were prevented from landing by an heavy gale blowing in to the shore. On the 1st of July the fleet returned to St.

Helen's.

This expedition was soon followed by another, in which Prince Edward*, afterwards Duke of York, was appointed to go, that he might form himself for the service of his country, by contemplating the many virtues of his brave and renowned commander. Prince Edward arrived at Portsmouth on the 24th of July, and embarked on board the Essex, Commodore Howe's flag ship. He came from the dock yard in the Essex's twelve oared barge, attended by Lord George Sackville, and Admiral Holburne. His Royal Highness went through all the detail of a midshipman's duty with the utmost cheerfulness.

On the 1st of August 1758, the fleet set sail from St. Helen's, and on the 6th in the evening came to an anchor in the Bay of Cherbourgh. A few shells were thrown into the town that night. In this expedition the town was taken, and the bason totally destroyed; together with all the forts in the neighbourhood; and about twenty pieces of brass cannon were secured on board the English ships. A small contribution was levied upon the town. This service being happily performed, the fleet set sail for the coast of England, and anchored in the road of Weymouth, under the high land of Portland.

Commodore Howe next sailed towards St. Maloes. By his secret instructions he was ordered to keep the coast of France in continual alarm; to make descents, and attack any place, that might be found practicable, between the east point of Normandy and Morlaix.

Whilst the fleet was bringing to, the commodore with Prince Edward, went off in his barge to reconnoitre the shore. As soon as the troops were landed, it became evident that the design, however boldly planned, was impracticable. The bay of St. Lunaire is so extremely rocky, that it was

In June 1759 His Royal Highness was appointed commander of the Phoenix, a new ship of 44 guns.

necessary to separate the fleet from the land forces. The commodore therefore moved to the more secure bay of St. Cas, about three leagues to the westward.

In the midst of the carnage, which took place on the retreat of the British troops from thence; in the midst of a fire that staggered the bravest seaman, Commodore Howe exhibited a noble instance of fortitude. He ordered his barge to be rowed through the thickest of the fire; and standing up, encouraged the men by his voice and attitude. As many as his own boat could possibly contain were repeatedly taken in. The rest of the fleet, inspired by such an example, shewed by their actions, that it was not given in vain. About 700 men were by this means saved, who would otherwise have been destroyed. It was a service attended with the utmost peril and personal risk :-in several of the boats, ten or twelve men, out of twenty, were killed; and, in one of them, sixteen with a lieutenant.

In the month of July in this year (1758), Commodore Howe lost his brother, Lord Howe. That brave officer was killed in a skirmish between the advanced guard of the French, and the troops commanded by General Abercrombie, in the expedition against Ticonderago. "Like his "brother, he was the first*," says the historian, "to endure "hunger, and to support fatigue. His officers and soldiers

readily obeyed the commander, because they loved the "man. It adds, indeed, to the glory of such a death, and "to the consolation of his country; that we still possess "the heir of his titles, his fortunes, and virtues; whilst we "tremble to see the same virtues exposing themselves to the "same dangers +.

Commodore Howe, now about thirty-three years of age, succeeded to the distinction and property of his family. At

• Dodsley's Annual Register, 1758. See also the affecting address of Lady Howe to the Freeholders of the County of Nottingham on her Son's Death. + An appropriate article, published in the public prints about this time, entitled Ship News for the Year, shews in what high estimation Lord Howe was always held by the nation at large-" Remain in the harbour, with his "Majesty's ships, as per last, the True Briton, Captain Granby; the Friend's Goodwill, Barington; and the HEART OF OAK-HOWE.”

this period he was Baron of Clonawly in Ireland, and an English baronet. On the 10th of March (1758) he married Mary, daughter of Chiverton Hartop, Esq. of Welby, in the county of Leicester. His issue by this lady is Lady Sophia Charlotte, married to the Honourable Pen Asheton Curzon, eldest son of Lord Curzon, who is lately dead; Lady Mary Indiana; and Lady Louisa Catharine, married to the present Earl of Altamont.

In the following year (1759) his lordship was employed in the Channel, on board his old ship the Magnanime; having immediately, on his return into port, removed to her from the Essex. No particular opportunity offered to distinguish himself, until the month of November, at the memorable defeat of the Marquis de Conflans. On his arrival in England, being introduced to the late king, by Sir Edward Hawke, his Majesty thus expressed his high opinion of his conduct: "Your life, my Lord, has been a continued "series of services to your country."

