ralty, that from the wind continuing to blow on the Dutch coaft, the fhips have had great difficulty in keeping off the fhore, and that we have been unavoidably feparated. On Friday laft the wind blew strong from the W. S. W. to W. N. W. and continued fo to do until Saturday morning; it then fhifted to the North, when I made the fignal to wear, flood to the Weftward, and fortunately anchored here last evening, the Venerable being fo leaky, that, with all her pumps going, we could but just keep her free. This morning I obferved the fhips named in the margin at anchor near us ; three near the Kentish Knock, and three in Hofley Bay. The wind is at N. W. and much against the difabled ships: I have therefore fent the Lancaster and Beaulieu out to render them affiftance.

"Sir Thomas Williams, in the Endymion, who joined me the day after the action, I alfo fent in fhore, to keep by and affift the disabled ships; and I am informed that, in the course of the night, he fell in with a Dutch fhip of the line off the Texel, and had engaged her: but I have not heard the parti culars. I am, Sir,

"Your moft obedient humble fervant,
"ADAM DUNCAN."

To Evan Nepean, Esq.

To this account of a victory the most brilliant that has adorned our naval annals fince the defeat of the Spanish Armada, in the time of Queen Elizabeth, we fubjoin the encomium paffed upon it by the Poet Laureat. In his Naval Dominion, an excellent poem, recently publifhed, and whofe merits were noticed in our Review for May, the Poet delineates with spirit our various victories at fea. On Lord Duncan he pours forth the fol lowing expreffive lines:

What trophies fhall the Muse to Duncan raise,
Whose worth tranfcends the boldest flight of praise ?-
Will all the powers man's genius can display
Give added luftre to the beams of day?
His virtues fhine in native worth array'd,

Nor want, nor alk, precarious flattery's aid.

* Monarch, Powerful, Lancaster, Beaulieu.

Him to his fenate Britain's Monarch calls,
His praise refounding from that fenate's walls;
Walls where in woven tints portray'd are seen
The naval triumph of the maiden Queen.
The delegated fons of Britain's choice
In his applaufes speak a people's voice;
And while from Caledonia's northern skies,
Prolific parent of the brave and wife,
Burfts the full ftrain in patriot ardour loud
Of fuch a fon with honeft vaunting proud,
England afferts her share of Duncan's fame,
And claims the hero in Britannia's name.

Few victories, either by land or fea, have had a more general effect in raifing the fpirits of the nation. Of its benefit for the protection of our commerce in particular, we were all fenfible. Every token of congratulation was prefented to the gallant Admiral and his brave fleet. Every demonftration of joy was given which is ufually shown on those occafions. The king himself meditated two measures expreffive of the fatisfaction he experienced, one of which was fruftrated by the tempestuousnefs of the elements, the other was fully accomplished. His Majefty intended to vifit the Nore, whither the fleet returned along with the prizes after the action. He embarked at Greenwich, made fome way down the river, but contrary winds obliged him to defift from his intention. One object of the expedition however was effected; the pardon of one hundred and eighty men, who had been engaged in the unhappy businefs at the Nore under Parker, was granted at the interceffion of Lord Duncan. This was nobly done, and worthy of his exalted character. True courage is ever allied to humanity. The other token of his Majesty's fatisfaction, was his proceffion to St. Paul's, on December the 19th, where thanks were returned for the victory. The cavalcade from St. James's was conducted with dignity, and the colours taken from the enemy were triumphantly borne along and depofited in the cathedral. J. W. De

J. W. De Winter, the Dutch Admiral, was, on account of the valour with which he fought, treated by us with refpect. This was characteristic of a great nation. He was a man of eafy and pleasant manners. It is reported, that immediately upon his coming on board the Venerable, he, after the first change of compliments, faid—“ It was a matter of surprise to him how fuch gigantic objects as Lord Duncan and himself (he alfo being remarkably tall) had escaped the carnage of the day."

