Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v2p1.djvu/190

 masts, and repair other damages occasioned by the Lively’s fire. In this rencontre the crew of the British frigate particularly exerted themselves, and actually reefed the top-sails twice with the yards only half lowered, working their guns at the same time.

In June 1805, Captain Hamond took charge of a fleet of transports at Gibraltar bound to Malta; and on the 26th of that month, having received on board General Sir James Craig and suite, for a passage, made sail to the eastward, accompanied by four sail of the line under Sir Richard Bickerton, who escorted him past Carthagena. The troops embarked in these transports were intended to act in conjunction with a Russian army, expected from Corfu to assist in the defence of Naples. The squadron attached to the expedition consisted of the Lively, Sea-horse, and Ambuscade frigates, and Merlin sloop of war.

Every necessary arrangement having been made by Sir James Craig and Captain Hamond, the latter of whom had already visited Naples for that purpose, the armament left Malta on the 3d Nov., formed a junction with the Russians at sea, and arrived at Castel-a-Mare on the 20th. From thence the combined troops were immediately marched to the frontiers; but the French entering the kingdom with a far superior force, they were soon after obliged to retreat; and by the 19th Jan. 1806, the whole were again embarked, and on their way to Messina; the citadel and forts of which place were garrisoned by them, jointly with the Sicilians, in the course of the succeeding month.

During the time the Lively remained off Naples, her mainmast was damaged by lightning, which also knocked down several men, but did no further mischief. After landing the troops at Messina, Captain Hamond refitted his ship at Malta, and then returned to the Faro, where his launch captured a Spanish merchantman. On the 7th April, Sir James Craig, being obliged to return home on account of ill-health, once more embarked with Captain Hamond, who landed him at Plymouth on the 12th of the following month.

From this period we find no mention of Captain Hamond till Dec. 27, 1808, when he assumed the command of the 