1829.] OBITUARY.-Capt. Sir Wm. Hoste, Bart. Nile. This appointment being confirmed by the Admiralty in December following, he continued to serve in her till the close of the war. His post commission bore date Jan. 7, 1802. He subsequently commanded the Eurydice of 24 guns, and Amphion frigate. At the commencement of 1809, Capt. Hoste appears as senior officer in the Adriatic, where he cruised with unremitting vigilance against the enemy's vessels, and was employed in carrying supplies and reinforcements to the garrisons of Ancona, Corfu, and the Ionian islands. On the 8th Feb. the Amphion, in company with the Redwing sloop of war, captured a French brig, mounting six 12-pounders, and destroyed two store-houses of wine and oil collected at Melida, an island near the coast of Dalmatia. She subsequently assisted at the capture of thirteen deeply laden merchantmen in the mole of Pesaro, and had the command of the very gallant, well conducted, and successful attack made on the enemy's fort and vessels at Cortelazzo, between Venice and Trieste. The following is an extract from Lord Collingwood's official letter on the occasion: "I have on many occasions had to represent the zeal, the bravery, and the nice concert of measures that are necessary to success, which have distinguish ed the services of Captain Hoste; and this late attack of the enemy is not inferior to those many instances which have before obtained for him praise and admiration. The manner in which he speaks of Lieut. Phillott, who commanded the party, and of the other officers and men, is highly honourable to them; but the Amphion's officers and men, following the example of their Captain, could not well be otherwise than they are.*** Within a month two divisions of the enemy's gun-boats have been taken, consisting of six each." He There are not many officers in the service under whose directions more boat-actions have been carried into effect, than under those of Capt. Hoste, was the sworn foe to inactivity, and when he could effect nothing with his ships, he was constantly contriving expeditions with boats, not only to cut, out vessels, but to destroy the batteries and to capture the towns of the enemy. In this way, in June 1810, the town of Grao, in the gulf of Trieste, and a convoy laden with naval stores for the arsenal at Venice, were captured in gallant style, by the boats of the Amphion, Active, and Cerberus. We come now to the mention of the most conspicuous naval victory which bad for some time been achieved in the 175 The Mediterranean station, we mean the tri- The captured frigates were escorted by the Amphion and Volage to Malta, and from thence to Portsmouth, where the Amphion was paid off Aug. 12, 1811. Capt. Hoste was now appointed to the Bacchante, a new 38 gun frigate, and soon after bis return to the Mediterranean captured a French privateer and two valuable convoys on the coast of Istria and Apulia, not to mention several other successful enterprises of inferior mo In the first number of "The United Service Journal," from which this memoir has in other respects benefited. 176 OBITUARY. Capt. Sir Wm. Hoste, Bart. <ment ; in one of which some dispatches from Corfu were intercepted, and a French General of artillery and his suit going to Otranto, were captured. Information was brought to Capt. Hoste on the 11th of May, 1813, that a number of vessels were lying in the channel of Karlebago. He accordingly sailed without delay for the spot, but owing to adverse winds and a strong current, he did not arrive there till the morning of the 15th. Meanwhile the vessels in question had escaped. The visit of Capt. Hoste was, however, not ineffectual; for, as he found that "the port afforded excellent shelter to the enemy's convoys, he determined to destroy the works which defended it, and accordingly brought up within pistol shot of the batteries. After a good deal of firing a flag of truce was hung out, and the place surrendered at discretion. A detachment of seamen and marines then landed, under the direction of Lieut. Hood, blew up the castle, destroyed all the public works, and brought off two 12-pounders, 4 nines, and 2 brass sixes. At the capture of Fiume, by the squadron under Rear-Adm. Freemantle, July 3, 1813, Capt. Hoste served on shore, and landing on the 5th with a party of marines at Porto Ré, he blew up the forts which had been deserted by the enemy, and destroyed the artillery. On the 2d of August in the same year, after assisting in silencing the