The Patriotic Parting. on the English, while they had the advan- Opdam refolved to obey the orders of This memorable battle began on the 3d of June, at three in the morning, and was furioufly fupported on both fides till noon, without any material advantage gained by either. The Earl of Sandwich, with the blue fquadron, firit gave a turn to the fortune of the day, by falling into the centre of the Dutch fleet, and separating it into two parts. This threw the enemy into fuch confufion as brought on a general fight. Meanwhile, the Duke of York, in the Royal Charles, a fhip of eighty guns, and Admiral Opdam, in the Eeendracht, of eighty-four guns, were closely engaged. The fight continued for fome hours with great obftinacy, during which the Duke was expofed to imminent danger. The Earl of Falmouth, the Lord Muskerry, and Mr. Boyle, fecond fon to the Earl of Burlington, were all killed by his fide, by the fame chain fhot, and were fo near the Duke at the time, that he was covered with their blood and brains; and the Dutch writers fay, that a splinter of Mr. Boyle's skull wounded him in the hand. In the heat of this defperate action the Dutch Admiral blew up, and of five hundred men, among which were a great number of volunteers of the beft families in Holland, only five were faved. Soon after this fatal ftroke to the Dutch, four of their choiceft fhips, from fixty to forty guns, ran foul of each other, and were fet on fire, and confumed by one fire fhip; three ftill larger men of war foon after thared the fame fate by the fame means. The Orange, a fhip of feventyfive guns, after a moft gallant defence, was alfo burnt, with four hundred men on board, by Captain Smith of the Mary. By this time the whole Dutch fleet feemed to be but one blaze, and the cries of fo many miferable wretches, who were perishing either by fire or water, forced the most inflexible to pity. The English rendered an the affiftance in their power to their vanquished enemy, while, with re Coubled fury they affailed the reft. Two of the Dutch Vice-admirals, Stellingaert and Cortemaer, were killed. Their hips, 427 bearing out of the line without ftriking their flags, on the deaths of their com manders, drew many after them; fo that, bravely maintained the fight, and that by eight at night, Van Tromp, who ftill fhips to fupport him. This was the moit even whilft retreating, had not above thirty fignal victory the English ever gained, and the feveret blow the Dutch ever felt at fea. The latter are reckoned to have had 18 fhips taken, and 14 funk in the action, befides fuch as were blown up; they loft fix thousand men, upwards of two thouteen of which were captains. On the fide fand of whom were made prifoners, fixof the English only one thip was loft, the Charity, of forty fix guns: no more than two hundred and fifty men were killed,.. and about three hundred and forty wounded, but many of high rank fell in this action, besides thofe already named; fuch Rear-admiral Sampfon, and Vice admiral as the Earls of Portland and Marlborough, Lawfon; the latter of whom died of a wound he received in his knee, although he furvived the battle. with fome appearance of reason, that this It is affirmed by Bishop Burnet, and victory, might have been rendered more complete, had not orders been iffued to flacken fail by Brounker, an attendant upon the Duke, whilft his Highnefs flept, and who pretended authority from his master. but Brounker was never fufficiently pu nifhed for his prefumption. Dutch wriThe Duke difclaimed the orders, ters exprefs their aftonishment, that the English did not puth on their good fortune; and feem to acknowledge, that, had they done fo, the whole Dutch flect muft have become their prey. The Duke of York, failing back to England, left the fleet at anchor, and repaired to London, where he was received amidst the accla mations of the people. The King ordered a day of thanksgiving to be obferved all over England for this victory; and me. dals were ftruck in honour of the Duke of York, who became the idol of the nation, and began to be respected as the prefumptive heir of the crown; for the Queen was fuppofed barren, and almoft totally negle&ted by her bufband. The King and Council would not fuffer the Duke to expofe his perfon to the danger of a fecond engagement; on which the command of the fleet devolved upon the Earl of Sandwich, The Patriotic Parting. MR Townshend was married to a lady he Her fon, who with difficulty kept pace with her, being informed that an exprefs was arrived from his father, forgot his inability, and fhot before her like an arrow. he frequently wept over the fetting fun of England's prowefs and glory. Paternal and uxorious affection, for fome time bridled his rage for glory; but at laft, as Cicero recommends, his love for his country grew predominant over his love as an individual, his love for himself, his wife, or his fon. He even folicited a friend of his, one of the lords of the admiralty, for a commiffion. It was promifed, it was granted him. He was ordered to Bofton; he behaved with prowefs, and on his fhip's being ordered home, he thought of nothing but laying his laurels at the feet of his lady. But as human wishes are fometimes eroffed, he fell in with a fleet of men of war bound to Martinico. Being only in a fingle fhip, he was captured, and carried into that ifland. Having for fome time been in confinement, he effected his escape on board a long-boat, which lay clofe to the fhore. On their firft embarking, they were endangered by an hurricane; but fortunately a British privateer, which faw their diftrefs, fent out their boat, and, by their kind offices, brought them fafe on board. In their paffage homeward with two prizes, they were hailed by a man of war of their own nation, of which the commander was an old friend of Townshend's, who received him on board with the greateft effufions of friendship, and conducted him fafe again to Margate. Townfhend, exulting at arriving on his native fhore, and eager to revilit his little family, went poft to Dover, and made enquiry on the road of the welfare of his wife and fon. At first his researches were fruitlefs, but as he approached towards his own habitation, the gloom of uncertainty was difperfed, and the funfhine of profperity fucceeded to the anticipations of anxiety. He was informed that during his abfence, a near relation of his wife's had died, and bequeathed her an addition to her fortune. On hearing this, he ordered the driver of the chaife to push on more vigorously, and promised him a confiderable gratuity for his activity. On