Hotham then took command of the ship . On 5 November 1810 he recaptured the "Zodiac", and on the 9th captured the "Venus". On 22 November 1810, he captured the French privateer ketch "Glaneuse", of 14 guns and 85 men, after a two-day pursuit, after preventing her from capturing a British packet ship. On 4 April 1811 he destroyed two chasse-marées, but not before removing 63 casks of wine from them. In 1812 Hotham was serving under Rear-Admiral Sir Harry Neale off Ushant, and was sent by him to cruise off l'Orient, to intercept three expected French vessels. In the ensuing action on 22 May "Northumberland", assisted by the gun-brig "Growler", encountered the French frigates and , both of 44 guns and 450 men, and the brig "Mameluke", of 18 guns and 150 men, near the island of Groix. Hotham skilfully manoeuvred his ship so as to force the enemy to ground themselves. "Northumberland" then opened a steady fire at point-blank range until the ships were abandoned and burning.