the latter, Le Vengeur, went down soon after she was taken possession of, and though many of the French were saved on this occasion through the humanity of the English sailors, upwards of three hundred went to the bottom. The loss on board the French fleet was very great, that in the captured ships alone amounting to twelve hundred and seventy. The total loss of the British was nine hundred and four. The victory of the 1st of June conferred great glory on the admiral, and was received at home with every demonstration of joy. Large sums of money were subscribed for the benefit of the widows and children of those killed in action. Earl Howe was presented with a diamond hilted sword of great value, by the king in person, on board the Queen Charlotte at Spithead; and also with a gold chain, to which was suspended a medal, with Victory crowning Britannia on the obverse, and on the reverse a wreath of oak and laurel encircling his lordship's name, and the date of the action. His majesty was also pleased to transmit gold chains and medals to several flag-officers and captains who distinguished themselves during the engagement. MILITARY EXECUTION. WHILE in Campo Mayor, where we remained for some time, a German of the 60th regiment, a Frenchman, and two Italians, belonging to the Chasseurs Britannique, were shot for desertion. On the morning that the sentence of the first was carried into execution, the division was assembled outside the town, where they formed three sides of a square. The prisoner was marched past the various regiments, accompanied by the chaplain of the division, and the guard appointed to shoot him. When his devotions were finished, he was blindfolded by the provost-marshal, and placed kneeling on the brink of his grave, already open to receive him; he gave the signal, and the next moment he fell pierced by half a dozen musquet balls. The different regiments then passed the body, receiving the word, "eyes left," as they passed him. I was on the general provost guard the evening previous to the other three being shot. The serjeants came with the company's books to settle their accounts; the two Italians were in paroxysms of agony, crying and wringing their hands; the behaviour of the Frenchman, who had been taken prisoner, had volunteered into the Chasseurs Britannique and afterwards deserted from them to his countrymen, formed a strong contrast to that of the others; calm and dignified, he seemed to feel no fear of death, nor did any complaint pass his lips, save the injustice of trying him as a deserter, being a Frenchman. In his circumstances, he argued it was natural that he should endeavour to join his friends the first opportunity that offered. When the serjeant was settling their accounts, the Italians paid no attention to any thing said to them; but he discussed every item with the greatest exactness, and the serjeant wanting a small coin about the value of a farthing to balance, he desired him to procure it before he would sign the ledger; but though thus exact with the serjeant, the moment he received his balance, which amounted to some dollars, he divided every penny of it amongst his fellowprisoners. When the Italians received their money they sent for brandy, and began to drink intemperately, endeavouring to drown their sorrows and sear their minds, but it had quite a different effect, for they then broke from all restraint in the expression of their feelings, and cried and groaned with agony in such a manner, that they could be heard at a considerable distance from the guard-room. In this state they continued until morning, when they ceased their lamentations, only because they were exhausted by their former violence ;-quite different was the conduct of the Frenchman; when the brandy was procured, the Italians pressed him to take some, but he thanked them, and refused. said he, throwing a look of mingled pity and contempt on them, "I need no brandy to enable me to face death." Ile continued to walk about with his arms folded during the whole evening, without seeming in the least disturbed; occasionally indeed nis countenance softened, and a tear drop gathered in his eye, but it was not permitted to linger there; and as if ashamed of showing the least want F 2 "No," of firmness, he assumed redoubled inflexibility of countenance. time; he swallowed his food with precipitation, and then hurried again to the gaming table, which was his only delight ster. For some time fortune befriended him, and he was so successful that he often spread his winnings on the ground, and rolled himself on them, in order that it might be said of him, that," he wal I could not help admiring his manly fortitude and courage. I had no oppor--in a word he was a professed gametunity of speaking to him, without being intrusive; but in silence, I watched the expression of his face, with a feeling I could hardly describe. It was reported that he was a brother of marshal Soult the truth of this I cannot pre-lowed in gold." Such was his life durtend to affirm. He was, however, certainly a man of noble