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commanded by Hawke and Boscawen, on the coast of France. In the following year, he took a French East Indiaman; and, in 1759, after having been made rear-admiral of the blue, bombarded Havre-de-Grace, with much skill and success. In 1760, while watching at the mouth of the Seine, he drove ashore five flat-bottomed boats, destined for the invasion of England, and destroyed a fort at Port Bassin. In 1761, and the following year, he was so instrumental in reducing the islands of St. Pierre, Granada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and Martinico, that, on his return, he was advanced to the rank of vice-admiral, and created a baronet. On the 30th of November, 1765, he was made master of Greenwich hospital.

In 1768, after a violent struggle, he was returned for Northampton, but his fortune was so much injured by the contest, that, in order to avoid his creditors, he retired to France; where he received an offer, through the Duke de Biron, of high rank in the French navy, to which he replied in the following terms:-"It is true, Monsieur le Duc, that my distresses have driven me from my country, but no temptation can estrange me from her service: had this offer been voluntary on your part, I should have considered it an insult; but I am glad it proceeds from a source that can do no wrong." The Duke de Chartres having, in a previous interview, told him, that he, the duke, should command the fleet opposed to that under Admiral Keppel, and asked his opinion as to the issue, Rodney replied, "Why, my opinion is, that he will carry your highness home with him to teach you English."

In January, 1778, Rodney, whose reply to the proposal of the French king had reached the admiralty, obtained the rank of admiral. In the course of the same year, he was enabled, by the generosity of a French nobleman, to revisit England, and immediately applied for active employment; which, however, he failed to obtain, until nearly the close of 1779, when he was appointed to the chief command on the Leeward Islands station, and soon after proceeded with a convoy to Gibraltar.

On the 8th of January, 1780, he captured, off Cape Finisterre, a valuable

fleet of Spanish merchantmen, bound from St. Sebastian's to Cadiz; and on the 16th of the same month, he encountered the Spanish fleet, under Don Juan de Langara, off Cape St. Vincent. The enemy, whose force was inferior to that of the British, offered a spirited but unavailing resistance :-one of their ships being blown up, four captured, and the rest considerably damaged. On his return to England, he was presented with the freedom of the cities of London and Edinburgh, the thanks of parliament, and the insignia of a knight of the Bath. He also obtained his return to parliament for Westminster.

In February, 1781, he commanded the naval forces at the taking of St. Eustatius; where, in addition to a valuable booty on shore, nearly one hundred and fifty richly laden merchant-vessels fell into the hands of the captors. From St. Eustatius, Rodney proceeded towards Port Royal, off which he expected to meet with a powerful French squadron, under Count De Grasse; who, however, although his force was considerably greater than that of Rodney, avoided an engagement. The British admiral, conceiving that the manœuvres of his opponent were intended to decoy him into the channel between Grenada and the Spanish main, where the rapidity of the current would probably have driven him considerably to the leeward, cautiously avoided falling into the snare, and, at the close of the year, returned, in the Gibraltar, to England. On his arrival, he found himself under the necessity of disclaiming, in parliament, the mercenary motives by which it was insinuated he had been influenced, with regard to the taking of St. Eustatius.

On the 6th of November, 1781, he was constituted vice-admiral of Great Britain: shortly afterwards, he returned to the West Indies; where, on the 5th of April, 1782, at the head of a squadron, consisting of thirty-six sail of the line, he fell in with the Count De Grasse who, had just put to sea with a fleet of thirty-four line-ofbattle ships, in the hope of effecting a junction with the French and Spanish fleets, at Hispaniola. The British commenced a pursuit off Dominique, and, after a short and partial action, brought the enemy to a decisive battle on the

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12th. The attack was commenced, about seven in the morning, between the islands of Guadaloupe and Dominique. About noon, the English commander, supported by his seconds, bore down on the enemy's line, and having succeeded in breaking it, the French fleet was thrown into such confusion, that, by sunset, the British had obtained a decisive victory. One of the enemy's ships was sunk, and five others, including La Ville de Paris, of one hundred and ten guns, which carried the French admiral's flag, were captured during the engagement. memorable victory was achieved by breaking through the centre of the enemy's line, and placing their ships between two fires; a plan which seems to have been originated by Mr. John Clerk, the author of Naval Tactics. It is asserted, that Lord Rodney once observed to Mr. Dundas, "A countryman of yours, Clerk, has taught us how to fight; and if ever I meet the French fleet, I will try his way;" and during his last illness, in a conversation, it is said, with Lord Haddington, relative to the battle, Rodney waived his hand, and shouted, "Clerk, of Elgin, for ever!"