batteries at Rovigno, be placed himself at the head of a detachment of seamen and marines from the Bacchante and Eagle, and, defeating the French troops which occupied the town, he disabled the guns and works, captured part of a large convoy in the harbour, and burnt the remainder, together with all the vessels on the stocks. The year 1813 teemed with important naval events in the Adriatic; but none were productive of such great and permanent effects as the reduction of the fortresses of Cattaro and Ragusa, by which the allies became masters of every place in Dalmatia, Croatia, Istria, and the Frioul, with all the islands in the Gulf of Venice. In the operations against these places, Capt. Hoste commanded the naval force and a detachment of military, and his own accounts of the actions which led to their fall are preserved in our vol. LXXXIV. i. pp. 179, 496, 602. On the capitulation of the French General at Cattaro, when his whole force grounded their arms to the crews of the Bacchante and Saracen, it was exceedingly interesting to view the manner in which these crews disposed their num [Feb. bers to the best advantage, the marines and small-armed seamen being extended in single file along the beach to as long a line as possible, and the Midshipmen acting as Ensigns with the union jack attached to pikes. In this manner they received the submision of the French troops. The disinterestedness and magnanimity of Hoste were displayed on this occasion. On the termination of the conflict in the Bocca de Cattaro, he said to the Captain of the Saracen, "Come, Harper, you were the first to conceive the expedition. Let the Sa racen take possession of Cattaro." The last action of Capt. Huste consisted of an expedition in March 1814 against a French garrison of 170 men, commanded by a Colonel, at Parga, on the coast of Albania, which attempt he was solicited to make by a deputation of the inhabitants, who wished to be freed from the Gallic yoke. The affair was a bloodless one; for on his appearance before the town, the tri-coloured flag was hauled down, and Capt. Hoste took possession of the fortifications. Soon after this, being in ill health, he quitted the Bacchante, and returned to England as a passenger in the Cerberus frigate. On the 18th of May 1814, Capt. Hoste received the royal license to wear the insignia of a Knight of the Austrian military order of Maria Theresa, conferred" for his services in aid of the Austrian army on the coast of the Adriatic in 1813." He was raised to the dignity of a Baronet of Great Britain on the 23d of July, 1814; and, in the course of the same year, he obtained the following heraldic honours. To his family's arms, which are Azure, a bull's head caboshed, couped at the neck, between two wings Or, was added as an augmentation, in chief a naval crown, and pendant therefrom by a ribbon, a gold medal subscribed LISSA; and, as an additional crest, out of a naval crown, the rim incircled with laurel, an arm embowed, grasping a flag inscribed CATTARO. On the enlargement of the order of the Bath in January 1815, Sir William was nominated one of the first Knights Commanders. Subsequently to this, he commanded the Albion 74, stationed as a guard-ship at Portsmouth. His last appointment, which he held till his death, was the command of his Majesty's yacht, the Royal George. When the Duke of Clarence made his last visit in this vessel to Plymouth, Sir William was so much shattered in health, that his Royal Highness would not consent to his taking upon himself the fatigue of the com 1829.] OBITUARY.-Sir J. H. Cooper, Bart. mand, but prevailed on him to allow the Hon. Capt. Robert Spencer, the Duke's private secretary, to perform the duty. In person Sir William Hoste was rather tall, and thin. He was high shouldered, and stooped much latterly, his chest being contracted, and his appearance in other respects denoting a consumptive constitution. This unfortunate tendency to disease was perceived with the deepest regret by his friend and companion in arms, Captain, now Sir James Gordon; and, much lamented as Hoste universally is, it is doubtful whether his loss has been so keenly felt by any one as by that highly esteemed and popular officer. Sir William Hoste, while the nation resounded with the fame of his exploits in the Mediterranean and Adriatic, was called the "Young Nelson," and in like manner the character of Sir James Gordon was similar to that of Lord Collingwood. The constant friendship of Hoste and Gordon