hotham had spent the winter patrolling from san fiorenzo, where hms "berwick" was damaged in a gale. while captain littlejohn was still effecting repairs, hotham sailed the fleet to leghorn, leaving "berwick" behind with only jury masts. when "berwick" followed, littlejohn ran directly into martin's fleet, which had sailed for an operation in the gulf of genoa. littlejohn's crippled ship tried to run from the french but was overrun by martin's frigates. at the ensuing action of 7 march 1795 littlejohn was decapitated by cannonfire and "berwick" overwhelmed and captured.