blame for the failure of the british mediterranean campaign of 1793–1796 has been apportioned by historians to hotham, in his failure to inflict decisive defeats on the french navy in 1795, and mann for deserting jervis. sir william hamilton, british ambassador to the kingdom of naples, wrote that "i can, "entre nous", perceive that my old friend hotham is not quite awake enough for such a command as that of the king's fleet in the mediterranean." historian c. s. forester criticised "the lack of energy and diligence on the part of [the] british admiral", and noel mostert wrote that "man's actions were beyond all reason. [john] byng was shot for less." french victory in the campaign was due to the prowess of their armies on land, particularly bonaparte's campaigns in italy, and their diplomatic manoeuvering which left britain isolated and outnumbered in the prosecution of the toulon blockade.