COMPILED IN PART FROM ORIGINAL PAPERS, AND IN PART FROM CONTEMPORARY PUBLICATIONS.
ANGUS, Mr. William, aged 69, Oct. 12, a landscape and historical engraver. He was a pupil of Mr. William Walker, the well-known engraver of scenery. In his better days Mr. Angus was justly considered very eminent in his art, and had his full share of employment.
Amongst his most pleasing works may be noticed, "The Seats of the Nobility and Gentry in Great Britain and Wales; in a Collection of Select Views, engraved from Pictures and Drawings by the most eminent Artists, with Descriptions of each View," 4to. 1787-1815. He also engraved for many years very beautiful little plates for the Atlas Pocket Book, chiefly after the designs of Thomas Stothard, Esq. R. A. Unfortunately he made little provision for the latter period of his life; and when his powers in a great degree failed him, yet wholly dependent on his own exertions, he had the mortification to find himself supplanted by younger artists.
One of his pupils has far surpassed his master; we allude to Mr. W. B. Cooke, whose engravings of the "Southern Coast," and various other works, have excited such general appro
bation. Mr. Angus has left a widow but had no children.
ASHBRIDGE, the Rev. John, was born at Heath, in the year 1788. He received the rudiments of his education from his father, the Rev. Joseph Ashbridge, vicar of Hault Hucknall, in the county of Derby. At the age of 14 he was, through the interest of Sir Henry Crewe, placed on the foundation at Repton School, where he remained until the year 1806, when he was admitted a member of Trinity Under the very College, Cambridge. able instruction of the Rev. Dr. W. B. Sleath, he had acquired a sound and extensive acquaintance with the best parts of classical literature: and being gifted with great acuteness, and unwearied industry, he did not fail to turn the advantages of his education to a good account in the enlarged competition of the University.
At the first annual examination in the hall of Trinity College, he obtained a distinguished place in the first class. During the following year he exhibited the same devotedness, and the same original powers in his mathematical studies, which he had before done in his application to scholastic learning; and at the next public examination of the College, when the highest honors were awarded to the best proficients in
mathematical investigations, connected with some of the branches of philosophy, he was declared inferior to no man of his year. The life of a student, spent in the bosom of the University, cannot be expected to abound with incidents fit to be recorded in this place. Many anecdotes of private worth, and of successful application in the severest departments of abstract science, might indeed be mentioned; but it is not now considered necessary to intrude them on the public.
In the year 1810, he proceeded to the degree of B. A., and on that occasion gained the mathematical honor of Sixth Wrangler: a very high distinction, especially in the estimation of those who knew with what ardour he had cultivated many departments of ancient learning.
While Mr. Ashbridge continued to reside in Trinity College, almost all the ordinary subjects of literature and science in turn occupied his attention. Philological researches, connected more especially with the older Latin classics, had long supplied him with the materials for severe and successful investigation. He proved his intimate knowledge of that language, by gaining, on two successive years, one of the prizes which are given by the representatives of the Uni. versity for the best prose Latin essays on some specified subject.
In the year 1812, he was elected a fellow of Trinity College, at a time when there were only two vacancies, and many powerful competitors. Having arrived at that standing in the University, when most men terminate their academical career, he did not, as is too generally the case, relax his exertions; but continued to study the best authors of antiquity, and at the same time to familiarize himself with all the refinements of modern analysis. Nor did his labours terminate in mere idle speculation. For he entered into active correspondence with some of the first mathematicians of the country, accumulated materials for an introduction to the more difficult parts of the higher calculus, and contributed many papers to our philosophical journals. Among his Essays of this kind may be mentioned an anonymous treatise "On the Figure of the Earth," which appeared in Leybourn's Mathematical Repository. Amidst these investigations he acquired an intimate acquaintance with the German language, which he justly considered as a key to all phi
lological inquiries connected with our own literature. It is proper here to mention his great progress in many departments of Biblical Criticism; his ardent admiration of the works of many of our older divines, whose lives and writings were the constant subjects of his panegyric.
