still he continued active in directions and bold in conflict, until a French officer pierced his breast. Thus doubly wounded, he closed upon this antagonist and disarmed him. He had only strength to put the sword wrested from the Frenchman into the hands of Sir Sidney Smith, when he sunk, exhausted with the loss of blood, into the arms of a soldier. From the field of battle, already red with victory, he was conveyed on board the flagship of Admiral Keith, where he lingered in great agony for a week. Every effort to extract the ball proved vain; mortification ensued, and on the evening of the 28th he expired universally lamented.

It has already been mentioned that the French, on their way to Africa, had seized upon Malta, and that Abercrombie had also recaptured the island in his progress to repel the invasion. Thither his remains were escorted by his aid-de-camps, and interred, with the highest military honours, beneath the castle of St. Elmo. At home his loss was strongly felt, and his memory crowned with the highest honours. Besides the public tribute of a monument in St. Paul's, his wife was created a baroness, with remainder to his issue male; and a pension of 2000l. a year was voted by parliament to support the dignity. Throughout his career, brave and honourable as any upon record, and in the circumstances of a death not to be exceeded in glory, the memory of Sir Ralph Abercrombie is enrolled in the annals of his country and held sacred by her soldiers.

An interesting account is given in "Chambers' Edinburgh Journal" of the fate of the horse which bore Sir Ralph Abercrombie at his last field in Egypt. "This animal, an Arabian of great beauty, came into the hands of an officer of high rank,

who, for many years, cherished him with great care. At length, when he had become old and infirm, it was judged proper that he should retire from active service, and he was transferred to a gentleman who conducts an extensive business as an army-agent in London, by whom he was sent down to Scotland in August, 1822, under the care of one of the attendants of George IV., then visiting his northern kingdom. In Edinburgh our Arabian was taken in charge by the father of the gentleman above mentioned, who conducted him to a country residence which he then occupied in the county of Ayr. He survived for several years, and was now and then ridden by his kind and benevolent keeper; but at length accident put an end to his days, and under somewhat extraordinary circumstances. One fine frosty morning, as he was parading the park at Craigingillan house, a sound as of distant musquetry struck upon his ear, and threw him into an attitude expressive of great excitement. The noise in reality proceeded from a 'curling rink' at some distance, the stones employed in that cheerful winter game often striking upon each other with such force as to seem like the report of fire-arms. Evidently fancying that he heard anew the battle sounds of his early days, the poor creature started off in a frantic state towards the spot from which the noise proceeded. He leapt at the park-gate, but, alas! his former strength was gone, and he tore himself dreadfully by the pikes which surmounted the uppermost bar. Nevertheless, he made his way to the ice, where he reeled and fell. He was brought back to the park, and treated with the greatest care; but the injury he had received was irreparable at his advanced age, and he soon after died."

AGAINST one of the great piers, opposite the north door of St. Paul's, is placed the monument voted by parliament, and executed by Sir R. Westmacott, to Admiral Lord Duncan, who is represented standing sword in hand, with his boat-cloak thrown about him. It is a manly, natural, and expressive statue, and highly creditable to the artist. The inscription is brief and unostentatious :

Erected at the public expense
to the memory of
ADAM LORD VISCOUNT DUNCAN,

as a testimony of his distinguished eminence in the naval service of his country; and as a particular memorial of the glorious and important victory which he gained over the Dutch fleet, on the 11th of October, 1797. He died on the 4th of August, 1804.

Adam, son of Alexander Duncan, Esq., of Lundie, in Forfarshire, was born July 1, 1731, at Dundee, in which town he also received the first rudiments of his education. It is related of him,

that even in his earliest infancy he developed in a remarkable degree that mildness of manner, and suavity of temper, which so happily distinguished him through all the difficult stages of his eminent life. When sixteen years old, he set out from home in the carrier's cart, and entered the navy under Captain Robert Haldene, on board the Shoreham frigate, in which he served for three years. When hostilities had ceased with France, he passed still as a midshipman to the Centurion, of fifty guns, carrying the broad pendant of Commodore Keppel, then commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean station. Remaining under this admiral during the customary period of three years, he so attracted his notice, by his cheerful attention to discipline, that an attachment was formed between them, which lasted without abatement while Keppel lived.

