ACTION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

After Trafalgar Henry transferred to the frigate HMS Amphion under the command of Captain Hoste, a protégé of Nelson. Henry wrote to his Aunt Georgiana that he had completed navigation, was studying French, and was exercising with muskets.

He had dinner in Gibraltar with the Lieutenant Governor, General Henry Edward Fox. Mrs Marianne Fox was a friend of Georgiana Mason. General Fox, brother of Charles James Fox then the Foreign Secretary, was about to be transferred to Sicily as Commander-in-Chief and Ambassador to the Court of Naples, then at Palermo.

HMS Amphion too was ordered to Italy and took part in the battle of Maida, defeating the French fleet. Henry recorded many exploits in his journal deploying and supporting troops along the Calabrian coast. By October 1806 Henry was back in Messina habour experiencing an earthquake, and writing to Aunt Georgiana that I like the Fox family very well. They do not much like this place.

In February 1807 Amphion was loading stores at Palermo for a four month cruise to harry shipping off Toulon.

After so long at sea in action, Amphion was badly in need of a refit ia British yard. By 17 July she had arrived back at Spithead. Henry was able to take some leave in Bath where he was reunited with his mother for the first time since he had sailed from India, before he was three.

Back to H B Mason Summary Page