In the year 1818, he was appointed Senior Moderator of the University. No one was better qualified for undertaking the arduous duty of determining the respective merits of those who were candidates for the public honors of the Senate House. Unfortunately, however, a declining state of health, probably brought on by long-continued intemperate study, induced him to relinquish the appointment, and commence a tour on the Continent. Until his strength was worn down by sickness, he did not for a moment lose sight of the objects to which he had devoted himself; continuing to accumulate materials for a philological work on the early history of the Latin language, and to make himself acquainted with the Teutonic dialects of modern Europe. He arrived at Naples in the month of June, 1819. Though in a state which indicated a great exhaustion of body and of spirits, he was still able to join in social intercourse with a small circle of friends, among whom he was fortunate in being able to count the names of two distinguished scholars of his own country, Mr. Elmsly and Mr. Matthias. From these gentlemen he received the most kind and unremitted attentions at a time when the offices of friendship were most wanted. The unfavourable symptoms to which we have before alluded, were, after some time, succeeded by a low fever, against which he was never able completely to rally, and by which he was in a few weeks brought down to the lowest state of debility. Not long before his dissolution, a slight change in the symptoms of his illness gave a momentary gleam of hope to his friends. He attempted, during that interval, to write a letter to his sister; but his strength failed him before he could complete it. A short time afterwards, the hand of Death put an end to the kind hopes of those who were about him, and shut out his earthly prospects for ever.
It is unnecessary now to enlarge on the premature loss which the public has sustained; a loss which those only can appreciate who were formerly acquainted with the subject of this memoir.
contemplating their irreparable loss, there are many topics of consolation to which his nearest friends will long be happy to turn their thoughts. During his lingering illness he received the most unbounded proofs of kindness from those by whom he was attended. Nor
were the consolations of religion with- held from him. They were daily and affectionately administered by the Rev. Mr. Turner, the English chaplain at Naples, to whom the relations of Mr. Ashbridge owe a deep and lasting debt of gratitude.
BLIGH, Sir Richard Rodney, G.C.B. Admiral of the Red Squadron of His Majesty's Fleet, &c. &c. April 30, at Belle Vue, near Southampton. Sir Richard was born in Cornwall in 1737, of an ancient and noble family of that county, and was godson of the late Lord Rodney. He entered the naval service of his country at a very early period of life; but it was not until 1777 that he attained the rank of Post Cap- tain; in which situation, in the com- mand of the Alexander, of 74 guns, in November 1794, he exhibited, in a most unequal combat with a French squadron, consisting of five ships of 74 guns, three large frigates, and a brig, such courage and abilities, as, to use the words of a modern biographer, "have never been surpassed in the annals of the British navy." Sir Richard was the eighth oldest Admiral on the list, having obtained his flag in April 1804; when he resigned the command on the Leith station. was twice married; but has left only one son, besides several daughters, all married; viz. Captain George Miller Bligh, R. N. who was severely wounded by a musket shot through the breast in the memorable battle of Trafalgar, when lieutenant of the Victory, to which ship he was appointed, at the desire of Lord Nelson, out of regard to his father's distinguished conduct in the
BROUGHTON, Captain Robert, deserves to be recorded in that class of illustrious circumnavigators who have conferred so much honor on their native countries, and benefitted the world at large by the extent of their maritime dis- coveries, nor should his fame be forgotten as commodore of the naval part of the equipment against the Island of Java, so
long as that conquest shall be duly esti- mated for its value and importance.
Captain Broughton was descended from a younger branch of the ancient family of that name, of Broughton Hall in Staffordshire. Sir Brian Broughton, who was created a baronet for his steady loyalty to Charles I. and II., was the ancestor of the present Sir John Brough- ton, Bart. and the subject of the follow- ing memoir, who was sent, at an early age, to sea in the year 1774. In the month of November he joined his Ma- jesty's sloop Falcon, then at Portsmouth, and commanded by Capt. John Linzee. The Falcon was destined for North America, and arrived at Boston three days before the fight at Lexington; she was also one of the ships that covered the attack on Bunker's Hill.
Shortly after Mr. Broughton was made prisoner in an attempt to bring off a schooner, which had been driven ashore in Cape Ann Harbour. This misfortune was occasioned by the de- struction of the Falcon's boats by the enemy's fire from the shore, which killed three and wounded several of the British; the remainder of the party having ex- pended their ammunition, and having no. means of regaining their vessel, were obliged to surrender. An exchange of prisoners taking place in December, 1776, Mr. Broughton obtained his re- lease, and joined the Eagle, the flag- ship of Lord Howe; he shortly after requested and obtained permission to remove into the Haerlem of 12 guns, commanded by Lieut. Knight. After a variety of services in this vessel our midshipman returned to the Eagle, and arrived in his native land in October, 1778, after an absence of nearly four years. Mr. Broughton did not remain longer in England than December, when he joined the Superb of 70 guns, bearing the flag of Sir Edward Hughes. In March 1779, the Superb, accom. panied by a squadron of men of war, proceeded to the East Indies, having first sailed to Goree, which was taken without any resistance.