In January, 1755, the British government having resolved to despatch General Bradock, at the head of a strong military force, to resist the encroachments of the French upon our North American territories, Keppel was chosen to convoy the

transports, and it was to him that Duncan more directly owed his employment on this service, and his promotion to the rank of lieutenant. Before long, an urgent representation to the Admiralty from the same quarter led to his being nominated to the Norwich, a fourth-rate. After the arrival of the armament on the shores of Virginia, two of the lieutenants on board of the commodore's ship were made captains, and Duncan got into the Centurion, by which he secured a near prospect of promotion, and enjoyed the society and counsel of his patron. In this ship he served until Keppel shifted his flag into the Torbay, when he also was drafted into the latter vessel, with the rank of second-lieutenant. Three years passed away, during which he was uninterestingly engaged on the home station. At last he obtained active service, by being attached to the expedition against the French settlement of Goree, on the coast of Africa. At the engagement which took place upon attacking the fort there, he distinguished himself by his bravery, and was slightly wounded. While on this enterprise he was made first-lieutenant of the Torbay, in which he returned to England.

Becoming a commander in 1759, he succeeded to the Violent, of seventy-four guns, with the flag of post-captain, in 1761. In this ship he was again associated with his original friend and patron, whose broad pendant he carried in the expedition against Belleisle. A more formidable armament was soon after sent out against the Havannah, where Captain Duncan, again in the same ship with Keppel, was appointed to cover the disembarkation of the troops, and enjoyed several opportunities of displaying his activity and courage. When the town surrendered, he had the honourable duty of taking possession of the Spanish ships, which became the prizes of victory.

The object of the expedition being thus accomplished, Keppel was rewarded with the command of the Jamaica station, and Duncan still accompanied him. The conclusion of the war recalled both officers to England, where Duncan remained inactive until hostilities recommenced against France in 1778. He was then gazetted to the command of the Suffolk, of seventy-four guns; but was soon after re-appointed to the Monarch, a ship of the same rate. The courts-martial which were soon after held upon Admiral Keppel and Sir Hugh Palliser were as much political as naval incidents, and need not be here described: it is sufficient to observe, that Duncan sat upon them both, and being neither biassed by nor interested in those party feelings from which they took their origin, he was enabled to discharge his duty with satisfaction to his own principles, and with impartiality to the officers concerned.

During the summer of the year 1779, the Monarch was uninterruptedly employed with the main channel fleet, commanded by Admiral Sir Charles Hardy, which, it may be remembered, never once came into contact with the enemy, in consequence of the paramount superiority of their combined fleets. At the conclusion of the year, the Monarch was one of the vessels appointed to aid Sir George Rodney in the relief of Gibraltar; and Duncan greatly distinguished himself in the action with Don Juan de Langara, off Cape St. Vincent. On that occasion the Monarch was destitute of an advantage (that of being sheeted with copper) pos

sessed by many of the other ships in our fleet; but notwithstanding this, and her evident foulness and heaviness, Duncan had the honour of being the first to begin the action in her. While thus dashing hastily on before all the coppered ships, he was warned of the danger he ran, but replied with the utmost coolness, "I fear nothing, and wish to be among them." It is pleasant to have to add, that his intrepidity was fully gratified: he began the fight with a Spanish ship, much weightier and longer than his own, and, about a moment after, two others of equal magnitude approached within musquet-shot on his leeward side; but he maintained his situation with so much steadiness and gallantry, that the latter vessels soon after sheered off. His first opponent prolonged the fight for no great length of time, and then struck her colours. She proved to be the St. Augustin, of seventy-four guns; but the Monarch was so disabled in her rigging, that Duncan was obliged to resign the satisfaction of taking possession to a ship astern. Nevertheless he remained in action, and encountered several other vessels, until the victory was complete throughout the lines. In one material sense he lost the legitimate reward of his exertions; for the wind blew so strong, and the sea ran so high, that the St. Augustin was abandoned, and her crew succeeded in towing her into Cadiz.

