to carry the sloop out. How many an officer have I known to blast all his prospects in the service, after years of hard and meritorous labour, by giving up his situation at the very moment he should have clung to it." There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune." Nelson took the tide of flood; so did St. Vincent, and De Saumarez, Collingwood, Exmouth, and many others in our glorious profession. Where a young person once commits himself to the sea service, he should make up his mind to take whatever may come. Men of fortune and influence may pick and choose, but their career is never glorious; it is only the toujours prêt who turn out the real heroes.

Lord St. Vincent professed a dislike to educating the poor; but he once put £50 into my hand, and said, “ I will thank you to give that to Miss Trelawney, at Somers-town. She is a great advocate for instructing the lower orders of Irish. differ from her; but, as she thinks she can do good with it, let her have it."

I

Lord St.Vincent never sat down to dinner, or saw the cloth removed, without returning thanks, and I never heard any improper or irreligious conversation at his table. Indeed, he was a thoroughly polished gentleman in his social intercourse, though a great enemy to hypocrisy and cant. His attachments, when once formed, were immoveable, because his judgment was so clear,

that he seldom erred in his choice. He read mankind with more quickness and accuracy than any one I ever knew his eye was so keen and penetrating, that his friends used to say he looked through them. His voice was at times stentorian, and in his manner and person he often reminded me, in some respects, of Mr. Boswell's description of Dr. Johnson: he was not so tall, but stoutmade, broad-chested, and had a remarkably commanding appearance. I never heard him rebuke a servant; but if they misbehaved more than once, they were discharged. In his domestic circle he was as much beloved as Sir Roger de Coverley. During my acquaintance with his lordship, which was for the last ten years of his life, I never heard him speak ill of any one (with the exception of Dr. Stoddart); and of his political opponents he always spoke with respect.

I was staying with him in the month of January 1820, when King George the Third died. At the unusual sound of a servant's footsteps along the passage at half-past seven in the evening, his lordship exclaimed, "The king is dead, and here comes Calcott* to announce it!" Such was ex

* Poor Calcott was a most exemplary man in his station. He died by his own hand, at Rochetts, to the great grief of his master and all the family. His accounts were found to be scrupulously exact, and the reason for the fatal act was never explained; but it was supposed to have been caused by domestic affliction, which he carefully concealed from all in the mansion at Rochetts. Lord St. Vincent was greatly and seriously affected at this melancholy event, which took place a few months before his own death.

actly the fact; the newspaper, with a black border, had been sent down express, I believe by Dr. Baird. His lordship was much grieved at this event, although he expected it: the next day he wrote a letter of condolence and congratulation to King George the Fourth.

CHAPTER XVI.

Journey to the South of France, viâ Dover, Calais, and ParisRemarks The arrival at Marseilles-Journey to Hyeres-Arrival at Hyeres-Kindness and respect shown to Lord St. Vincent by the authorities-The Viscount Missiessy-The dock-yard at ToulonLord St. Vincent quits Hyeres-Arrives at Paris-Observations on the captives confined in the Temple-Lord St. Vincent's incredulity respecting the murders of Captain Wright and Pichegru-Return to England-He consents to sit for his picture-His observations respecting the Brunswick and Vengeur-Lord St. Vincent receives the baton of an admiral of the fleet from the King-He pays his respects to his Majesty King George IV. on board the Royal Yacht -Letter from Sir Charles Paget-Last illness and death of the Earl of St. Vincent-Copy of his Commission as an Admiral of the Fleet.

THE increasing cough and declining health of the Earl of St. Vincent began to give serious alarm to his friends, and in the summer of 1818, he made up his mind to try the effects of change of air, by a journey to the south of France. At his advanced age, no great improvement could be expected from such a step; but, if temporary relief could be obtained, it was deemed worth the trial. Dr. Grey, my eldest sister, and myself, were invited to be of the party; and we set off from Rochetts on the 1st day of October, in his

lordship's barouche with four post-horses. We had a German courier, named Joseph Reitechoffer, who preceded us on horseback, and his lordship's valet, the faithful Boxall, sat on the dickey.

The courier was one of the most intelligent men of his class I ever met with. He had, indeed, seen a great deal of military service in the early part of his life,—though he was, even then, only twenty-eight years of age. He had been present in many campaigns as a soldier in the French army, and his last was the memorable retreat from Moscow, when he was valet to General Lauriston. He was admirably adapted for his occupation of courier;-active, indefatigable, honest, sober, faithful, and well acquainted with the French, Italian, and German languages.

We travelled leisurely, crossing the Thames at Tilbury Fort, and proceeding through Rochester. On the 4th, we embarked at Dover, on board the Lord Duncan packet, commanded by Captain Hamilton; the same officer who conveyed to the admiral the account of the Dutch fleet being at sea, and was the cause of the British fleet coming out so quickly from Yarmouth Roads, and fighting the memorable battle of Camperdown. We landed at Calais in two hours after our embarkation: Captain (the late Rear-Admiral) John Tower was with us, but he parted at Calais. On the 6th we set off for Paris, and we were already