of war then, expected from the Havannah, with the late Governor Brancioforte, of Mexico, and treasure to the amount of five million of dollars. It appears from subse. quent accounts, that the Ship on board of which the Governor intended to take his passage, was detained that year at the Havannab; and only two frigates, freighted with a very considerable sum, hazarded the voyage. An instance, however, occurred, of the necessity of always sending a boat on board to examine Strange Ships, which must make a lasting impression on the minds of our professional readers: during the night, these two Spanish frigates, richly laden, actually sailed into the centre of the British Fleet, then at anchor off Cadiz under the command of Lord St. Vincent, (forming the blockade of a very superior Spanish Fleet in that port,) and gained the information they so much wanted, respecting the bearing of the land, which they had not then made, The officer of the watch in, the Ville de Paris, that answered their questions, believed they were Venetian ships; but the next day, being still in sight, the Irresistible, who was ordered to chase in that quarter, brought them to action in Conil Bay, near Cadiz, when La Elena, of 36 guns, containing the greater part of the treasure, was destroyed; and La Niassa, of the same force, which during the night and morning had landed a large sum of money, was taken. After a cruise of six weeks Lord Hugh returned to Spithead, having during that period sailed nearly 5000 miles.

Towards the end of the year (1798) his Lordship resigned his seat at the Admiralty Board, which he had held since the 4th of March 1795, and resumed his situation as a junior admiral in the Western Squadron. In the month of July (1799) the Sans Pareil, formed one of the detachment commanded by Rear Admiral Pole, who made a spirited attack on the Spanish ships, in Basque Roads, under the protection of the Isle of Aix: particulars of this event

* Consisting of the Royal George, Sans Pareil, Venerable, Renown, and Robust. The Boadicea, St. Fiorenzo, and Urania frigates; with three bombs, their tenders, and several small cutters.

have been given in our present volume*, from the notes of a correspondent, who was on board.

In the month of August, Lord Hugh arrived in the West Indies; and immediately, as report says, proceeded with his squadron to take possession of the Dutch settlement of Surinam his old ship the Sans Pareil, now in Torbay, is soon expected to join him.

We have now traced the outline of this Admiral's life; and we trust with correctness, and impartiality. An officer, who has long served under him, thus remarks:-" His Lordship possesses a suavity of manners to the crew, that conciliates their esteem, yet at the same time an air of dignity that precludes familiarity. His zeal for the service is unremitting; his attention to his men impartial and uniform as a Patron, his discernment has raised many officers in the Service, who must otherwise have been lost in obscure stations. He possesses not only the spirit of a Seaman, but his mildness; and is justly placed by Professional Men among the best Officers in the Service. To this character we shall only add; that if the Noble Admiral wishes to be esteemed, rather for the innate virtues of a BRITISH SEAMAN than for "the boast of heraldry, and pomp of power"-in a word, if he is anxious, that the Right Honourable Lord Hugh Seymour, should preserve that animated regard, which all who knew him, felt for HUGH CONWAY, he will keep constantly in mind, the advice of one, who sounded all the depths and shoals of Honour:

Cromwell! I charge thee, fling away ambition;
by that sin fell the Angels; how can man then,

The image of his Maker, hope to win by't?

Love thyself last; cherish those hearts that hate thee!
Corruption wins not more than Honesty.

Still in thy right hand carry gentle Peace,

To silence envious tongues. Be just, and fear not!
Let all the ends thou aim'st at be thy Country's,
Thy God's, and Truth's!

* Page 252.

Lord Hugh is the fifth son of the Marquis of Hertford, and was born the 29th of April 1759.-Besides Dr. Brackyn's school, he went to an academy kept by Mr. Ellard. The number of naval men brought up at Dr. Brackyn's is astonishing: it seems as if a naval spirit had pervaded it-Admirals Spry, Finch, Capt. S. Finch, G. Berkeley, and Capt. Windsor, who so much distinguished himself last war, were among the number. Lord Hugh was also at an academy in France, probably during his father's embassy to that court. His Lordship, whilst a midshipman, was under the present Admiral Mann, then in the Mediterranean.-On his return from Gibraltar in the Bienfaisant, he was advanced commander.

ARMS OF THE FAMILY OF HERTFORD.

Quarterly, first and fourth, sable, on a bend, cottized, Argent; a rose between two annulets, Gules, for Conway, two and three quarters are quarterly, viz. one, and four, Or; on a pile, Gules between six fleurs de lis, Azure; three lions passant, guardant, Or, being a coat of augmentation, second and third Gules; two wings conjoined in lure, Or, for Seymour.

FAMILY CREST.] On a wreath, the bust of a Moor, side faced, couped, proper; and wreathed about the temples, Argent and Azure. SUPPORTERS.] Two Moors, each wreathed as the crest, holding in their exterior arms a shield, Azure, garnished, Or; the dexter charged with the sun in its glory, the other with a crescent, Argent, MOTTO-Fide et amore.

CHIEF SEATS.] Ragley, Warwickshire, and Conway, near Sudbury, Suffolk. Lisburne in Ireland.

DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XX.

POSITION of the Van Squadron of the British Fleet, at the

close of the glorious action on the First of June 1794. Taken from the windward side.

The object of this sketch is to represent his Majesty's ship Leviathan, commanded by the Right Honourable Lord Hugh Seymour, in the exact situation in which she appeared after a most desperate engagement with L'Amerique; the latter had veered, with the intention of hauling her wind, to escape; which in attempting to effect, all her masts went by the board; she is accordingly thus introduced, with the Leviathan on her larboard quarter, giving a last broadside. The Russell, Captain J. W. Payne, is seen ahead of L'Amerique, totally disabled in her rigging, engaging a French ship of the Line, which was edging down to join the French Van.-On the left is the Royal Sovereign, Admiral Graves, totally disabled both in her sails and rigging, having engaged a Three Decker, which she drove out of the Line. The wind about S. S. W.

Wol. II.

3 D