Returning with the squadron to England, he soon quitted the Monarch, and was left without employment until the year 1782, when he was nominated to the Blenheim, of ninety guns, which was fresh from the dock. In this ship he remained constantly attached to the main channel fleet until the conclusion of the war. He proceeded to Gibraltar with Lord Howe in September, and was prominently engaged in the encounter which took place off the mouth of the Straits, in which he led the larboard division of the centre or commander-in-chief's squadron.

Hostilities ceased in 1783, and about the same time Duncan went on board the Edgar, a seventyfour gun ship, stationed at Portsmouth, where, according to the usual custom, he commanded for three years.

On the 14th of September, 1787, he was made rear-admiral of the blue, and on the 22nd of the same month, in the year 1790, advanced to the same honour in the white squadron. He was raised to vice-admiral of the blue in February, 1793; and on the 12th of April, in the following year, was gazetted vice-admiral of the white. Again, on the 1st of June, 1795, he became admiral of the blue; and, lastly, was made admiral of the white on the 14th of February, 1799. During the periods intervening between these promotions, remarkable as it may appear, his merits were overlooked, or, perhaps, were purposely neglected; for although he frequently solicited, he never once succeeded in obtaining a command. The effect of such marked disregard, if any credit is to be allowed to current assertion, was a determination upon his part to retire from a profession in which he seemed only destined to mortification, and accept of a civil appointment; but, fortunately for himself and his country, he found difficulties in the way when he endeavoured to negociate the change. At length, in February, 1795, he was constituted commanderin-chief over the North Seas,-the limits of his

authority extending from the North Foreland to Ultima Thule, or as far as the operations of the enemy or the facilities of nature could carry him. He hoisted his flag on board the Prince George, of ninety-eight guns, but removed into the Venerable, of seventy-four guns, as a more fitting vessel, and sailed forthwith from Chatham. Nothing particular occurred to him in this command until the summer of 1797, when the mutiny which broke out at first and more quietly in the channel fleet, and afterwards more violently in that of the Nore, extended its insubordination to the North Seas. On this occasion the conduct of Admiral Duncan was marked by peculiar forbearance and resolution. Visiting every ship in person, his exertions for a short time allayed the discontent of the sailors : but the disorder was checked, not suppressed, and soon burst out again. The fleet now lay in Yarmouth Roads preparatory to a voyage, and the proper signal was made for the Trent frigate to get under weigh. It was not obeyed; and Duncan, upon inquiring, was told that the crew peremptorily refused to obey their officers. The excuse offered for this conduct was, that the regulations recently introduced for the weight and measure of provisions in the navy had not been carried into execution; and this, it would appear, was in point of fact true. On the other hand, the cause of this apparent neglect was, that the ordinance had been so recently passed that it was found impossible to introduce it either simultaneously or expeditiously throughout so bulky an establishment. Be this as it may, it is worthy of remark, that the insubordination was not without its provocation. Unfortunately the explanation produced no effect upon the mutineers, who continued refractory, and reiterated their determination not to sail. At this crisis Duncan called his own crew to the quarterdeck of the Venerable, and told them that he meant to proceed in his boat in the morning to the Trent, and compel the crew to return to their duty; and asked his men if there were any of them who, upon such an occasion, would forsake him. One and all seemed eager to assure him of support. This intrepidity produced the desired effect. He went on board the Trent; the crew submitted, were pardoned, and the ship proceeded on her voyage without any further delay.

