admiral Keppel to America. After the arrival of the armament in Virginia, two of the lieutenants on board the commodore's ship, the Centurion, being advanced to the rank of captains, Duncan was removed into the Centurion, where he continued till that ship returned to England, and captain Keppel, after having for a short time commanded the Swiftsure, being appointed to the Torbay, of seventy-four guns, procured his pupil to be appointed second lieutenant of that ship. After remaining on the home station, and, owing to the extreme caution of the enemy, very uninterestingly employed for the space of nearly three years, be proceeded on the expedition sent against the French settlement of Goree, on the coast of Africa, where he was slightly wounded at the attack of the fort. Soon afterwards he rose to the rank of first lieutenant of the Torbay, in which capacity he returned to England.

On the 21st of September, 1759, he was advanced to the rank of commander, but does not appear to have been for tunate enough to have met with any opportunity in his new station of adding to that reputation which he had already so deservedly acquired. He did not, however, long continue in so inactive a state; for having been advanced to the rank of post-captain, in 1761, and appointed to the Valiant of seventy-four guns, he again became materially connected, in respect to service, with his original friend and patron, admiral Keppel. An expedition against the French island of Belleisle having been determined on in the British cabinet, Keppel, who was pitched upon to command the naval part of the intended enterprise, hoisted his broad pendant on that occasion on board the Valiant; and not long after, Duncan formed part of the expedition against Havannah.

After the surrender of the Havannah, he accompanied Keppel, who was appointed to command on the Jamaica station, in the same capacity he had before held, and continued with him there till the conclusion of the war.

At the conclusion of the year 1799, the Monarch, captain Duncan's ship, was one of the ships put under the orders of Sir George Rodney, who was instructed to force his way to Gibraltar through all impediments, and relieve that fortress, which was then closely blockaded by a Spanish army on the land side, and a flotilla by sea, sufficiently strong to oppose the entrance of any trivial succour. Captain Duncan accordingly hailed with transport, the opportunity

of acquiring fame; and fortune was propitious enough not to permit his expectations and hopes to be disappointed on this occasion.

On the 16th of January, 1780, the British fleet, being then off Cape St. Vincent, fell in with a Spanish squadron, commanded by Don Juan de Langara, who was purposely stationed there to intercept Sir George, who, according to misinformation received by the court of Spain, was supposed to be on his passage towards the besieged fortress, with a squadron consisting of no more than four ships of the line, having a fleet of victuallers and transports under their protection. The Monarch had not the advantage of being sheathed with copper; but, notwithstanding this inconvenience, added to the additional circumstance of her being by no means remarkable as a swift sailer, captain Duncan was fortunate enough to get into action before any other ship in the fleet.

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Notwithstanding the disadvantages under which it has been stated the ship he commanded laboured, she was pressed ahead of the fleet, under all the sail that could, with any degree of propriety, be set upon her; and it is reported, that when captain Duncan was warned, by some coppered ships which he passed, of the danger he incurred, by dashing so hastily amidst three of the enemy's squadron, which were just ahead, without some support, he replied, with the utmost coolness, and in no other terms than, “I wish to be among them." The strength of the wind, the agitation of the sea, and the swiftness with which the Monarch passed through it, united to put an end to any further conversation, and captain Duncan had his wishes complied with, by speedily finding himself well up within engaging distance of his antagonists. He found himself alongside one of the Spanish ships of equal force, though of much larger dimensions than the Monarch, while two others of the like rate and magnitude lay within musket shot to the leeward of him. He accordingly directed his best efforts against his opponents, and after a short though animated resistance, had the satisfaction of seeing the colours of San Augustin, of seventy guns strike, in token of her submission to the Monarch. The rigging of the victor had by this time received too much damage to render it possible for captain Duncan to hoist out a boat for the purpose of boarding his prize, particularly as it then blew so hard, and the whole fleet was on a lee shore, he was, therefore, compelled to resign the honour of taking posses

sion of the vanquished enemy, to a fresh ship, which was then coming up astern.

In 1789, captain Duncan was promoted to be rear-admiral of the blue, and to the same rank in the white squa dron, on a second advancement of flag-officers, which took place in 1790. He was raised to be vice-admiral of the blue, in 1793; of the white, in 1794; to be admiral of the blue, 1795; and lastly, to be admiral of the white, in 1799. During all these periods, except the two last, singular as it may appear to posterity, the high merit admiral Duncan possessed, continued either unknown, or to give the treatment he received what may perhaps be a more proper term, unregarded. Frequently did he solicit a command, and as often did his request pass uncomplied with. At length, he received, in the month of February 1795, an appointment, constituting him commander-in-chief in the North Seas. He hoisted his flag on board the Venerable, of 74 guns, and proceeded to carry into execution the trust confided in him.

When the patience and unwearied constancy with which this brave officer continued to watch a cautious and prudent enemy, during the whole time he held the command, a period of five years, are considered, it becomes a matter of difficulty to decide whether those invaluable qualities just mentioned, or the gallantry and judgment he displayed on the only opportunity the enemy afforded him of contesting with them the palm of victory, ought to be most admired.

Admiral Duncan's conduct, which was firm and temperate on the occasion of the famous mutiny which broke out in several of our fleets, is well known; we need not revert to that subject, nor need we again detail the events of the great victory at Camperdown, the brevity of his despatch on that occasion renders it worthy of notice:

"Venerable, off the coast of Holland, the 12th of October. Camperdown, E.S.E. eight miles.

"SIR,-I have the pleasure to acquaint you, for the information of the lords commissioners of the admiralty, that at nine o'clock this morning I got sight of the Dutch fleet; at half-past twelve I passed through their line, and the action commenced, which has been very severe. The admiral's ship is dismasted, and has struck, as have several others, and one on fire. I shall send captain Fairfax with the particulars, the moment I can spare him.—I am, &c. "ADAM DUNCAN."

In consequence of the victory of Camperdown, the admiral was raised to the dignity of a baron and viscount of Great Britain, by the titles of baron Camperdown and viscount Duncan. He also received the thanks of both houses of parliament, and the city of London voted him the freedom, with a sword of the value of two hundred guineas.

As soon as the ships destined to remain under his orders were refitted, he returned again to his station; and, by his continued vigilance, almost annihilated the Dutch trade: their vessels, whenever any were found hardy enough to attempt putting to sea, were captured in sight of their own ports; for the whole coast was so completely blockaded, that instances very rarely occurred of their being able to elude the extreme vigilance of the British cruisers.

His lordship continued to retain the command on the north-sea station, till the commencement of the year, 1801, when he retired from active service. He died on the fourth of August, 1804, in the 73d year of his age. His son was created earl of Camperdown in 1831.

MEMOIR OF LORD NELSON.

A VERY young and delicate-looking little boy had strayed, enticed by the flower and the butterfly to a distance from his home, and his prolonged absence exciting the alarm of his friends, they set out in search of him. The little fellow was found sitting composedly by the side of a little stream, planing how most easily to get over it. An anxious relative fondly reproached him," I wonder child, that fear did not