profit nor advantage, and only subjects him to such remarks, as you have now been making". It happened to me to be present, and sitting next to Admiral Rodney at table, when the thought seemed first to occur to him of breaking the French line by passing through it in the heat of the action. It was at Lord George Germain's house at Stoneland after dinner, when having asked a number of questions about the manoeuvring of columns, and the effect of charging with them on a line of infantry, he proceeded to arrange a parcel of cherry stones, which he had collected from the table, and forming them as two fleets drawn up in line and opposed to each other, he at once arrested our attention, which had not been very generally engaged by his preparatory enquiries, by declaring he was determined so to pierce the enemy's line of battle, (arranging his manœuvre at the same time on the table) if ever it was his fortune to bring them into action. I dare say this passed with some as mere rhapsody, and all seemed to regard it as a very perilous and doubtful experiment, but landsmen's doubts and difficulties made no impression on the ad miral, who having seized the idea held it fast, and in his eager animated way went on manoeuvring his cherry stones, and throwing his enemy's representatives into such utter confusion, that already possessed of that victory in imagination, which in reality he lived to gain, he concluded his process by swearing he would lay the French admiral's flag at his sovereign's feet; a promise which he actually pledged to his majesty in his closet, and faithfully and gloriously performed. He was a singular and extraordinary man; there were some prominent and striking eccentricities about him, which on a first acquaintance might dismiss a cursory observer with inadequate and false impressions of his real character; for he would very commonly indulge himself in a loose and heedless style of talking, which for a time might intercept and screen from observation the sound good sense that he possessed, and the strength and dignity of mind, that were natural to him. Neither ought it to be forgotten that the sea was his element, and it was there, and not on land, that the standard ought to be planted by which his merits should be measured. We are apt to set that man down as vain-glorious and unwise, who fights battles over the table, and in the ardour of his conversation though amongst enviers and enemies, keeps no watch upon his words, confiding in their candour and believing them his friends. Such a man was Admiral Lord Rodney, whom history will record amongst the foremost of our naval heroes, and whoever doubts his courage might as well dispute against the light of the sun at noon-day. That he carried this projected manœuvre into operation, and that the effect of it was successfully decisive all the world knows. My friend Sir Charles Douglas, captain of the fleet, confessed to me that he himself had been adverse to the experiment, and in discussing it with the admiral had stated his objections; to these he got no other answer but that "his "counsel was not called for; he required obe"dience only, he did not want advice-" Sir Charles also told me that whilst the project was in operation, (the battle then raging) his own attention being occupied by the gallant defence made by the French Glorieux against the ships that were pouring their fire into her, upon his crying out-" Behold, Sir George, "the Greeks and Trojans contending for the 3 body of Patroclus!" The admiral, then pacing the quarter deck in great agitation pending the experiment of his manœuvre, (which in the instance of one ship had unavoidably miscarried) peevishly exclaimed"Damn the Greeks and damn the Trojans ; "I have other things to think of—” When in a few minutes after, his supporting ship having led through the French line in a gallant style, turning with a smile of joy to Sir Charles Douglas, he cried out-" Now my "dear friend, I am at the service of your "Greeks and Trojans, and the whole of Homer's Iliad, or as much of it as you please, "for the enemy is in confusion, and our victory is secure- This anecdote, correctly as I relate it, I had from that gallant officer, untimely lost to his country, whose candour scorned to rob his admiral of one leaf of his laurels, and who, disclaiming all share in the manœuvre, nay confessing he had objected to it, did in the most pointed and decided terms 66 again and again repeat his honourable attestations of the courage and conduct of his commanding officer on that memorable day. In a short time after, when, upon a change of the administration, this victorious admiral was superseded and called home, he confirmed by his practice that maxim, which he took every opportunity to inculcate, (and a very wise one and well worthy of being recorded it is,) viz." That our naval officers have nothing to do with parties and politics, being simply bound to carry their instructions into "execution, to the best of their abilities, with out deliberating about men and measures, "which forms no part of their duty, and for which they are in no degree responsible-." It was to this transaction I alluded in the following lines, which I wrote and inclosed to Lord Mansfield about this time. I had the honour and happiness of enjoying his society frequently, but the immediate reason for my addressing him in this style has no connexion with the subject here referred to- To the Earl of Mansfield. "Shall merit find no shelter but the grave, |