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ANECDOTES OF LORD HAWKE.

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fault. I am fully persuaded you will faithfully do your part; therefore, hope you will forgive my saying so much.-My good friend, God bless you! may the hand of Providence go with you and protect you in the day of battle, and grant you victory over our perfidious enemies !"

Such was the patriotic feeling of that illustrious hero, at the close of a long and glorious life. Lord Hawke died on the first of October, in the following year; and as the history of his early life is curious, the reader will, no doubt, excuse the present digression.

The mother of Edward Hawke was sister to Colonel Bladen, one of the commissioners of trade and plantations, a person well known in the political world during the reign of George the First and Second. The Colonel one morning sent for his nephew, and said, "Ned, would you like to be a sailor?" "Yes, sir,” replied the little hero. "Are you willing to go now, or wait till you grow bigger?" "This instant, sir," said young Hawke, though then only twelve years old. In a few days, his friends were consulted; but his father, who was a merchant in the city, seemed totally averse to the proposition. Young Ned was not, however, to be dissuaded from his purpose; and, at length, the father consented. On the morning of his departure to go abroad, his mother summoned all her fortitude, and addressed him with great calmness :-" Adieu, Ned," said she, “I hope shortly to see you a captain." "A captain,” replied Ned, "Madam, I trust you will soon see me an admiral." He jumped instantly into the coach that was waiting to convey him to Portsmouth, and from thence to the ship, where the fleet lay, without any emotion.

Admiral Geary proceeded directly off Brest-his instructions being, to prevent, if possible, an intended

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ANECDOTE OF KEMPENFELT.

junction of the Spanish squadrons then in Cadiz, Ferrol, and Carthagena, with those of France, in Brest, Rochefort, and Port L'Orient. Nothing material, however, occurred till the 3rd of July, when the Monarch, Captain, afterwards Admiral, Duncan, being ahead of the fleet on the look-out, made a signal at ten o'clock in the morning for discovering a fleet consisting of twenty sail. These were immediately concluded to be the enemy of whom they were in search, and the utmost alacrity was used in endeavouring to get up with them. The chase continued the whole day; and at five in the afternoon, the headmost ships came up with the sternmost of the fugitives, which proved to be nothing more than a convoy from Port-au-Prince, under the protection of a single ship of fifty guns. The pursuers did not bring-to for the purpose of securing the ships as they passed, but left that duty to some others of the fleet that were still astern. Unfortunately, a very thick fog came on in the evening, which favoured the escape of nearly half of the convoy. Twelve, however, were captured; which, with the two taken in the Channel, were valued at one hundred and twenty-six thousand pounds.

During this long and arduous chase, there occurred a ludicrous circumstance. The first captain of the Victory was the brave but unfortunate Kempenfelt, equally celebrated for his nautical skill and valour. To his many valuable qualifications, he added, beyond most men in the service, great address in manoeuvering, as well for continuing as bringing on an action. It was thought, however, by some, that he indulged his love of signals too far, and gave more trouble than was necessary. As soon as the strange fleet came in sight, Kempenfelt went below and brought up the signal-book, which he opened and

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