Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v2p2.djvu/157

  Hood, with whom he served during the expedition against Copenhagen; and whilst there we find him displaying great promptitude in extinguishing an alarming fire which broke out in the naval arsenal during the night of Sept. 22, 1807.

On his return from Copenhagen Sir Samuel Hood was sent, in conjunction with the present Lord Beresford, to take possession of Madeira, which was effected without resistance on the 26th Dec. in the same year. He subsequently went to the Baltic, as second in command of the fleet stationed there, to act in concert with the Swedes. On the 26th Aug. 1808, he sailed from Oro Road, in company with the Implacable 74, and a Swedish squadron under Rear-Admiral Nauckhoff; and on the following day succeeded in capturing and destroying the Sewolod, a Russian 74, and compelling the rest of the enemy’s fleet to take shelter in the port of Rogerswick, for which service the late King of Sweden presented him (as also Captains Martin and Webley) with the Order of the Sword, an honor never conferred but in acknowledgment of victory.

Sir Samuel Hood’s official letter to Sir James Saumarez, the commander-in-chief, describing the above event, has been greatly admired for its perspicuity. It would be an act of injustice towards the captains, officers, and men, who fought under his orders, were we not to insert it at full length:

“Centaur, off Rogerswick, Aug. 27, 1808.

“Sir,– It is with pleasure I acquaint you that the Russian squadron, under the command of Vice-Admiral Hanickoff, after being chased thirtyfour hours by his Swedish Majesty’s squadron, under Rear-Admiral Nauckhoff, accompanied by this ship and the Implacable, under my orders, have been forced to take shelter in the port of Rogerswick, with the loss of one 74-gun ship. I shall have great satisfaction in detailing to you the services of the captains, officers, seamen, and marines, under my command; and have also to state, that in no instance have I seen more energy displayed than by his Swedish Majesty’s squadron, although from the inferiority of their sailing they were prevented from getting into action Rear-Admiral Nauckhoff, and the captains under his command, from their perseverance and judicious conduct, were enabled to give confidence to