mind and independent spirit, elegant in person, and handsome in features. About midnight he lay down and slept soundly until near the hour of execution; his courage seemed to be now even more extended. He cleaned himself with the greatest nicety, conversed with his fellow prisoners cheerfully, and endeavoured, although without success, to infuse some courage into the poor Italians. The guard having arrived, he took leave of those prisoners who were confined with him; and to one, with whom he was more familiar than the others, he gave some private injunction, and on parting with him he said emphatically," Remember I die a Frenchman." He marched off to the place of execution with the same collected intrepidity he had before evinced, and I understood afterwards, that his demeanour on the ground where he was shot, was similar to that displayed while a prisoner; all admired his courage, and were sorry for his fate.-Peninsular War. ing a considerable time, but as he often remarked, and every considerate man must join with him, " it was the most miserable part of it."-After some time he was ordered on the recruiting service, and at Barcelona he raised one hundred and fifty recruits for the regiment; but his business was left entirely to his serjeant, that he might be more at leisure to attend to his darling pursuit. After some changes of good and bad luck, fortune declared so openly against him, that in one adverse run he was stripped of his last shilling. In this distress he applied to a captain in the same regiment for the loan of ten guineas, which was refused with the following words: "What! lend money to a professed gamester! No, sir, I must be excused, for I should necessarily lose either my money or my friend, I therefore choose to keep my money." With this taunting refusal, he returned to his lodging, where he threw himself on the bed, to give himself a momentary respite from his sorrows, and to refresh his mind by a little sleep, if possible, during the heat of the day. A gnat or some other insect happening to bite him, he awoke, when his melanCOLONEL DANIEL, who took great choly situation occurred to his thoughts: pleasure in giving advice to young offi- Without money, and no prospect how to cers, when he was upon the subject of get any to subsist himself and his regaming, used to tell the following story cruits to the regiment, then at a distance of himself as a warning to others, and to from him, was a melancholy reflection, show that this absurd passion may be still aggravated by the idea that if they conquered by a little resolution. During should desert for want of pay, he must Queen Anne's wars he was an ensign in be answerable for the loss, and he could the English army in Spain, but was so expect nothing but cashiering for thus much addicted to this evil habit that he injuring the service. He had no friend, considered duty and every thing else for he whom he considered as such had which prevented him from gratifying his not only refused to lend him money, but darling passion, as an intolerable bur- had added insulting words to the refusal. then. He scarcely allowed himself time-He had no acquaintance there, and for rest, or if he slept, his dreams presented packs of cards to his eyes, and the rattling of dice to his ears: his meals were neglected, or, if he attended to them, he looked upon it as so much lost THE RECLAIMED GAMESTER. strangers he knew would not let him have so large a sum for his actual wants. This naturally led him to serious reflection on the cause which had induced him to commence gamester, and he soon found that it was idleness. He had now discovered the cause, and the next was to find out a remedy. But how was this to be effected so as to prevent a relapse? While engaged in these thoughts it occurred to him that the adjutancy of the regiment was to be disposed of, and that he determined to purchase a post, the most likely to afford him sufficient occupation, and a laudable way of spending his time. He had a letter of credit to draw for what sums he pleased, on account of promotion in the army, but not to throw away idly, or to encourage extravagance. This was all well, but the main difficulty remained, for it was necessary that he should join the regiment before he could take any steps towards the intended purchase, or draw for the sum to make it. While endeavouring to devise some scheme to extricate himself from this dilemma, his friend who had refused him in the morning came to pay him a visit; after a very cool reception on the part of the colonel, the other began by asking him what steps he intended to take to relieve himself from the anxiety under which he plainly saw that he laboured. The colonel told him all that he thought on the subject, and the resolution he had formed of purchasing the adjutancy as soon as he could join the regiment. His friend, highly pleased with what he heard then, said, "My dear Daniel, I refused you money in the morning in so abrupt a manner, in order that I might bring you to a sense of the dangerous situation you were