by the admiralty, who pretended that such a proceeding would diminish the eclât of the victory. As might be expected, the evil consequences of such unjust connivance bore their baneful fruits in the next great naval triumph. Captain Molloy's case was too bad to be entirely passed over; but he was only dismissed from the command of the Cæsar, and escaped the severe punishment his base conduct and cowardice so richly merited. The names of the captains commanding the pusillanimous line-of- battle ships may be found in James's "Naval History," Naval History," a most valuable and interesting work.

Our Norman forefathers had an excellent law for disgracing cowardly commanders who did not exactly merit death, but had brought a stain upon the national character for bravery. When a general or naval commander surrendered, without a sufficient reason, or evinced a want of courage, he was publicly degraded in the following manner :-The delinquent was armed cap-d-pie; he was next mounted on a scaffold, and, as soon as his sentence had been read to him, by which he was declared guilty of a breach of trust, disloyal and cowardly, twelve priests, in full canonicals, began to sing the psalms of "All-souls' day." At the conclusion of each psalm the priests paused, when the heraldat-arms stripped the criminal of one part of his armour, saying aloud-"This is the helmet of a coward; this

is the shield of a traitor; this is the sword of a false knave!" When the last psalm was over, a basin of warm water was poured on his head, a rope tied under his arms, and he was led down from the scaffold. He next was laid on a hurdle, covered with a shroud, and carried to the church, where the priests concluded the ceremony of the degradation by singing a psalm which contained imprecations against traitors. this humiliating scene he was dismissed the service.

After

Mr. Richardson, having conducted himself greatly to the satisfaction of Admiral Hood, was particularly recommended for promotion, and on the 4th of August, 1794, he was appointed lieutenant of the Circe, 28 (Captain Halkett). France having conquered Holland, made it independent, under the name of the Batavian republic. England immediately tried to weaken the naval power of this new ally, and all Dutch vessels in English ports were seized; and a small British squadron, under Vice-Admiral Duncan, was dispatched, to the North Sea, to watch the motions of the Dutch fleet.

The Circe joined this force, and, before leaving the channel, Lieutenant Richardson distinguished himself by an act of humanity and courage that gained him the estimation of all on board. While at anchor, with a strong tide running, a painter was busily engaged outside the cabin windows, when the general cry of "A man overboard!" was heard. The officers were

at dinner, and, on rushing to the cabin window and opening it, they saw the man, who had fallen from the scaffolding, struggling in the water. In his uniform, Lieutenant Richardson sprang through the open aperture into the waves below, and, on rising to the surface, seized a fan-light which the sailors had thrown overboard to the drowning man. Propelling this forwards, he struck out after the painter, who was carried away rapidly by the current. At length he reached the nearly exhausted man, helped him on one end of the fan-light, and supported him until one of the Circe's boats, straining every nerve, overtook them, and joyfully returned with their rescued friends.

CHAPTER III.

How to preserve an Hereditary Monarchy-Feats of Sir John B. Warren - Discontent among the People-French Invasion of Ireland-Cowardice of the Rebel Leaders-The Infallible Pope Outwitted by the Fallible Bonaparte-Mutiny at the Nore-Duncan deserted by his Fleet-Lieutenant Richardson's Firmness and Courage-A Tyrannical Captain Murdered by his own Crew-Watching the Texel-The Circe Chased by Three Frigates-Battle of Camperdown-De Winter, the Dutch Admiral, taken Prisoner by Lieutenant Richardson.

A.D. 1795 TO 1797.

PARLIAMENT met on the 13th of December, when the monarch urged in his speech from the throne, "the necessity of persisting in the war, however unfortunate it had hitherto been." He exhorted the Commons "to make ample provision for the public service; lamented the necessity of imposing additional burdens on his beloved subjects (credat Judæus Apelles non ego); but observed, with satisfaction, the state of credit and resources in this country." These resources were fated to be drained for very unconstitutional purposes; and, early in 1795, a message was delivered to both houses of Parliament, mentioning the debts of the Prince of Wales, and requesting them to relieve him from his

present large encumbrances.

Colonel Stanhope ob

served, "that the house had already liberally paid the debts of the prince;" but Pitt spoke upon the necessity of maintaining the dignity and splendor of the heirapparent and every branch of the royal family. He expatiated upon the interest which they had in supporting the character of the house of Brunswick, and recommended them to consider that, in the issue of the discussion, was involved "the credit of the hereditary monarchy, and, consequently, the safety of this country.” To this Mr. Martin drily replied, "that the way which appeared best calculated for the preservation of the hereditary monarchy, was to prevent it from being oppressive to the people!" The ministry, however, had all their own way, and granted the sum required for extricating the prince from his embarrassments.

Ge.

An attack on the peninsula of Quiberon having been projected, at the instigation of French refugees, Sir John Warren disembarked two thousand five hundred royalists and three hundred British marines. These captured a fort, on the northern extremity of the peninsula, having a garrison of six hundred men. neral Hoche attacked the emigrants, who ran away after a slight resistance, leaving the English to their fate. The refugee common soldiers afterwards massacred their officers, and then admitted Hoche into the fort, which the simple Warren had garrisoned with the foreigners,