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THE RT. HON. THE EARL OF MINTO,

FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY,

THIS WORK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED

BY HIS LORDSHIP'S

MOST OBEDIENT HUMBLE SERVANT,

THE AUTHOR.

PREFACE.

WHEN the printing of this work was nearly completed, I received "Sir John Barrow's Life of Lord Howe;" and, as the author of that book and myself appear to have touched on the same subjects, it may be right to say, that we have held no previous communication together.

In a note at p. 428 of Sir J. Barrow's book, mention is made of the loss of a letter written by Earl Howe to Earl St. Vincent. It is my duty to state, that neither my sister nor myself ever saw that document. If I had been in possession of it, I should have sent it to Sir John Barrow for his work, or should have published it in my own. I should not, however, now have alluded to the subject, if it had not been painfully associated in my mind with the affidavit of the Executors of Earl St. Vincent, spoken

of at p. 7 of this volume. Our researches in the muniment room were limited to the "Letter and Order Books." We never presumed to look at any letters addressed to his lordship.

I have lately learnt with much concern the death of Mr. Newnham Collingwood. Had I known it earlier, I should not have spoken of him with any mark of disapprobation; and I trust, even as it is, his surviving relatives will not think I have treated him with any thing like personal disrespect.

In the following pages I have endeavoured to draw a faithful picture from life. My duty was to avoid every thing like concealment, extenuation, or flattery. Professing to be of no party, I may, probably, subject myself to the censure of many, but I shall have the satisfaction of knowing, that impartial men will concur with me; and, wanting this, I should still have the approval of my own conscience. A partizan can never be relied on, either as a biographer or an historian.

18, York Street, Gloucester Place,

February 10th, 1838.