The first enterprize was the reduction of Negapatam, where the fleet lay at anchor waiting for the co-operation of Sir Hector Munro's army to besiege it. The seamen and marines were landed, to act in conjunction with the military forces, and Mr. Broughton was ap- pointed adjutant to the naval battalion under the command of Capt. Thomas Mackenzie of the Active frigate. Its force was about 750 strong. The place
held out till Christmas. Fort Ostenberg, in Trincomalee, was then attacked in a similar manner. It was taken by storm, and two East Indiamen, richly laden, were found in the harbour. The captain of Mr. Broughton's company was killed, and Lieut. Long, with several officers and men severely wounded; but Mr. Broughton had the good fortune to escape, though he received a musquet- shot through his hat. This capture took place on the 18th of January, 1782, and on that day Mr. Broughton was commissioned to be lieutenant of the Burford of 70 guns, commanded by Captain Peter Rainier. Mr. B. was in
the several actions between the fleets commanded by Sir Edward Hughes and the French Admiral Suffrien. They were in no case decisive, though well- fought and sanguinary, but were put an end to by the news of peace, when Lieutenant Broughton returned to Eng- land in June 1784, remaining there un- employed till July 1788, at which time he was appointed to the Orestes sloop of war, in which vessel he continued on the home station, till May 1790, when he was removed into the Victory of 100 guns, bearing the flag of Lord Hood.
As at that time there was little chance of a war, Lieut. Broughton was grati- fied in being thought a fit person to command the Chatham, armed brig, destined to accompany Captain Van- couver on a voyage of discovery.
in Captain Vancouver's celebrated work it will be seen that Lieutenant Brough- ton by no means discredited the choice that had been made of him, and in the maps may be observed many lands and islands that was discovered by him when his vessel was separated, for a time, from Captain Vancouver's. He found a bar- ren island, to which he gave the name of Knight's Island, lat. 48. long. 166' 44'; and soon after two more, which, from their similarity, he called the Two Sisters, lat. 43 11, long. 182° 49′; a larger one, he landed upon, and named it Chatham Island. The natives were of a treacherous and cruel disposition, so much so, that in their own defence Lieut. Broughton's party were obliged to fire upon them; one was killed and the rest instantly dispersed. The next service Lieut. Broughton was employed on, was a survey of the Columbia river, which he completed in his boats in ten days, having traversed it about 84 miles from its entrance. From his descrip- tion, it cannot be considered as a river safe for the navigation of vessels of bur-
then. Its entrance is shallow, surrounded by dangerous reefs, and a tremendous sea, according to the tide, breaking across it.
In January 1793, Capt. Vancouver having thought it expedient that intel- ligence should be sent to England, con- cerning the adjustment of the differences relative to Nootka Sound, Capt. Van- couver requested of Seignior Quadra, the Spanish officer on the station, that he would permit Lieut. Broughton to take his passage by the way of New Spain to England. This friendly officer con- veyed Lieut. Broughton to St. Blas, on the coast of California, whence he pro- ceeded through Mexico to La Vera Cruz.
A journey through a country im- mortalized by the enterprizing spirit of Cortez, and the sufferings of Monte- zuma, could not but be interesting to a mind like Lieut. Broughton's, inqui- sitive after useful knowledge, and desir- ous of visiting places, which, through the jealousy of the Spanish government, had hitherto been shut up from the curiosity of Englishmen. Humboldt's Travels, lately published, have been very minute in their description of Mexico; but, at the time Lieut. Broughton crossed the continent of New Spain, no book but that of Monsieur de Pagés, had for years been given to the English public on the subject. No doubt Lieut. Broughton made notes as he travelled, but, perhaps, did not think them of sufficient import- ance to be submitted to the world. For who that can reflect and convey his thoughts to paper, would pass over the plain of Olumba without a sigh of com- miseration for the ill-fated Mexicans, and without detestation for their barbar-
ous oppressors. Lieutenant Broughton sailed in a Spanish sloop of war tò Cadiz, and thence by the way of Madrid, to visit the English minister, by which means he had an opportunity of crossing the continent of Old, as he had done that of New Spain before, and of seeing countries, in every point of view, so in- teresting to the curious and philosophic traveller. From Corunna he returned to England.