also reminds naval men of the firm attachment existing between the two de. parted Admirals, and, like them, our Captains were never so well pleased as when eulogising each other. It has been seen that in physical organization, Hoste resembled the Hero of Trafalgar-the mind was too much for the body. Trifles sometimes would irritate his temper; but in battle, he was the coolest of the cool, another point of similitude to Nelson. Gordon, on the contrary, though equalling his friend in seamanship and bravery, is of the most equable temper, and bis suavity of manner frequently carried him through difficulties with comparative ease which the other would probably have found more labour in surmounting. Perhaps no officer in the service gave juniors so many opportunities of distinguishing themselves, and of obtaining promotion, as Sir William Hoste. As we have before noticed, when he could not employ his ship against the enemy, his plan was to send his boats on cutting-out expeditions; and he has been often known to say to one and another of his officers, when cruizing in the Adriatic, "There,-you have now an opportunity of making yourself a Captain;" pointing to some vessel of the enemy moored under the protection of a battery. Sir William Hoste was one of the first disciplinarians in the service; his ship was a perfect "man-of-war." Sir William was beloved no less by his men than by his officers, as a proof of which, we have GENT, MAG. February, 1829. 177 been told that after the action of Lissa, when a vacancy for a Boatswain occured in the squadron, and Sir William offered the warrant to David Buchanan, chief boatswain's mate of the Amphion, the bonest fellow said, "No, thank you, Sir, if it's all the same to you, I'd rather serve as chief boatswain's-mate with Capt. Hoste, and spill my blood in the lee scuppers, as I've done before, than be Boatswain of the finest first-rate in the service." The remains of this gallant hero was interred in St. John's Wood Chapel. The funeral was attended by many persons of distinction; particularly in the Naval Service, who had assembled on this me lancholy occasion from remote parts; and it could not but have been highly gratifying to the friends and relatives of the deceased, to witness the lively and affecting sympathy displayed during the mournful ceremony by the old compa nions who had served under him as Lieutenants. Among these were particularly noticed Captains David Dunn, O'Brien, and Phillott. Sir William married, April 15, 1817, Lady Harriet Walpole, sister to the present Earl of Orford; and has left three sons and three daughters: 1. Sir Wil liam-Legge-George, who was born at Rome in 1818, and has succeeded to the Baronetcy; 2. Theodore-Orford-Raphael, born at Lausanne in 1819; 3. Caroline-Harriet-Clementina; 4. PsycheRose-Elizabeth; 5. Priscilla-Anne; and 6. Wyndham-Horatio-Nelson, born in February 1825. SIR J. H. Cooper, Bart. Dec. 24. At Brighton, aged 63, Sir John Hutton Cooper, of Walcot in Somersetshire, Bart., Groom of the Chamber to his Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence, M.P. for Dartmouth, Lieut.-Colonel of the 2d Somerset Militia, Sheriff of the city of Bath, and a member of the Body Corporate, F.R.S. and F.S.A. Sir John was born Dec. 7, 1765, the fifth son of Benjamin Cooper of Sleaford in Lincolnshire, esq. by his first marriage with Anne, daughter and heiress of Robert Caudron, of Great Hale, esq. and granddaughter of Sir Charles Dymoke, of Scrivelsby. His paternal grandfather, the Rev. Benjamin a clergyman connected Cooper, was with the collegiate church of Southwell. Colonel Cooper was first returned M.P. for Dartmouth in April 1825; and was re chosen at the general election in 178 OBITUARY.-J. C. Curwen, Esq. M.P. 1826. He was created a Baronet by patent dated Feb. 19, 1828. Sir John was thrice married; first, Dec. 16, 1790, to Elizabeth-Mary, daughter of Edward Ellis of Anwick, esq. and by that lady, who died July 19, 1793, had an only son Edward-Moon, who died an infant in 1791; secondly, in October, 1797, Phillis, youngest daughter of William Neate, of London, esq. and widow of Charles Meniconi, of Sunbury, esq. She died without issue, Oct. 17, 1801; and thirdly, May 1821, to Maria-Charlotte, only daughter of the late Sir George Baker, Bart. Physician to their Majesties, and sister to the present Sir Frederick-Francis Baker, F.R.S. and F.S.A. Lady Cooper survives. We believe that the Baronetcy conferred on Sir J. H. Cooper, has originated