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HISTORY OF
[GEORGE II f.
that generous zeal for the honour of his Companions in Arms, which formed abeautiful feature in his character, 6 exerted himself so strenuously in CaptainTroubridge’s behalf, that the King commanded Earl Spencer, the First Lordof the Admiralty, to transmit the Medal to him, “ for his services both beforeand since, and for the great and wonderful exertions he made at the time of theAction in saving and getting off his ship.” 7 Captain George Blagden Westcott,of the Majestic, was killed in the Battle; and Captain Miller, of the Theseus,having lost his life during the Siege of Acre, in May 1799, did not receive hisMedal, and it was returned to the Admiralty by Earl St. Vincent. 8 TheMedals for the Battle of the Nile bore inscriptions similar to the following:DAVIDGE GOULD ESQUIRE CAPTAIN OF H. M. S. THE AUDACIOUS ON THE 1 OFAUGUST 1798. THE FRENCH FLEET DEFEATED.
Although many of the Enemy’s Frigates had been captured, after gallantactions, by ships of the same, or of inferior force, the Medal was not conferredon those occasions; but an exception was made in 1800 in favour of CaptainEdward Hamilton, of the Surprize, for having, with the boats of that ship,on the 25th of October 1799, cut out His Majesty’s late ship Hermione of44 guns and 400 men from under the batteries of Porto Cabello, in the per-formance of which exploit he was severely wounded. The Medal presentedto Captain Hamilton, who was also Knighted, was inscribed edward Hamil-ton, ESQ. CAPTAIN OF H. M. S. SURPRIZE ON THE 25 OCTOBER MDCCXCIX. THEHERMIONE RECAPTURED. 9
The next time Medals were conferred was for the unparalleled victory ofTrafalgar on the 21st of October 1805. Vice-Admiral Cuthbert Lord Colling-wood, and Rear-Admiral William Earl of Northesk received the Large Medal;and the smaller one was given to each of the twenty-three Captains who com-
6 Most justly might Lord Nelson say of himself on this occasion, “ My heart, as it ought to be, iswarm to my gallant friends.'’
7 James’ Naval History of Great Britain, Vol. II. pp. 271—2. “ It was Troubridge,” said LordNelson, “ who equipped the squadron so soon at Syracuse; it was Troubridge who exerted himselffor me after the action; it was Troubridge who saved the ‘ Culloden,’ when none that I know of inthe service would have attempted it.” Clarke and M c Arthur’s Life of Nelson, Vol. II. p. 119.Southey’s Life of Nelson, ed. 1830, p. 164, 165.
8 Records in the Admiralty Office.
9 Sir Edward Hamilton’s Medal having been stolen, another was presented to him in November1819; and a similar thing occurred in the cases of Admiral Sir James Hawkins Whitshed, G.C.B.,Admiral Sir Eliab Harvey, G.C.B., and Captain Sir James Atholl Wood.