was promoted to be rear-admiral of the blue; and soon after to the same rank in the white. In February, 1793, he was raised to be vice-admiral of the blue. In the month of February, 1794, he accepted the command of a squadron equipped for the West Indies, and destined to act in conjunction with a formidable land force, sent thither at the same time, under Sir Charles Grey, against the French settlements in that quarter. See vol. 111. page 295.

In June, 1795, he was made vice-admiral of the white; soon after which, he was appointed to command in chief on the Mediterranean station, as successor to Admiral Hotham; but nothing beyond the usual routine of service took place during the first year of his command. Sir John quitted the Mediterranean, and repaired to Lisbon, to watch the motions of the Spanish fleet then fitting out at Cadiz. Such was his situation when, early on the morning of February 14, 1797, being then off Cape St. Vincent's the Spanish fleet was discovered by the British squadron. Its force was tremendously formidable, amounting to twenty-seven sail of the line, while that under the orders of Sir John amounted only to fifteen. A full account of this brilliant victory, the reader will find in p. 83-93. Ill health, occasioned by excessive watchfulness and anxiety in the discharge of his duty, having obliged the noble admiral to quit the command, he resigned it on the 23d of June, 1799, to Vice-admiral Lord Keith, and arrived at Spithead on the 18th of August, in the Argo frigate, Captain Bowen. On his landing the mayor and corporation of Portsmouth waited on his lordship, and, with an appropriate speech, presented him with the freedom of the town: and he had besides the satisfac

tion to receive the general applause of his countrymen. After a long struggle with disease, his lordship had the happiness to recover his health to such an extent, as to be able to take upon himself the command of the channel fleet. On the 20th of April, 1800, he hoisted his flag on board the Namur, and sailed with the rest of the fleet in order to blockade Brest. His lordship continued to hold this important station till the 21st of February, 1801, when, being appointed to one still higher, that of first lord of the admiralty, he was succeeded by the honourable Admiral Cornwallis.

SIR JAMES SAUMAREZ

IS descended of a Norman family which followed the fortunes of duke William, and finally settled in Guernsey, was born in that island in the year 1757, and in 1770 entered as a midshipman on board the Montreal, under the command of Captain Alms. In the year 1776, he distinguished himself under Commodore Sir Peter Parker, on board the Bristol, in an attack on Fort Sullivan, on the 28th of June, and was the next day promoted by that officer to the rank of lieutenant, and appointed to the Spitfire, an armed cutter. The galley being afterwards burnt to prevent her falling into the hands of the enemy, Lieutenant Saumarez had the mortification of being obliged to leave the scene of action. In company with other officers, similarly situated, he returned to England, in the Leviathan. Shortly after his arrival, he was appointed one of the lieutenants of the

Victory. Removing thence with the Fortitude, in qua lity of second lieutenant, he gained new laurels in the battle off the Dogger-bank. In this action, Captain Græme, having lost an arm, lieutenant Saumarez was nominated to the Preston, after seeing which safe into port, he was promoted to the rank of master and commander, and appointed to the Tisiphone, a fire-ship. Being sent by Admiral Kempenfelt to Sir Samuel Hood, then commanding in the West Indies, with an account of an attack upon the French fleet, as well as intelligence of the strength and approach of the enemy, he was, by the latter officer, when only twenty-four years of age, appointed to the command of the Russel, of seventy-four guns. On board the Russel he was in the van division on the 12th of April, 1782. During the peace which commenced in 1783, he spent a less noisy, but not a less active life, and took a leading part in the establishment of Sunday schools. In 1788, he married Miss Martha Le Merchant, a lady to whom he had been long attached, and of whom those who knew her speak with admiration. By this lady, he has one son and four daughters. In 1787 he was appointed to the Ambuscade frigate; in 1790 to the Raisonable; and in January, 1793, to the Crescent frigate. Being appointed to the Orion, of seventy-four guns, his activity and military virtues were displayed on many occasions, as our preceding pages will testify. We cannot help relating an anecdote which does high credit to his heart and understanding. During the mutiny which unfortunately spread from the Nore to the fleet under earl St. Vincent, the Orion continued perfectly free from discontent. Sir James even ventured to receive on board that ship, in the hope of reform, one of the most violent of the mutineers, but a

most excellent and intrepid seaman and ship's carpenter, who was to be tried upon the capital charge. The seasonable admonitions of Sir James, and his paternal attention to the man's feelings, wrought so complete a change, that, from the most obdurate of rebels, he became one of the most loyal of his sailors. A few days after he got on board, the signal was made for the boats of each ship to be manned and armed, to witness the execution of four mutineers. On this occasion, Sir James sent for the carpenter into his cabin, and after expostulating with him on the heinousness of his crime, he assured him that he would save him the anguish of beholding his companions in guilt suffer for, an offence in which he himself had been a sharer, and possibly the cause. This exhortation had the desired effect. The man fell upon his knees bathed in tears; uttered the strongest protes tations of loyalty to his king and of attachment to his commanders; and his subsequent conduct did not disgrace his promises. At the battle of the Nile he was captain of a gun, and in that situation greatly distinguished himself: after the action he was very instrumental in saving the Peuple Souverain from foundering. His courage as a seaman and skill as a carpenter, fitted him for watching the rolls of the ship, and stopping the shot-holes under water; and for this purpose, he was for several days slung over her side.-Proceeding from Aboukir to Gibraltar, with his prizes, and injured British ships, he was thence ordered to Lisbon, on his way to Plymouth, where he arrived at the end of November, 1798, and where the Orion, being in want of considerable repair, was paid off in the beginning of July, Sir James now enjoyed a short interval of repose, but on the 14th of February he received a com

1799.

mission of colonel in the marines, and was appointed to the Cæsar, of eighty four guns. In this ship Sir James performed, during sixteen weeks, in the latter end of the year, the perilous service of remaining on a station off the Black Rocks, at the entrance of Brest harbour. On the 1st of January, 1801, Sir James Saumarez was promoted to be a flag officer, and soon after created a baronet. Early in June, 1801, he took the command of a squadron distinguished to blockade Cadiz.

In June, 1803, Sir James was stationed off Guern.sey, where an attack from the French was apprehended, and where he made the most judicious arrangement of his squadron. He enjoys from government, in consideration of his many very meritorious services, a pension of 12001. a year.

SIR WILLIAM SYDNEY SMITH

IS the eldest son of Captain Smith, (an officer in the army and who served at Minden, and afterwards enjoyed a situation in the royal household,) and was born about the year 1764. He received the first rudiments of his education at Tunbridge school, and was afterwards placed under the tuition of Mr. Morgan, at Bath. In 1777 be commenced his maritime career. In 1782 he was made commander, and on the 7th of May, 1783, a post captain. On his last elevation, he was commissioned to the Nemesis; but a peace having taken place, the Nemesis was dismantled, and a rupture seeming