"Dear Brother,

"Hampton Court Palace, June 6th, 1794. "I hope you will excuse my troubling you with this, as my dear Henry is going out with Admiral Sir James Wallace to Newfoundland, which is reckoned a very good station and healthy, though cold. He will be absent some months, and wishes very much for his father's pistols to take with him. They are at Toby's, in a green baise bag; therefore I shall be obliged to you to tell Toby to send them to Loughborough as soon as possible, to be forwarded by the coach directed to me at Mr. Macdonald's, linen-draper, No. 146, New Bond-street, opposite Conduit-street, London, and I will have them sent on to him at Spithead. The reason of my desiring them to be sent so immediately is, we expect Henry will sail within a week, and I am anxious he should get them before he goes. If there are two pair of pistols I would wish to have both, as Ando may also like to have a pair, but Henry has the first claim. My mother and myself are reconciled to the dear boy's absence, as we are told by every body who has been there, that it is a very desirable and advantageous station. Henry says he expects to be back in March, and seems much pleased at the idea of going out. My mother has sent him a box of warm cloathing to guard him against the cold of the climate. Ando is at Southampton with Lord Moira's troops, and the little sailor at Portsmouth soon going out on another cruise. We expect Sarah at home very soon for the holidays. Selina is in better health than she has been for years. Ando and Frank have both written to you, which they hope you have received. We have all great reason to be proud of the dear boys, as they are all beloved and approved of by their officers for their good behaviour. I beg a line to tell me when the pistols leave Loughborough, and hope it will be from yourself, as that would give me great pleasure, and that you will give a good account of your

own health. I should more frequently write to you about the dear boys, but from your silence I am fearful of being troublesome. My mother desires her kind compliments, and Selina her affectionate duty, and am, dear Brother,

"Your obliged and affectionate Sister,

"To the Rev. Mr. Hastings, Belton."

66

My Dear George,

"SARAH HASTINGS."

"No. 7, Terrace, Kennington, April 21, 1801. "I hope this will find you in good health; and I am sure it will give you pleasure to hear that our dear Selina is recovering daily. She has still, however, frequent attacks of the spasms in her side, but I hope this fine weather will restore her to our wishes. Sarah, thank God, is in good health, and as good spirits as ever.

to

As soon as I hear from our dear Frank I will let you know. By the last letters I received from Ferdinando, he gives me hopes of his being in England in May, and as the last packet brought me none other, I flatter myself he is on his voyage.* That will be joy indeed you and to us all. I rejoice that our nephew Theophilus has got a curacy, but am sorry it has taken him so far from you. I have tried all my interest to get him a living or curacy, but without success. Your daughters desire their duty, and unite with me in kind love to you; for be assured, neither their affection nor mine for you is lessened by absence; and believe me, my dear George, "Your tenderly affectionate wife,

"Colonel Hastings, Little Leke,

near Loughborough."

"S. HASTINGS."

* It is melancholy to reflect, that, while Mrs. Hastings was indulging these visions

of maternal hope and affection, her son had already fallen a victim to the mortality of the climate.

CHAPTER XIV.

OF HANS FRANCIS, ELEVENTH AND PRESENT EARL OF HUNTINGDON.

HANS FRANCIS, present Earl of Huntingdon, and eleventh in succession of the noble family of Hastings to that ancient title, is fourth and only surviving son of Colonel George Hastings, and was born in the parish of St. Mary-le-bone, London, on the 14th of August, 1779. When he was about eight years old, the late Earl Fran'cis, his predecessor, placed him on the foundation of Repton school, where he remained for three years, at the expiration of which the present Marquis of Hastings had him removed to Betsworth Academy, at Chelsea, in order to fit him for the important profession of the navy. We shall briefly follow his Lordship's progress in this arduous calling, through twelve years of almost incessant service, during which he bore a part in many of the most brilliant naval exploits achieved within that period, not without meriting the approbation and esteem of his superior officers, besides the additional testimony of some honourable scars. Having completed the usual preparatory course of study at Betsworth Academy, he was placed, early in the year 1793, just about the commencement of the late eventful war, under the immediate protection of Sir John Borlase Warren, who, at that time, commanded the Flora frigate, thirty-six guns, fitting at Deptford. Sir John sailed soon after from Spithead, together with the Inconstant, Captain Montgomery, as convoy to the Lisbon and Oporto fleets; and, during a cruise taken in the in

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