holding nightly consultations at Spithead; and not allowing any others to be disgraced by accompanying them: strange as it may appear, not one of those fellows could even row an oar, and it was actually found necessary to send other boats to tow them back when the executions were over.
At the latter end of 1797, la Virginie received orders to convey Sir Hugh C. Christian to the Cape of Good Hope, and the Earl of Mornington to Bengal. After touching at Madras, she proceeded to Diamond harbour; and Captain Hunt accompanied the Governor-General to Calcutta, from whence that meritorious young officer was destined never to return. In a very few days subsequent to his departure, 120 of the frigate’s officers and crew were reported sick, 75 of whom, including the surgeon, died before she left the Ganges, at which period 100 men were confined to their hammocks, and 30 more unfit for duty. The cause of Captain Hunt’s decease is stated in a letter from the Governor-General to Earl Spencer, of which the following is a copy:
“My Lord,– It is with the greatest concern I communicate to your Lordship the melancholy event of the death of Captain Hunt, of la Virginie frigate: he died in Fort William, after a short illness, occasioned by his own unfortunate imprudence, in exposing himself to the sun in the heat of the day. It is my duty to acquaint your Lordship, that Captain Hunt’s attention to me during my passage was in every respect perfectly satisfactory to me. His character was so amiable, and his manners so pleasing, that his loss has been a subject of real grief to me and to all his acquaintance at this place.
“La Virginie proceeded to Madras on the 22nd of this month, and from thence to join Admiral Rainier’s squadron. Mr. Evans the first Lieutenant has been entrusted with the charge of the ship, by Captain Edward Cooke, now commanding in this river. I take the liberty of recommending Mr. Evans to your Lordship’s protection and favor: it would give me great pleasure if your Lordship should find it compatible with the public service to forward his promotion. I have the honor to be, &c.
Having obtained 50 or 60 men from the Hon. Company’s ships, to assist in navigating his own. Lieutenant Evans proceeded to Madras, and continued to command la Virginie untill superseded by Captain George Astle, who had been sent