To the honour of the BRITISH NATION be it spoken, large fums were raifed for the widows and children of thefe unfortunate men who fell on that memorable day. An attention to these objects conftitutes true glory! On fuch exertions we may fafely pride ourselves. Indeed Greenwich and Chelsea are ftanding monuments of public generofity. There, provifion is made for the relief of those brave fellows whofe youthful vigour has been exhausted in behalf of their native land. After long and laborious fervices, here they repofe from the toils they have endured, and from the dangers to which they have been expofed. In this haven of comfort which they have at laft fafely entered, they partake of the blef fings which their grateful countrymen have provided for them. They can look back to that tempeftuous fea, on whofe agitated surface they have been often borne, with fatisfaction. They can behold with no fmall compla'cency others rifing in their stead, who are equally ready to hazard their lives in the defence of their country!

We have just learnt that the gallant ADMIRAL DUNCAN has taken leave of his Majefty, and has refumed the command of his fquadron destined for the North Seas. This information muft impart pleasure to every lover of his country. May DUNCAN, in whose character courage and humanity are united, long defend the shores of Britain, now threatened by an inveterate foe! May fuccefs attend his patriotic measures, and may England be bleffed with fuch commanders, till the world be hushed into universal peace.

THE REFLECTOR.

[No. XVII.]

ON TASTE.

This, nor gems, nor ftores of gold,
Nor purple state, nor culture can bestow;
But God alone, when first his active hand
Imprints the facred bias of the foul.

AKENSIDE.

UPON Genius, Taffe, and other fubjects compre

hended under the Belles Lettres, much hath been written by men of diftinguished celebrity. It is not my purpose to start any new opinion on thefe topics, or even to concentrate into one point all that has been advanced by others. The Reflector is only a repofitory for curfory remarks on fubjects, connected with the inftruction and entertainment of those who honour it with a perufal.

Between GENIUS and TASTE there fubfifts an intimate connection which renders it neceffary that they should be confidered in fubferviency to each other. Thus will they reflect a mutual light, capable of aiding us in the illuftration of them. Apart, they cannot be fo thoroughly investigated, and therefore we are justified in rendering them fubjects of difcuffion in two fucceffive Numbers. In this point of view would we have them contemplated. We are not without fome hope that fuch a joint confideration of them will carry along with it feveral fubftantial advantages.

The term TASTE, applied to compofition, muft be understood in a figurative fenfe. Its original fignification refers directly to the palate, by which we are enabled to afcertain the quality of the food prefented to us for our nourishment and fupport. In a fimilar manner the mind is endowed with a power of difcrimination refpecting the fubjects which engage its attention. No

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thing is more generally understood than the faculty of Tafte. It is in the mouth of all, though few, perhaps, have philofophically inveftigated it. Nor is it indeed neceffary. Providence hath wifely appointed that we fhould use both our faculties and our fenfes without being profoundly acquainted with the nature or extent of them. This meafure is wifely ordered, fince men were defigned more for action in this prefent life than for contemplation. It is, nevertheless, highly useful for thofe who have ability and leifure, to enquire into fuch things. The investigation exalts our opinion of the Deity in the formation of man, and proves a powerful incitement to the proper exercife of thofe powers with which we are furnished.

Taste hath been thus juftly defined by a writer who poffeffes no inconfiderable portion of it. "It is," fays Dr. Blair, "the power of receiving pleafure from the beauties of nature and art." Now that fuch a power is poffeffed by individuals in various degrees, is obvious to every one who has the leaft acquaintance with mankind. Not only in the different ftages of life, but in the different claffes of men, variety of taftes to a very great extent prevails. What diffonance fubfifts between the crude perceptions of a child, and the mature judgment of a veteran in the republic of letters? How much at variance are the taftes of the rude ruftic who has feen nature in her moft unfinished forms, and of the polished scholar whofe mind, to use the words of Akenfide,

"Is feelingly alive to each fine impulse?"

Taftes are, in reality, as various as the human countenance; under every afpect a difference obtains. Hence both in kind and degree it affords ample matter for difcuffion. On this account the fubject diftributes itfeif into two branches, which have been duly noticed by philologifts. Let us confider them with fome minutenefs.

Delicacy and correctness are the two qualities afcribed.

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