About a month after the battle, Rodney received the thanks of parliament, the title of Baron Rodney, of Rodney Stoke, Somerset; and the grant of a pension of £2,000 per annum.

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His death took place on the 24th of May, 1792, and a monument was, some time afterwards, erected to his memory, in St. Paul's cathedral, at the national expense. He was twice married first to Jane, daughter of Charles Compton, Esq., and sister to Spencer, Earl of Northampton, by whom he had several children; secondly, to Henrietta, daughter of John Clies, of Lisbon, merchant, by whom, also, he had offspring. For some years before his death, he and his wife had lived separate.

The fine qualities displayed by this brave commander endeared him to all ranks in the service. His humanity was equal to his courage, and, notwithstanding his successes, he had the modesty and good feeling to act upon, and acknowledge himself indebted to, the suggestions of another, whose skill in naval tactics was superior to his own. In his habits he was so temperate, that he often sent down the dishes from his own table to the midshipmen's mess. Pecuniary difficulties embittered a great portion of his life, with which, towards its close, he became apparently disgusted; for, in a letter to a friend, he seriously expressed his deep regret that a ball had not struck his head off, when he fought De Grasse, in the West Indies.

RICHARD KEMPENFELT.

RICHARD, the son of Lieutenantcolonel Kempenfelt, a native of Sweden, who is most honourably spoken of in the Spectator, under the appellation of Captain Sentry, was born at Westminster; and became a lieutenant in the navy on the 14th of January, 1740. After having been raised to the rank of commander, he was, on the 17th of January, 1757, promoted to that of post-captain, and sailed in the Elizabeth, of sixty-four guns, as captain to Commodore Stevens, with a small squadron to the East Indies, where his conduct in the engagement with the Count d'Ache, in April, 1758, procured him a

favourable notice in the admiral's despatches. He soon after removed to the Queenborough frigate, with which he convoyed to Madras a strong detachment of Colonel Draper's regiment, under the command of Major Monson.

On the death of Stevens, Kempenfelt became captain to that admiral's successor, Cornish, under whom he greatly distinguished himself at the siege of Manilla, on the capitulation of which, he was appointed governor of Cavite. He appears to have been soon afterwards sent to England with despatches, in which, the military and naval commanders-in-chief mentioned him in

honourable terms. He resumed his station, as captain of the Norfolk, in 1664; and commanded, in succession, the Buckingham and the Alexander. In 1779, he removed to the Victory, as captain of the fleet, under Sir Charles Hardy; and, on the 26th of September, was made admiral of the blue, but continued in his former post, until the close of 1781, when he was placed in command of a squadron, consisting of twelve ships of the line, besides frigates, and sent out against a French fleet, bound for the West Indies; on falling in with which he found it under the convoy of nineteen sail of the line; but, notwithstanding the inferiority of his force, he contrived, by a bold and skilful manœuvre, to sink three or four, and capture fifteen, of the enemy's transports.

In March, 1782, he removed his flag from the Victory, to the Royal George, and served under Admiral Barrington, in the squadron ordered out to intercept the French fleet, then about to sail from Brest to the East Indies. The force of the enemy being far superior to that of the British, no action took place, but Kempenfelt displayed considerable talent in covering the retreat of the Buffalo, an old ship, and a sluggish sailer, which would otherwise, most probably, have been cut off by the van division of the French. He afterwards served in the channel fleet, under Lord Howe, until the Royal George having become exceedingly leaky, orders were given for having her

repaired at Spithead. On the morning of the 29th of August, she was sufficiently heeled to expose the damaged part; but, some hours afterwards, while the admiral was writing in his cabin, and the greater part of the people were at dinner, it became necessary, for the purpose of removing some sheets of copper, to lower her another streak. Just as this had been done, a sudden and violent squall threw the vessel more upon her side; her gun-ports being open, she almost instantly filled with water, and went to the bottom before any signal of distress could be made. A great portion of those who happened to be on deck, and some others, who floated up after the ship had sunk, were saved by the boats, which had put off to their assistance; but the admiral, with several other officers, and upwards of nine hundred persons, including many women and children, who had been permitted to come on board to see their husbands and fathers, perished on this awful occasion.