in, and to make you reflect seriously on the folly of the way of life into which you had got; I heartily rejoice to find that it had the desired effect. Pursue the laudable resolution you have formed, and be assured that idleness and gaming are the ruin of youth. My purse, as well as my interest and advice, is now at your command: I here present it to you, and take whatever may be necessary for your own subsistence and that of your recruits. The colonel immediately started from the bed, for the afternoon's behaviour of his friend had entirely obliterated the harshness of his refusal in the morning. In a word, the colonel set off with his recruits for the regiment, where he gained great applause for his success, which, as well as his commision, he had nearly lost by the folly of one morning. He immediately solicited for and purchased the adjutancy, and after that day never touched cards nor dice, but as they ought to be used, merely for amusement, or to unbend the mind after too close an attention to serious affairs.-Military Mentor. EFFECTS OF LOVE. Ar the taking of Constantinople, a Greek lady of illustrious birth, named Irene, scarcely seventeen years of age, fell into the hands of the conquerors. A certain bashaw, who had made her his prisoner, was struck with her beauty, and thought her a present not unworthy to be offered to the Sultan himself. The East never witnessed a more perfect beauty, and her charms preyed most violently on the heart of the fierce Mahomet. He abandoned himself entirely to this new passion; and that he might experience no interruption to its gratification, he passed many days in succession, without seeing either his ministers, or the principal officers of his army. Irene followed him to Adrianople, at which place he fixed her residence. As to himself, to whatever quarter the war led him, he often, in the midst of the most important expeditions, left the care of them to his generals, and returned with eagerness to his beloved Irene. It could not be long concealed, that glory was not now his ruling passion. The soldiers, accustomed to the booty which had usually followed his victories, murmured at the visible alteration. These murmurs became contagious. Both the officers and men complained of the effeminate life of their leader, but his fierce temper intimidated every one from speaking to him on this subject. At length, however, when the discontents of the military were on the point of bursting into open violence, the bashaw Mustapha, considering only his fidelity to his master, communicated to him the conversation which publicly passed among the janisaries, so injurious to his reputation and his interest. The Sultan, after remaining some moments in profound silence, as if deliberating what step he ought to take, made no reply; but, under the pretence of a review of the troops, ordered Mustapha to assemble on the next day all the bas the Ripon of 60 guns, on the coast of Guinea, and the Cornwall, of 80 guns, under Admiral Knowles. After a variety of active services, he obtained the command of the Dunkirk, of 60 guns, with which he captured a French ship of 64 guns, off the coast of Newfoundland. He was afterwards promoted to the Magnanime, of 74 guns, in which ship he served under Admiral Hawke, on the honourable though unsuccessful expedition against Rochfort. In the following year he was appointed com haws in the neighbourhood of the city. He then retired to the chamber of Irene, with whom he continued till the morning. Never did this young princess appear to him so charming, and never till then did he caress her with such tender affection to give, if possible, an additional lustre to her beauty, he ordered her women to employ all their address and art in the elegance and grace of her attire. After she was completely arrayed, and prepared to make her public appearance, he took her by the hand, and led her into the midst of the assembly. Then lift-modore of a small squadron, with which ting up the veil, which concealed her face, he destroyed a great number of ships he asked the bashaws that surrounded and magazines in St. Malo. His lordhim, if they had ever before beheld such ship, who had a short time before sucexquisite beauty. All his officers replied ceeded to the title by the death of his to him in an excess of admiration, and in brother, who was unfortunately killed court language congratulated him on before Ticonderago, sailed from St. Hethe possession of so much happiness. | len's on the 1st of August, and came to Upon this, Mahomet, seizing with one an anchor in the bay of Cherbourg, hand the hair of the young Greek, and on the 6th of the same month, and with the other drawing his cimeter, at shortly afterwards took the town and deone blow severed her head from her body; stroyed the basin. This was followed and turning towards the nobles around by the unfortunate affair of St. Cas, him, with looks wild and furious," This where he displayed his courage and husteel," says, he to them, "can sever even manity in saving the retreating soldiers the powerful