The whole fleet now stationed itself at the back of the sands in expectation of reinforcements; but here again the bad spirit so recently allayed rose again, and displayed a still stronger influence. The men of the Nassau and Montague were the first to declare their disaffection, and ultimately made off to the mutineers at the Nore. The Venerable and Adamant alone remained true to their officers, and with them Admiral Duncan was forced to gain the Texel, and resort to stratagem, in a most critical conjuncture, as the only means of compensating for disaffection of so large a portion of his fleet. He kept making a number of signals as if to ships in the offing, and is said to have thus deceived the Dutch admiral into a supposition that a superior force lay in the distance. At this very moment there is reason to believe that symptoms of a mutiny made its appearance even in his own ship. A plot was discovered, and the admiral, as was usual with him, ordered all hands immediately on deck. Addressing himself in the firmest but coolest terms to six men, who had been denounced

as ringleaders: "My lads," said he, "I am not in the smallest degree afraid of any violence you may have in contemplation; and though I assure you I would much rather gain your love than your resentment, I will with my own hand put to death the first person who perseveres in displaying the slightest symptom of rebellious conduct." Then turning round to one of them, he asked, "Do you, sir, want to take the command of this ship out of my hands?" "I do, sir," sturdily replied the sailor. Duncan raised his arm, and would have plunged his sword into the man's breast, but the chaplain restrained the blow. Summary punishment having been thus intercepted, he did not offer to repeat it, but exclaimed, with some agitation, "Let all who will stand by me and my officers pass over immediately to the starboard, that we may see who are our friends and our opponents." In an instant every man, save the six alluded to, ran over to the spot he had pointed out. The culprits were immediately seized and thrown into irons; but after having been confined to the gunroom, they were liberated one by one upon evincing such signs of contrition as satisfied their humane commander.

From this instance of forbearance, such as many disciplinarians have condemned, and but few could have the strength of mind to practise, we pass to the event which immortalized the name of Duncan —this was the battle with the Dutch fleet off Camperdown. The enemy had for some time been in a complete state of equipment: their force comprised fifteen ships of the line, six frigates, and three sloops of war: the wind was all along favourable to their weighing anchor, and nothing but the skill of the British admiral had hitherto kept them in port. At length, with a view of greater annoyance, the Venerable and Adamant were laid with springs to their cables close by the mouth of the Texel, which was so narrow as to permit the egress of only one ship at a time. For three days and nights the crews stood at their quarters in momentary expectation of an attack, but a sudden change of the wind made any movement upon the part of the British impracticable: the Dutch, meantime, remained stationary. A reinforcement of two ships, the Russel and Sans Pareil, came up to Duncan at this opportune conjuncture, and a further accession of strength being obtained immediately after, all fears of danger from disparity of numbers were allayed.

Much against his inclination the commander-inchief was now obliged to return to port, and there re-victual. As soon as he disappeared, the Dutch admiral, urged by the representations of his government, ventured to put to sea, and, though little emboldened by a hope of success, sailed into the Channel. Duncan's activity, however, was equal to the occasion. Orders had preceded him to Yarmouth for the preparation of every necessary he desired. Transports were ready to supply him upon his arrival, and in eight days he was again upon the ocean. His ship was the Venerable. At seven o'clock on the morning of October 11, 1797, the headmost ships made signal of having discovered the enemy, and after a pursuit of three hours the English succeeded in the bold manoeuvre of breaking their lines. Thus cut off from their own shores, a glorious combat ensued, which was the more memorable from the irregularity with which

the English were obliged to come into action. The battle began with the Monarch, Vice-Admiral Onslow, who was followed in the space of five minutes by the Venerable. The latter ship was intercepted in her design of coming in contact with the Dutch admiral by the States General, of seventy-four guns, which shot up close upon her. Running, therefore, his helm to port, Duncan came under the stern of his opponent, engaged him close, and soon forced him to break away from the line. The Venerable then drew alongside of the Dutch admiral, De Winter, in the Vryheid, who was powerfully manned, and for some time kept up a heavy fire. At one o'clock the action was general. In about half an hour after, the Hercules, a Dutch ship, of sixty-four guns, caught fire a-head of the Venerable, and drove very near a-head. The battle continued without abatement until three o'clock, when the starboard broadside of the Venerable was fired, and all her opponent's masts came immediately by the board. In half an hour more the Dutchman struck his colours, and the victory was complete. Nine stout ships of the line and two large frigates struck, two more were burnt, and one sunk; and the loss of the enemy in killed and wounded doubled that sustained by the British.

retreated to the enjoyments of domestic life. In this state he remained until the year 1804, when he came up to London with a laudable view of devoting the residue of an active life to the service of his country. His health, however, was unequal to the effort: apoplexy seized him at the Admiralty, and he was obliged to hurry down to his friends in Scotland. A second attack overtook him on the journey, and he died almost immediately after his return at Kelso, in Roxburghshire.