Kempenfelt, of whose bravery no doubt appears to exist, is reported to have acquired, by constant diligence, such a fund of professional knowledge, as rendered him equal to any naval commander in Europe; and even before his promotion to a flag, he had long been distinguished, it is said, for his great skill in manoeuvring a fleet. In private life he was admired and respected, on account of his piety, benevolence, and agreeable manners.

SIR EDWARD HUGHES.

THIS officer, the son of a gentleman | of property, in Hertfordshire, entered the navy at an early age, and served as a midshipman at the capture of Porto Bello, with so much credit that he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, on the 25th of August, 1740. In the year 1747, he was ordered out to Louisburg, whither he proceeded as a passenger, in the Warwick; and. soon afterwards, obtained the command of the Lark. In 1756, he was nominated to the Deal Castle, of twenty-four guns; and, in

1757, became captain of the Somerset, a seventy-four, in which ship, he continued until near the termination of the war. In 1758, he served with the highest credit in the successful expedition against Louisburg, under the direction of Admiral Boscawen; and afterwards, in that against Quebec, under Sir Charles Saunders. He was likewise employed on the Mediterranean station, in the Blenheim, the flag-ship of Sir Charles Saunders.

Towards the conclusion of the year

1770, Hughes was re-appointed to the Somerset; and, three years after, proceeded in the Salisbury, of fifty guns, with the rank of commodore, to the East India station; where he remained until 1777. On the 23rd of January, 1778, he was promoted to the rank of rear-admiral of the blue; and, soon after, received the insignia of a knight of the Bath. Early in 1779, he became commander-in-chief on the East India station; and, in his way out, effected the reduction of the French settlement of Goree, on the coast of Africa. On the 7th of March, 1779, he was made rear-admiral of the red; and, on the 26th of September, 1780, vice-admiral of the blue. On the 8th of December, 1780, he attacked the squadron of Hyder Ali, then lying in the port of Mangalore; and, in two hours, burnt several of the ships, and forced the remainder to run on shore, with the exception of one, which escaped into the harbour.

M. de Suffrein, one of the most renowned naval officers in the French service, soon after arrived in India, for the purpose of opposing the force under Admiral Hughes, with a superior armament. On the 15th of February, 1781, the French admiral was seen off Madras, having with him five or six prizes, which had been taken from the English on his passage. On the 16th, five of these, and one of the enemy's vessels, with three hundred soldiers, besides cannon, military stores, and ammunition on board, fell into the hands of the British. The two fleets neared each other on the succeeding day; and the English van, not being able to tack and get into action for the want of wind, an unequal contest of three hours duration ensued between eight of the enemy's best ships, and four of the British squadron, among which was the admiral's ship, the Superbe. Notwithstanding their superiority, the French fleet sustained considerable damage; and, taking advantage of a favourable

breeze, hauled their wind, and stood

away.

After having repaired two of his ships, at Trincomarle, the English admiral put to sea on the 4th of March; and, on the 30th, was joined by a reinforcement from England. The adverse fleets met again on the 12th of April, and after a warm engagement, in which the ship of Admiral Hughes took so active a part, that sixty-nine of her men were killed and ninety-six wounded, the enemy drew off in great disorder. Both fleets having repaired, the French admiral, on the 19th of April, 1782, made preparations for attacking the centre of the British squadron; but found it so admirably disposed for resistance, that he thought proper to retire. On the 20th of June, in the following year, Sir Edward Hughes, who had previously been joined by Admiral Bickerton, with six ships of the line, again engaged his skilful antagonist, De Suffrein; who, after three hours' spirited fighting, bore away. On the 22nd of the same month, the two fleets were in sight of each other, off Pondicherry, but no action took place. Fifteen hundred of his men being rendered unfit for duty, by the scurvy, Sir Edward Hughes now repaired to Madras; whence, peace having been proclaimed, he proceeded, with the fleet, to England, and did not afterwards assume any command.

On the 24th of September, 1787, he was promoted to the rank of viceadmiral of the red; and on the 1st of February, 1793, to that of admiral of the blue. He died at an advanced age, at his seat in Essex, on the 17th of February, 1794.