and expired within the year 1828. He has left two surviving brothers, Christopher Cooper, M.D. of Doncaster; and Benjamin Cooper, esq. surgeon at Stamford. J. C. CURWEN, Esq. M.P. Dec. 11. At Workington Hall, Cumberland, aged 72, John Christian Curwen, esq. M.P. for the county of Cumberland. This gentleman's paternal name was Christian. He was a member of the ancient and very respectable family of M'Christen, of the Isle of Man, “ who," says Lysons, "for several generations were Deemsters or Judges of that Island. They appear first to have written their name Christian about the year 1600. Ewan Christian, esq. the first of the family, who settled at Unerigg, (or Ewanrigg) died in 1719." At the age of about twenty, Mr. Curwen, then Mr. Christian, married Miss Taubman, of the Isle of Man, by whom he had issue the present John Christian, esq. now one of the Deemsters of that Island. On the death of his first wife, Mr. Curwen married his cousin, Miss Curwen, only daughter of the late Henry Curwen, esq. of Work. ington Hall, and last of the family of that name; Mr. Curwen therefore added Curwen to his name of Christian in 1790, by the King's sign manual. Mr. Curwen served the office of High Sheriff of Cumberland in 1784. He began his political career in 1786, in which year, on a vacancy for the eity of Carlisle, he stood a warm and at first unsuccessful struggle, but was established in his seat after a petition. His fortune was similar at the general election in 1790; when, after a double return, he was declared duly elected. At the [Feb. general elections of 1796, 1802, 1806, and 1807 he was again chosen; and he retained his seat till 1812. The tide of popular favour then began to flow against him; he was opposed by the late Heury Fawcett, esq., and very early quitted the field, in just anger, bis friends alleged, at the fickleness of that many-headed master whose humours it had been his pride and pleasure to serve. On Mr. Fawcett's death in 1816, however, Mr. Curwen was prevailed upon again to offer himself; and he was elected after a sharp struggle with the late Sir Philip Musgrave, Bart., who on that occasion made his first essay in public life-and, young as he was, fought a good fight against the political veteran. In June 1818, Mr. Curwen, in conjunction with the late Sir James Graham, Bart. of Edmond Castle, was re-elected for Carlisle, without any other impediment than that opposed by the trifling pretensions of Mr. Parkins. In the succeeding week, Mr. Curwen made a demonstration in favour of the county representation, much to the disrelish of his old friends in Carlisle ; and even offered to contest the county, in union with Lord Morpeth, but his Lordship declined, and Mr. Curwen retired, satisfied with showing that he possessed an influence which he did not think it prudent then to exercise. This very naturally laid the foundation of a schism among the Whig or Blue party, which is still in existence. At the general election which shortly followed the King's death in 1820, Mr. Curwen, to the public surprise, once more presented himself to the freemen of Carlisle, and was at first very coolly received, but was eventually returned. At the Cumberland election, which shortly followed, Mr. Curwen declared himself a candidate for the county representation, and succeeded in ousting Lord Morpeth without a contest. In 1826, he was again returned for Cumberland, and met with no opposition. These choppings and changings did Mr. Curwen much injury in the popular estimation. Mr. Curwen was in early life actuated by a just sense of the importance of rural improvement. This incessantly engaged his attention. By subduing the sterility of his own estate-fertilizing the barren waste-stimulating the inert-meliorating the durid and tenacious-draining the swamp-and by giving depth and superior qualities to the staple of the land, he insured a luxuriance of crop, in spite of an ungrateful soil, and cold rainy climate. He also introduced every kind of improvement, which, under his superin 1829.] OBITUARY.