On the 22d of March 1760, he was appointed Colonel of the Chatham division of Marines. In September, he was ordered by Sir E. Hawke, in the Magnanime, with the Bedford and Prince Frederic, to reduce the French fort on the Isle of Dumet. It surrendered after a slight resistance; and a considerable expence by this acquisition was saved the nation, in the article of transports employed to carry water for the use of the squadron.

During the year 1761, no particular mention is made of his Lordship out of the ordinary routine of service. In 1762 he commanded, in turn with Sir Thomas Stanhope, the squadron stationed in Basque Road, and off the coast of France. Towards the middle of the summer he removed into the Princess Amelia, of 80 guns, having accepted the command, as captain to His Royal Highness the Duke of York, Rear Admiral of the Blue; serving as second in command under Sir E. Hawke in the Channel.

Colonel Hartop, we believe, was for some time Governor of Plymouth.

On the 23d of August 1763*, his Lordship was appointed to the Board of Admiralty; a station, which he continued to hold, through two commissions, until the 30th of August 1765. He was then made Treasurer of the Navy; and, on the 18th of October 1770, when he resigned this post, as well as his Colonelship of Marines, was promoted Rear Admiral of the Blue, and Commander + in chief in the Mediterranean. He experienced no farther advancement until the 31st of March 1775, when he was appointed Rear Admiral of the White; and, on the general election, which took place in the same year, was chosen member for the borough of Dartmouth. On the 7th of December 1775, according to the Admiralty List, he was made Vice Admiral of the Blue.

We now come to a very critical and important part of his Lordship's life; his conduct during the American war. Much as we wish to dwell on it, we are obliged, from the nature of our work, and the attention we have already paid to this distinguished veteran, to be concise. Faithful and upright as have been all his actions; there was a time, when ignorance, or party rage, endeavoured to hurt his reputation as a seaman, his honour as a man, and his loyalty as a British subject.

His Lordship was nominated commander in chief of the fleet to be employed on the American station, soon after his promotion of Vice Admiral of the Blue. Having hoisted his flag on board the Eagle of 64 guns, equipped for him, he arrived off Halifax on the 1st of July 1776. Every enterprize § in which the fleet was concerned, was uniformly successful; every undertaking, that was proposed by the general on shore, was warmly supported by the fleet. The conquest of

• Charnock's B'og. Nav.

+ It was in consequence of this, that Lord Hawke, then First Lord of the Admiralty, rose in the house and said—“ I advised his Majesty to make the "appointment. I have tried my Lord Howe on important occasions: he "never asked me how he was to execute any service, but always went and " performed it."

In 1771, Lord Howe's flag was flying on board the Barfleur. § Charnock's Biog. Nav.

New York, of Rhode Island, of Philadelphia, of every settlement within the power or reach of a naval force, are irrefragable proofs of his abilities and attention.

In the year 1778*, France having become a party in the war, in direct contradiction to all its declarations to our court, D'Estaing appeared on the 11th of July, unexpectedly, in sight of the British fleet at Sandy Hook, with a large force of line of battle ships in complete condition; and this squadron was said to have no less than 11,000 men on board. Most of the ships under Lord Howe had been long on service, and were wretchedly manned, with no line of battle ships of the present day. The terror, however, of the British flag, and the very name of its noble commander, staggered the resolution of D'Estaing, who continued seven days inactive at anchor about seven miles without the Hook; until the exertions of Lord Howe had taken their full effect, and the judicious, defensive dispositions, which he had made, were completed.

On D'Estaing's leaving the Hook, Lord Howe heard of the danger of Rhode Island, and attempted every thing that was possible for its preservation. He put to sea on the 9th of August, and arrived off the island the same evening. In his subsequent conduct he determined to act on the defensive: the safety of his whole fleet, and consequently of all the British dominions in America depended on the event. Thus with honour to himself, and advantage to his country, did this distinguished naval commander bring the campaign, with his powerful adversary, to a conclusion. With an inferiority of force, which held out mere preservation as the summit of hope; he, by a continued and rapid succession of the greatest possible exertions, masterly manoeuvres, and judicious measures; having first counteracted, and at length defeated, all the views and attempts of his enemy, obliged him to fly for refuge to those new allies, whom he came to protect.

On the 29th of January 1778, Lord Howe was made Vice Admiral of the White; and on the 19th of March raised to the same rank in the red squadron.