- ↑ The Rev. Dixon Hoste married Margaret, daughter of Henry Stanforth, Esq. of Salthouse, co. Norfolk, and by that lady had ten children, of whom the subject of this memoir is the eldest now living.