Lord Duncan married a daughter of Mr. Dundas, Lord President of the Court of Session in Scotland, and had a numerous family. William IV. made his eldest son Earl of Camperdown, a name still dear to English sailors, who accord to Admiral Duncan great merit for this action. It stands distinguished from every other battle fought during the war by the bold expedient of running the fleet between the enemy and a lee shore with a strong wind blowing on the land, a mode of attack which none of his predecessors had ever hazarded. The admiral also evinced great judgment in the latter part of the contest, and in extricating his fleet and prizes from a situation so perilous and difficult, while the Dutch sustained all the character of their best days. The battle of Camperdown, indeed, whether we view it as exhibiting the skill and courage of its victor, the bravery of British seamen, or as an event of great political importance, will ever stand conspicuous among the many naval victories that adorn our annals. One of his countrymen says of Duncan, with equal truth and modern history another man in whom, with so much meekness, modesty, and unaffected dignity of mind, were united so much genuine spirit, so much of the skill and fire of professional genius; such vigorous and active wisdom; such alacrity and ability for great achievements, with such indifference for their success, except so far as they might contribute to the good of his country."

The Venerable, having been so much damaged during the engagement as to require a thorough repair, was dismantled in dock, and Lord Duncan, shifting his flag into the Kent, a new ship, of seventy-four guns, forthwith resumed his command. He continued in it until the year 1800, when every appearance of a refitment upon the part of the enemy being removed, his lordship

A SLAB in the crypt of St. Paul's, under the middle aisle, marks the grave of Lord Chancellor Rosslyn, with this plain epitaph :

ALEXANDER WEDDERBURNE, Earl of Rosslyn, Baron Loughborough, Born 13th February, 1733, Died 2nd January, 1805.

Scotland was the birth-place of this eminent lawyer, who was the eldest son of Peter Wedderburne, of Chester Hall, one of the senators of the College of Justice. He was educated at the University of Edinburgh, and called to the Scotch bar in 1754. According to the Scottish Biographical Dictionary, "He was rapidly gaining ground as a junior counsel, when an accident put a sudden stop to his practice in his native courts. He had gained the cause of a client in opposition to the

celebrated Lockhart, when the defeated veteran, unable to conceal his chagrin, took occasion from something in the manner of Mr. Wedderburne to call him a presumptuous boy.' The sarcastic severity of the young barrister's reply drew upon him so illiberal a rebuke from one of the judges, that he immediately unrobed, and, bowing to the court, declared that he would never more plead where he was subjected to insult, but would seek a wider field for his professional exertions. He accordingly removed to London, and enrolled himself a member of the Inner Temple." He was called to the English bar in 1757, and rapidly acquired reputation under the patronage of his countrymen, Earls Bute and Mansfield. He first entered the House of Commons as member for Richmond in Yorkshire, and was made solicitorgeneral in 1771. It was in that office, while arguing a case before the Privy Council on American affairs, that he gave the celebrated Franklin

When

an offence which the philosopher never forgave or forgot. In 1777 he was appointed attorney-general, and in 1780, chief-justice of the Common Pleas, with the title of Lord Loughborough. Mr. Pitt came to power, Lord Loughborough voted with Mr. Fox's party, but left it with Burke and others under the excitement produced by the French Revolution. His adhesion to the minister was rewarded with the high post of lord chancellor upon the retirement of Lord Thurlow in 1793. Upon this occasion his title was raised to an earldom.