The Earl of Chatham, then First Lord of the Admiralty, made Lieutenant Broughton a commander in Oct. 1793; he was also appointed to command his Majesty's sloop Prudence, and in her to take possession of Nootka Sound, from the Spaniards, in the event of Captain Vancover's having left that part of the world. Captain Broughton arrived at
Nootka, March 1796, and found the place had already been restored to an English officer, who informed Captain Broughton that Capt. Vancouver had left that settlement on his return to England.
The service that Captain Broughton has rendered to navigation and geogra- phy, is now more particularly to be con- sidered, as it was left to his discretion to follow any track which he might have thought most conducive to the promo- tion of nautical science, and he deter- mined in consequence to survey the coast of Asia, from 35° to 52° north la- titude. Unknowingly he followed the
course which the French navi- gator, La Perouse, had taken'; yet, how- ever similar their voyages may appear to have been Captain Broughton could lay claim to discoveries and surveys un- known to La Perouse. The surveys of the western coast of Jesso, that also of the straits of Sangar, the coast of Corea, the Loo-choo islands and the southern Kuriles, were made by the English, which had been omitted by the French commander. Captain Broughton also determined the junction of Saghalien with Tartary, by advancing in a small vessel, not drawing more than nine feet water, eight miles further than La Pe- rouse, and by coming into two fathoms water, at length discovered a bay three or four miles in depth. This he sent a boat to examine, and found it closed in on all sides by low sand hills, nor was there any-where the smallest trace of a passage*. Here then was the extremity of the great gulph of Tartary, ascer- tained by the penetration and persever- ance of Captain Broughton, and it should be recollected, that this arduous survey was effected by him in a schoon- er of only eighty tons burthen, with one small boat, and that not in the summer season, but in the midst of equinoctial gales, and the most unfavorable season of the year, for the Providence sloop had been lost on the 17th May 1797, by striking on a reef of rocks off Taypiu- sau, one of the Loo-choo islands, situ- ated in latitude 25° north, and 125° east longitude, about 100 miles from the east part of Formosa. The crew
* The Quarterly Reviewer, in article 2d of the 41st volume, observes, "La Perouse reasoned Saghalien into an is- land, which Captain Broughton after- wards ascertained to be a part of the continent of Tartary."
were fortunately saved, consisting of 112 souls, and conveyed in the schooner Captain Broughton took with him, to China. And here it should be men- tioned, that this officer visited the Loo- choo islands many years before Captain Maxwell and Captain Hall, whose voy- ages have been published, and in which proper notice is taken of his first claim of visiting these interesting islanders in late years, though the position of the islands had long been ascertained and described by Pére Gaubal, a missionary of the Jesuits at Pekin. See Lettres Edifiantes, tom. xxiii. p. 182.
The crew of the Providence was dis- tributed on board the Swift sloop of war, (which was afterwards lost, and the whole perished,) and the East India ships, to take their passage to England. Of this crew, Captain Broughton reserved thirty- five, officers and men, to accompany him in the Schooner, for the completion of the survey he had begun as de- tailed before. In March 1798, Captain Broughton sailed from Macao to Trin- comalee Harbor, and there found he had been promoted to the rank of post- captain, January 28th, 1797.
At Trincomalee, Captain Broughton was tried by a court-martial for the loss of the Providence, and fully ac- quitted of any blame whatever in caus- ing the misfortune; which appears to have been attributable to one of his offi cers, who was dismissed the service, though re-instated from some favour- able circumstances having been advanced in his behalf.
This last voyage of Captain Brough. ton's, which occupied four years, was very prejudicial to him with respect to circumstances, for, in consequence of a coolness which appears to have existed between him and the commanders-in- chief in the East Indies and at the Cape of Good Hope, he was obliged to take a passage to the latter place in an Ame- rican ship, and from thence to England in an Indiaman, thus incurring ex- penses which nearly amounted to the whole of his pay due to him during his absence. On his arrival in England, Captain Broughton applied for reim- bursement, but was told that this request could not be complied with, as the esta- blishing a precedent in such a case would be attended with bad conse- quences.
Our officer remained unemployed til the month of June 1801, when he was appointed to command the Batavia, of 54 guns, stationed as a floating battery,
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