fetters of love!" at the imminent hazard of his own life. At the memorable defeat of the Marquis de Conflans, he engaged and captured the Hero, of 74 guns; but being prevented by the inclemency of the weather from taking possession of the prize, it unfortunately ran on shore, and was irrecoverably lost. When Admiral Hawke presented him, on this occasion, to the king, his Majesty said, "Your life, my lord, has been one continued series of services to your country." In March, 1760, he was appointed colonel of the Chatham division of the marines. In 1763, he was raised to the admiralty board, where he remained till 1765, when he was made treasurer of the navy. In 1770, he was promoted to be rearadmiral of the blue, and commander-inchief in the Mediterranean. In the American war he commanded the fleet on that coast, but little was performed in that quarter, because no opportunity presented itself of doing much. In 1782 he was sent to the relief of Gibraltar, a service which he performed in the most admirable manner. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. No. 1. EARL HOWE Was the second son of Sir Emanuel Scrope, the second Lord Viscount Howe. At the age of fourteen his lordship left Eton school, to share whatever peril the squadron destined for the South Seas, under the command of Commodore Anson, might experience. Even at this age there was a hardihood and intrepidity about the noble youth that promised much; and this probably induced his parents to dedicate him to the naval profession. After passing through the different subordinate stations, he was appointed captain of the Baltimore sloop of war at the age of twenty; when, in an action with two French frigates, of 30 guns each, he received a severe wound in the head, which had nearly proved fatal; for this he was made a post-captain, and appointed to the Triton frigate. But no farther particular mention is made of him during the continuance of the war, except that he commanded Peace being concluded soon afterwards, he quitted his command; but on the 28th of January, 1783, he was made first lord of the admiralty; which office he soon afterwards resigned to Lord Keppel; at the end of the year he was re-appointed, and continued in that station till 1788, in which year he was created an earl of Great Britain. In 1793, his lordship accepted the command of the Channel fleet. During the first year in which he filled this high station, no very remarkable occurrence took place; but on the 1st of June, 1794, he obtained a decisive victory over the most powerful fleet France ever equipped for sea. At the death of Admiral Forbes, which happened on the 10th of March, 1796, Earl Howe succeeded to the high station of admiral of the fleet, as being the senior naval officer in the list of admirals. In 1797, he was honoured with the order of the garter, and in the same year he resigned the command of the western squadron. His lordship died in August, 1799. The brilliant services he rendered to the British flag have placed him high in the list of our naval heroes. VARIETIES. WATERLOO SUBSCRIPTIONS. AMONG the liberal donations of our countrymen to the fund for the relief of the widows and orphans of the brave men who fell in the ever-memorable battle of Waterloo, we are happy to record a subscription of near fifty guineas by the labourers employed in the works at Howth, near Dublin. The manner in which this sum was raised, is truly characteristic of the Irish heart. One of the men at work on the quay, happened to get an old newspaper, in which the list of subscriptions was published, into his hand, during his breakfast hour; he read the list to his companions, who surrounded him, and having concluded, he addressed them in these words::-"Boys, what suppose we make up a purse ourselveswhat better can we do with our moneyit would be better than laying it out in whiskey." This address had an electric effect, and the proposal received general approbation. No business was done that day, until every man gave his mite-no man was backward, and before twelve o'clock a sum of fifty-three pounds was raised, and forwarded to the Right Honorable the Lord Mayor. JEU D'ESPRIT. THE Marquis of Anglesey displayed great bravery and skill as a cavalry offiloo, where his leg was carried off by a cer, particularly at the battle of Watershot, and buried at Hougomont. A somewhat singular monument was erected following jeu d'esprit :— to its memory; which gave rise to the "Here lies-and let no saucy knave « For he who writes these lines is sure Will find such laugh were premature, "A leg and foot-to speak more plain— "Who, when the guns, with murd Could only in this way be brought To give the foe leg bail. "Who now in England, just as gay As in the battle brave, With one foot in the grave. She did not seek his harm: "And but indulg'd a harmless whim, Since he could walk with one, FORTUNATE ESCAPE. KING CHARLES the XII. after signalizing himself in a famous battle, received no wound, but in the evening, as he was changing his dress, found a ball lodged in his black cravat. |