As a lawyer, the Earl of Rosslyn was considered able and clever, but plausible; he spoke well, and in general made his cause out effectively. In politics he distinguished himself by no enlarged views, but was esteemed a very serviceable party man. Though mild in his office of attorney-general, he was considered fond of capital punishment; as a common-law judge, Churchill the poet satirized

him as

"A pert, prim prater of the northern race; Guilt in his heart, and famine in his face."

45

an

He was named, one amongst a host, as the writer of Junius's Letters, but is only known as author by a pamphlet, which he produced in 1793, "On the State of the Prisons in England, and the Means of Improving them." According to some accounts, he it was who advised George III. to suppress the London riots, in 1780, by calling out the military. If the anecdote be true, Lord Rosslyn must have been a man of no common judgment and force of character.

He was married, but left no issue. Mrs. Opie, the novelist, has described his appearance, sitting at Nisi Prius, as being so singular, yet so distinguished, that he would have attracted and fixed attention, had nothing of his previous character been known.

"I never," she adds, "saw a human face so much resembling a parrot as his was. The nose appeared to me like a beak, and the nostril was cut up like the beak of a parrot. The ball of the eye was very large and prominent, but the eyes themselves were so dark, bright, expressive, and intellectual, that I soon ceased to remember or notice any other of the features."

CHARLES, MARQUIS

AGAINST the great pier on the left entering the choir of St. Paul's cathedral, stands a massive monument, by Charles Rossi, to the memory of this eminent soldier and statesman. The Marquis, robed as a Knight the Garter, appears standing upon a truncated column, before which are personifications of the British Empire, in Europe and in Asia the figures to the right represent the Begareth and Ganges, rivers in the East. Of these statues, that of the Marquis resembles life, and is so far good; that of Britannia is decidedly awkward and mean; and those of the other deities are striking: but the design of all together is unnatural and inexpressive. The inscription is the following :

To the memory of CHARLES, MARQUIS CORNWALLIS, Governor-General of Bengal, Who died 5th October, 1805, aged 66, at Ghazeepore, in the province of Benares,

In his progress to assume the command of the army in the field;

This monument

is erected at the public expense,

In testimony of his high and distinguished public character;

His long and eminent services, both as a soldier and a statesman;

And the unwearied zeal with which his exertions were employed,

In the last moment of his life, To promote the interest and honour of his country.

Charles Cornwallis, Viscount Browne, descended from a family which traces its lineage to a sheriff of the city of London, in the fourteenth century, and obtained a peerage for loyalty to Charles II. in his exile, was born December 31, 1738. After having been successively a member of Eton school, and

CORNWALLIS, K.G.

St. John's college, Cambridge, he received a stand of colours in his eighteenth year. In 1758 he was made captain, and in 1760 accompanied the Marquis of Granby, in the capacity of aid-de-camp, to the German war, during which he became lieutenantcolonel of the 12th Foot. This was in 1761, and it was during the same year that he sat in the first parliament of George III. as member for Eye, in Suffolk, a borough which had been habitually represented by his family for nearly three centuries. In 1762, the death of his father left him the inheritance of the family titles and estates, and he accordingly took his seat in the Upper House as Earl Cornwallis. Three years after, he was nominated a lord of the bedchamber; in 1766 he received his first regiment, the 33d Foot: and in 1768 married Jemima, the daughter of John Jones, Esq.

When the English ministry took the fatal resolution of deciding by force of arms their pretensions to tax America, the 33d Foot formed a portion of the troops ordered upon foreign service, and Lord Cornwallis prepared to place himself at the head of his regiment. The circumstances under which he departed reflected particular lustre upon his public character: the Countess, who was much attached to him, deprecated the step with passionate tenderness, and, when she found her entreaties unavailing, prevailed upon his uncle, the Archbishop of Canterbury, to obtain an audience with the king, and solicit for him an exemption from the perils of command. The boon was conceded by the monarch, but not accepted by the subject: the Earl embarked with his regiment, under a commendable sense of his own honour and a soldier's duty; and immediately upon his landing, gathered his full share of the distinctions which were gained at the battle of White Plains. Far different was it with his lady at home in sorrow for his absence, and fears for his safety, she fell