Captain William Hoste. 1796-1812 Letters and orders, compri...

Estimate

£200 - £250

Captain William Hoste. 1796-1812 Letters and orders, comprising 1796 (Dec 8) Certificate of Good Conduct from Capt. Charles Stuart on H.M.S "Captain" at Gibraltar for Hoste, then a 14 year old Midshipman; 1808 (Dec 7) order from Capt Patrick Campbell of H.M.S "UnitÈ" to Capt. Wm. Hoste on H.M.S "Amphion" ordering the Amphion to Malta to take on stores and refit then rejoin Campbell of Cape Salvore; 1808 (Jan 15) letter to Hoste on H.M.S "Amphion" at Portsmouth, posted from London by his agent, concerning prize money for the "Veneze"; 1809 (Apr 16) order from Hoste on H.M.S "Amphion" off the Coast of Istria, to Robert Mitford of H.M Sloop "Espoir" ordering him to Corfu with despatches, to then proceed to Syracuse or Augusta with further despatches for the army, finally to go to Malta with despatches for Sir Alexander Ball; 1812 (Sep. 28) letter posted from London to Hoste s father in Norfolk, from the College of Arms asking for the family pedigree for William Hoste s forthcoming elevation to Baronetcy (which did not occur until 1814). Hoste was promoted by Nelson to Captain in 1798 aged just 18 having served at the Battles of St. Vincent and the Nile; as Captain of the "Amphion" he captured or destroyed over 250 enemy vessels, being severely wounded at the 1811 Battle of Lissa where he defeated a greatly superior squadron, and later captured the forts of Cattaro and Ragusa. (5).