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PUGILISTIC CONTEST.

not one of that class himself, but he felt for those who were; and when his dinner was going aft, he has often seen the hungry mids cast over the dishes a wistful watery mouth; upon noticing which, he has instantly arrested their supporters, and ordered the whole of his dinner, save one dish, to be carried to the midshipmen's

mess.

The sympathy of Prince William was equal to that of the noble admiral; and all on board the Prince George, of whatever station, were made happy by his generosity. By the officers he was beloved, and by the crew he was adored. The buoyancy of spirits, the disposition to relieve, the total absence of pride, and an incessant turn for humour and frolic, and not the circumstances of birth and dignity of title, were the points which marked his character, and rendered him the centre of attraction.

At this period of his life, the Prince was remarkable for a playfulness of manner, characteristic generally of a benevolent and innocent disposition. Having played one of his boyish practical jokes upon a contemporary and coeval, he was surprised at its being either misunderstood, or received in an unyouthful spirit. The paternal admonitions of Polonius to his son were fully impressed upon the mind of Prince William, and he resolved, having got into a quarrel, "to behave himself so that the opposer might beware of him." The offended middy, nephew of the admiral, and son of a gentleman of large estate in Dorsetshire, threw down the gauntlet, which was instantly taken up by the Prince. This movement was succeeded by several hard-fought rounds, terminated, as they should have been, by a redintegratio amoris.

On the 25th of February, 1781, Rear-Admiral Digby, with six sail of the line, got under weigh, and went down

RELIEF OF GIBRALTAR.

59

Channel on a cruise; but, two days afterwards, the wind blew so violently from the westward, that the ships were driven into Plymouth Sound with considerable damage.

The siege of Gibraltar was now carried on with such extraordinary vigour, as to attract the attention and excite the wonder of all Europe. As the defence of that important fortress required large supplies from England, Admiral Darby, with two hundred transports, sailed from Spithead on the 13th of March, and, being joined by the squadron under Admiral Digby, proceeded on that service. Owing to the severe westerly gales which the fleet had to encounter, and the necessity of keeping the convoy together, the Admiral did not reach Cape Spartel till the 11th of April, when he despatched the Kite cutter with a letter to General Eliot, informing him of the approaching relief. The next day, about noon, the convoy, with four ships of the line and some frigates to protect them, anchored in and about Rosier Bay, while the rest of the squadron kept under sail in the road, as the Spaniards had at that time a large fleet in Cadiz ready for sea. Thirteen of the transports, with two frigates, were then forwarded for the relief of Minorca, the English garrison at which place was suffering still more dreadfully than that of Gibraltar.

The following description of the appearance of this spectacle is given by the late Mr. Gilpin, in his work on picturesque scenery :—

"It was near day-break, on the 12th of April, 1781, when a message was brought from the signal-house, at the summit of the rock, that the long-expected fleet, under Admiral Darby, was in sight.

"Innumerable masts were just discovered from that lofty situation; but could not be seen from the lower

them to you, and that to this mark of his goodness and attention I should add the strongest expressions of esteem for your person and character. I feel the greater pleasure in giving this mark of condescension in this august prince, as it furnishes me with an opportunity, which I have been anxiously looking for these two months that I have been in the camp, to assure you of the high esteem I have conceived for your excellency; of the immense desire I feel of having yours; and of the pleasure to which I look forward of becoming your friend, after I shall have learned to render myself worthy of the honour of facing you as an enemy. His Royal Highness, the Duke de Bourbon, who arrived here twenty-four hours after Comte d'Artois, desires also that I should assure you of his particular esteem. Permit me, dear general, to offer you a few little trifles for your table, of which I am sure you must stand in need: as I know you live entirely on vegetables, I should be glad to be informed what kind you like best. I shall add a few partridges for the gentlemen of your household, and some ice, which I presume will not be disagreeable, in the excessive heat in this climate, and the present season of the year. I hope you will be so obliging as to accept the small portion which I send with this letter."

To this epistle, General Eliot returned, the next day, the following answer :—

Sir, I find myself highly honoured by your obliging letter of yesterday, in which your excellency was so kind as to inform me of the arrival in your camp of his Royal Highness the Comte d'Artois and the Duke de Bourbon, to serve as volunteers at the siege. These princes have shewed their judgment in making choice of a master in the art of war, whose abilities cannot fail to form great warriors. I am really overwhelmed with the condescension of his Royal Highness, in permitting some letters, for persons in this place, to be conveyed from Madrid in his carriage. I flatter myself that your excellency will give my most profound