Eastward in fucceffion for fuccouring the difabled fhips of their rear; which intention, by reafon of the then difunited state of the fleet, and having no more than the two crippled ships, the Bellerophon and Leviathan, at that time near me, I was unable to obftruct. "The enemy having fucceeded in that operation, wore round again, after fome diftant cannonading of the nearest British fhips, occafionally returned, and ftood away in order of battle on the larboard tack, followed by the British fleet, in the fame order (but with the weather-gage retained) as foon as the ships coming forward to close with the Queen Charlotte were fuitably arranged. "The fleets remained feparated fome few miles, in view at times on the intermiffion of a thick fog, which lafted most part of the two next days. "The Commander of a fleet, their Lordships know, is unavoidably fo confined in his view of the occurrences in time of battle, as to be little capable of rendering perfonal teftimony to the meritorious fervices of officers who have profited, in a greater extent, by the opportunities to diftinguish themfelves on fuch occafions. "To difcharge this part of my publick duty, reports were called for from the flag officers of the fleet, for fupplying the defects of my obfervance, under the limited-circumftances above-mentioned. Thofe officers, therefore, who have fuch particular claim to my attention, are the Admirals Graves and Sir Alexander Hood; the Rear-Admirals Bowyer, Gardner, and Pasley; the Captains Lord Hugh Seymour, Pakenham, Berkeley, Gambier, John Harvey, Payne, Parker, Henry Harvey, Pringle, Duckworth, and Elphinstone. Special notice is alfo due to the Captains Nicholls of the Sovereign, and Hope of the Bellerophon, who became charged with, and well conducted thofe fhips, when the wounded flag officers, under whom they respectively ferved therein, were no longer able to remain at their pofts; and the Lieutenants Monckton, of the MarlboVOL. IV. borough, L borough, and Donnelly, of the Montagu, in fimilar fituations. Thefe felections, however, fhould not be conftrued to the disadvantage of other Commanders, who may have been equally deferving of the approbation of the Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty, although I am not enabled to make a particular statement of their merits. "To the reports from the flag officers are added thofe required from the feveral Captains of the fleet; whereby their Lordships will become more particularly acquainted with the meritorious fervices of the feveral Commanders, and animated intrepidity of their fubordinate officers and fhips companies; to which the defeat of the enemy, with everv. advantage of fituation and circumftance in their favour, is truly to be afcribed. To the like purport, I beg my teftimony in behalf of the officers and company of every defcription in the Queen Charlotte may be accepted." It On this ftriking detail we make no comment. fpeaks for itself. Every Briton understands and feels its contents: Behold her vet'ran chief! victorious HoWE! PYE. Of Earl Howe's character in private life, fome fhort account will be expected. He married Mary, daughter of Major Härtop, of Welby, in Leicestershire, by whom he has three daughters, Sophia-Charlotte, Mary, and Louifa. His domeftic virtues, we understand, are not inferior to his public merits. Ealy and acceffible, he is difpofed to promote the nappiness of thofe by whom he is furrounded. Such a difpofition cannot be too much praifed. Too often are external authority and felf-government at variance with each other. But when united, they cannot fail of commanding admiration. It is this union of talents and of virtues that constitutes the great man. To fuch characters thould be paid the de-ferved tribute of applaufe, and to record their merits in this periodical Publication, shall be our conftant ambition. THE REFLECTOR. [No. XVI.] ON GENIUS. "True genius is but rare" POPE. ENIUS is that divine power of the mind to which dered their willing homage. Under whatever character it makes its appearance, it excites particular attention. We gaze at its creative energies, and contemplate its effufions with a more than ordinary delight. This is a fact fo well established, that by no one will it be ferioufly queftioned. But a reflecting mind will paufe and afk itself, what is this power of the intelle&t which thus challenges univerfal ́admiration? The question is important, and worthy of affiduous enquiry. Let us examine it. "Many definitions of Genius have been offered to the Public, and have received difcuffion. Perhaps the most unexceptionable is the following:-Genius, in the learned world, is that power of the human mind by which literary beauties are generated. This definition is not given merely as the writer's own private opinion, but rather as the refult of the different accounts which have been communicated in various publications. Dr. Alexander Gerard, of Aberdeen, wrote an admirable treatife on this fubject, and, as far as I recollect, he inclines to the definition now offered to the Reader. Be. that as it may, I fhall endeavour to fhew the truth of what is here advanced refpe&ting it. L 2 Το . To confirm the juftice of the definition, I will not revert to the origin of the term, which is certainly in my favour. Its etymology is clearly indicative of its creative energy. But let us refer to what are ufually termed works of Genius. What are these, but generally fpeaking, works of imagination? The Writer, fpurning at the narrow boundaries of time and space, launches forth into themes which excite our admiration, and overwhelm us with astonishment. This was particularly the cafe with Milton and Shakespeare. Hence Johnfon's delineation of Shakespeare's talents in the following lines, turns exprefsly on this point, and is confeffed to be the moft ftriking lines produced by that great Biographer, who was intimately acquainted with human nature. When Learning's triumph o'er barbar'ous foes, Milton alfo deals much in the fublime, and the most energetic parts of his poem are those where he expatiates in the regions of fancy. Even his devils are grand, and command a certain awful admiration. Let any perfon take up Paradife Loft, and perufe the first books of that immortal work, he will feel the truth of these remarks. Genuis in its highest fenfe is this productive power, for it generates beauties of the most exalted kind. Its corufcations flash upon the reader with an aftonishing effect. We are amazed and confounded at its exertions. In this high class indeed few writers can be ranked. It requires very extraordinary talents, fuch as feldom meet in more than one man in the courfe of a century. But we must recollect that Genius must not be confined to these fuperior efforts. It has its degrees, like every thing else, in the wife economy of nature. We talk talk of a genius for poetry-for war--for politics, or for any mechanical employment. The word poffeffes an extenfive fignification, and may therefore be applied to almost every thing. We however remark, that Genius is neceffary to diftinguifh a man, whatever line of life he follows, provided it has a connection with the operations" of the intellect. In the learned world we frequently meet with productions that have fomething of this divine power to recommend them. Poor, indeed, muft be the performance which is wholly deftitute of it! Yet truth obliges us to confefs, that fuch productions are obtruded on the public notice, but on their very appear ance are justly configned to oblivion. In the Adventurer, written by Dr. Hawkefworth, will be found an entertaining paper, where even the feveral works of the men of genius are tried by a fiery ordeal, and the most ferious confequences enfued. Many parts of thefe celebrated writers became expunged, thofe portions of them which were deemed unworthy of their talents, no longer remained, Every thing which might be denominated unjust, obfcene, trifling, was banished. The efforts of intellects were purified from their dross. Thus remarks its ingenious author--" It gave me the highest "fatisfaction to fee Philofophy thus cleared from er"roneous principles, Hiftory purged of falfehood, Poe66 try of fuftian, and nothing left in each but GENIUS, "SENSE, and TRUTH!" Let not men, however, of ordinary genius, throw their pens afide, and abandon themfelves to defpair. There is an ordinary clafs of readers who may be pleased with their productions. For tafte, as well as genius, exifts in endless varieties. At the fame time, every one fhould exert himself to the utmost for the improvement of those talents with which heaven has endowed him. Genius, though not to be conferred by any human being, yet may be wonderfully enlarged and ftrengthened. There are inftances, on record, where the flendereft fparks have been, by affiduous attention, blown up into a Le 3 flame. |