-Gen. Sir Brent Spencer, G.C.B. tendancy, became still further improved -calling forth the capabilities of the land by every practical and judicious mode of cultivation, and by rearing and feeding in the most economical way, every kind and breed of animals which experience had approved, and which assiduity or money could procure. Mr. Curwen seems to have been particularly attentive to assist that general law of nature, by which animals and vegetables reciprocally interchange their substance or qualities with each other; on this circumstance he founded the necessity and propriety of his "Soiling System" -that is, by confining the animals to the spot where they are fed; by which means a more abundant quantity of dress is collected and prepared to be returned to the partly exhausted soil, whence the food has been produced. Hence Mr. Curwen was called "the Father of the Soiling System." He also studied, and successfully practised, the means of rendering the food of cattle more nutritious, by preparing it for their use by steaming, in preference to simple boiling, thereby retaining the saccharine qualities of the roots, &c., which would, by boiling, be extracted and lost. The drill husbandry Mr. Curwen also adopted successfully; in short be neglected no expedient, or rational practice, which could in any way tend to the perfection of agricultural science. His skilful operations may be said to have given a new character to the business of farming. His excellent example has imparted an impulse to agricultural exertions all over the kingdom; many old prejudices and erroneous customs have been banished, and bis improvements have amply compensated every farmer who had the spirit to adopt them. Active and temperate from youth, and strongly attached to rural pursuits, he enjoyed an almost uniterrupted flow of robust health during his long life, till within about the two last years, when his constitution exhibited symptoms of decay. In the Session of Parliament, 1826-7, he began to experience the inconvenience of late hours and crowded houses. The freshness of the Cumberland breezes produced a beneficial effect upon him in the summer and autumn of 1827; but as winter approached his debility returned, and he found himself unable to encounter his senatorial duties during the whole of the last session. By his second marriage he had three sons, Henry, William, and John; and two daughters, all living, except William. Mrs. Curwen died in 1820. The Unerigg property goes to the Deemster: the Workington-hall estate descends to 179 Henry Curwen, esq., who for many years past has lived in comparative retirement at Belle Isle, Windermere. GEN, SIR BREnt Spencer, G.C.B. Dec. 29. At the Lee, near Great Missenden, Bucks, General Sir Brent Spencer, G.C.B. K.T.S. Colonel of the 40th foot, and Governor of Cork. Few officers have seen more active service than this distinguished and lamented individual. He was appointed Ensign of the 15th foot, Jan. 18, 1778, and Lieutenant, Nov. 12, 1779. He served with his regiment in the West Indies, and was taken prisoner at the siege of Brimston-hill, St. Kitts. In July 1783 he obtained a Captaincy in the 99th foot, which he exchanged for one in his former regiment in the following September; and he was promoted to a Majority in 1791. He served in Jamaica, and was in several actions at St. Domingo; in 1794, he received the brevet of Lieut.Colonel, and was subsequently appointed to the 115th regiment. He returned to England to join the latter corps, and the 22nd of February, 1795, was removed to the 40th, which he joined at St. Vincent's, and commanded it in the Charib war, till that island was subdued; he was then sent to Jamaica with the 40th, and returned with it to St. Domingo. He afterwards served as Brigadier-General, which appointment he received July 3, 1791, and commanded a corps of 8000 men, (3000 British, and the remainder Colonial troops), and was successfully engaged two months in very active warfare with the enemy, and finally was left in command of the troops, and evacuated the island by order of Gen. Maitland. He received the rank of Colonel, Jan. 1, 1798, and was appointed Aide-de-camp to the King. In the expedition to the Helder, in 1799, he commanded the 40th regiment, and was in all the actions of that campaign. At the landing in Egypt in 1801 he commanded a brigade of light troops. It was observed in Sir Ralph Abercromby's dispatch: "They made good their landing with an intrepidity scarcely to be parallelled, and forced the enemy to retire. The troops that ascended the hill were the 23rd regiment, and the four flank companies of the 40th regiment, under the command of Col. Spencer, whose coolness and good conduct Major-Gen. Moore has mentioned to me in the highest terms of approbation." Col. Spencer was in the actions of the 13th and 21st of March; he commanded the attack, and succeeded, against Rosetta. Colonel Spencer was honoured with |