Sir Edward Hughes acquired, by his services, the attributes of signal bravery as a subordinate, and sound judgment as a commander. He made a large fortune on the East India station; a considerable portion of which, he is said to have employed in acts of benevolence.

GEORGE JOHNSTONE.

GEORGE, third son of Sir James Johnstone, a Scotch baronet, entered, at an early age, as a midshipman, on board the Lark, the captain of which

he wounded in a duel, the result of a challenge from Johnstone, on being refused his certificate. In 1755, he became a lieutenant, under Captain Digby,

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with whose clerk he soon afterwards had a hostile meeting, in which Johnstone killed his antagonist. On the 6th of October, 1760, he was appointed to the command of the Hornet sloop, with which he took two French privateers, one in the North Sea, and the other on the Lisbon station. Having attained the rank of post-captain, on the 11th of August, 1762, he commanded, successively, the Hind and the Wager, in the West Indies; and, in 1765, was appointed governor of Pensacola. In the following year, he returned to England; and, in 1768, became member for Cockermouth. In 1770, he fought a duel with Lord George Germaine, afterwards Viscount Sackville, whom he had incensed by a vituperative speech in the house of commons.

In 1774, being returned for Appleby, as well as for Cockermouth, he elected to sit for the former borough. In 1778, he went out as a commissioner, to treat with the American states, relative to their disagreement with England; but congress having resolved, that it was incompatible with its honour to hold intercourse with him, in consequence of his attempts to tamper with some of the members, he soon returned home; and, in 1799, made, in the house of commons, a violent attack on Lord Howe, for his conduct off the coast of America. He soon after went out, as commander-in-chief, to the Lisbon station, with the rank of established commodore. On the passage thither, two of his squadron, the Tartar and the Rattlesnake, captured the Santa Margaretta, a Spanish frigate. For this, Johnstone was warmly eulogized by his admirers; although, in fact, his own ship, the Romney, had no share in the

action.

Towards the close of the year 1781, after having taken the Perle, a corvette, and the Artois, then considered the finest frigate ever built, he returned to England; and, in March, 1782, sailed from Spithead, as commander-in-chief of a secret expedition. On arriving at Port Praya Road, in the island of Jago, he received intelligence that a French squadron was on the look-out for him, but took no precautions against a surprise; rashly confiding, perhaps, in the strength of his fleet, which consisted of sixteen vessels of war, of various

descriptions, and a convoy of ten East Indiamen, mounting twenty-five guns each. Notwithstanding the British commander's superiority of force, he was unexpectedly attacked, on the 16th of April, with only five sail of the line, by the French admiral, Monsieur De Suffrein; who, however, after a contest of nearly an hour's duration, was compelled to retire. Three of his squadron accompanied him; and the fourth, after having been exposed for some time to the whole fire of the British fleet, drifted, without molestation, after him, a complete wreck, without either masts or bowsprit. The gallant De Suffrein contrived to take her in tow; and, having raised a stump in her, forward, wore the shattered hulk, and put before the wind, with his whole force in a line of battle abreast. The British lost so much time in getting out of Port Praya, owing, as Johnstone alleged, to the tardiness of the Isis, commanded by Sutton, that night was fast approaching, before they neared the enemy, and it was then deemed advisable to discontinue the chase.

Johnstone departed, with his fleet, from Port Praya, on the 1st of May; and, in the following month, captured a Dutch East Indiaman, having a cargo on board worth £40,000. Soon afterwards, on his approaching Saldanha, the crews of five other Dutch East Indiamen, which were lying at anchor in the bay, set fire to, and abandoned them but four of the number he had the good fortune to preserve, and, as it appears, they proved to be prizes of considerable importance. On his return to England, he touched at Lisbon, where he married a lady, to whom he had become attached while serving on that station. Two of his prizes were lost in the channel, but with the rest he safely arrived in port.

The remainder of his life was ingloriously devoted to attacks in parliament on Lord Howe; to squabbles with the directors of the East India company, among whom he obtained a place in 1783; and to the bitter persecution of Captain Sutton, of the Isis, whom he caused to be brought to a court-martial, for his alleged delay in making sail after the French ships, on their retreating from Praya Bay. Sutton

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