his arrival in his own houfe, he was informed that his wife and fon enjoyed their health, and felt no other folicitude, but that of anxiety for his welfare. Being told whither fhe was gone on a vifit, he fent a meffenger to acquaint her, that a gentleman had arrived exprefs from her hufband who would be glad to fee her immediately. Her affection for one whom the had loft fo long, made her leap over the bars of etiquette, and the flew homewards. caught him in his arms, thed over him a She heard him with the prefages of a wife, who has long been abfent from a once more the pleasure of clasping in her husband-quickened her pace, and had arms, the fummit of all her withes. up, but only for a fhort time, when it Anecdotes of Queen Elizabeth, and the Scot• HE plealing manners of Melvil made fide acting with him in ferious matters, the an impreffion upon Elizabeth. Beindulged in his company the playfomehad an opportunity to penetrate the farnefs of her humour. By this means, he ther into her difpofitions and her character. At one time fhe made him follow her into her chamber, and opened a cabinet where there were many portraits. Upen the paper which covered the first that the hand," My lord's picture." took up there was written with her own Melvil, anxious to fee the portrait which had this She difcovered a reluctance and delay. title, preffed her to gratify his curiofity, His curiofity became more importunate; and at length prevailing with her to allow nefs of the Earl of Leicefter. He begged him to look upon it, he beheld the likethat he might carry it home to his Queen; but she would not part with it. She then and kiffed it; and Melvil adventured to took up a portrait of the Queen of Scots kifs her hand for the love which the bore to his millrefs. At other meetings, the made inquiries about the countries he had feen, and permitted him to entertain her with his travels. to her concerning the cuftoms of foreign He made obfervations nations, and entered into details about the dreffes of their women. She inform him, that in her wardrobe she had pparel in the fashion of all countries; and the thewed fhewed a fond folicitude to meet him every day in a different garb. She put the queftion to him, whether the English, the French, or the Italian habit became her beft. He told her, that in his judgment the appeared to the greatest advantage in the Italian habit; an anfwer which was very flattering to her, as the delighted to exhibit her golden coloured hair. Yet, fays Melvil, her hair was not flowing, and was rather reddish than yellow. She afked him whether his Queen or fhe was the faireft. Their fairness, he replied, was not their worft faults. She was earneft with him to be more explicit. Her majefty, he faid, was the faireft perfon in England, and in Scotland there was nothing comparable to his queen. She was ftill diffatisfied. Melvil, thus preffed to give her the preference, pleafed her with the flattering acknowledgment, that he was fairer than his queen; but that his queen was more lovely. She inquired which of them was of the higheft itature. He anfwered that his queen was the talleft. Then faid Elizabeth, the must be too tall; for I am of a proper height. She exprefsed a defire to know the amufements with which Mary relieved the toils and anxieties of business. He replied, that she took an extreme delight in books of hiftory: that he went frequently to chafe the flag; and that she could touch the lute and the virginals. She asked him, if the laft in#trument was a favourite one, and if her fkill in touching it was exquifite. He faid, that he could play upon it reasonably for a Queen. As Elizabeth herself excelled in mufic, fhe even contrived, that Melvil fhould be a witnefs of her command over this inftrument. By her order lord Hunfdon was to lead this ambassador as if by chance to her apartment, and afford him an opportunity to judge of her execution. He accordingly introduced him into a gallery from which her apartment was only feparated by a piece of tapestry. Melvil feeming to be ftruck with the mufic, put afide the tapestry, and placing himself at a convenient distance in her chamber, liftened to her a confiderable time. Eliza beth, affecting not to know his fituation, turned out her head, and gave a cry of autonishment. She appeared not only furprifed, but offended, and came forward as if to firike him with her hand. Melvil endeavoured to excufe the liberty he had taken from his having been accustomed to the free and gay manners of France. She told him, that he was not used to play before men, and that the only employed herself in this exercife when the was alone of thad in a melancholy mood. She neglectand Corgot, however, to ask him, whether his queen or fhe was the most admirable performer. He faid, he was ravifhed with her skill in mufic, and could not but allow, that it was greater than that of his miftrefs. She now turned the converfation to books of theology, hiftory, and love; and Melvil upon leaving her, embraced the opportunity of preffing to be favoured with her difpatches, as the affairs of his mistress required his speedy return. She told him, that he was fooner weary of her company than fhe was of his; and detained him two days longer, that he might fee her dance. Such absurdity and littlenes, fuch girlish levity and affectation did Elizabeth unite with the most mafculine fpirit, and the profoundest policy. A modeft Eulogy on the Marquis of Rocking; or, an impartial Account of his Life, Principles, and Character. ham T HIS nobleman was defcended of an illuftrious family, to which he added a new glory, by his patriotifm and generofity. The patrimony he received from his ancestors was large, and he did not add to it by any habits of meannefs or parfimony. It is fuppofed on the contrary, that he has rather impaired it, from the indulgence of his benevolent difpofitions. To the advantages of birth and riches, he added the accomplishments of a polished taste, and of an understanding cultivated by fudy. But what chiefly diflinguished him, was a tender and liberal humanity, which made him feck for objects upon whom he might exercise his beneficence. This humanity, however, while it ftimulated him to alleviate private distress and calamities, interefted him keenly in the welfare of his country. Did he accept, or did he resign the honours of office; did he oppose the measures of a corrupt adminiftration, or employ his exertions to fave a declining empire, the fame ardour. and difinterestedness of public virtue animated his mind, and directed his conduct. During the laborious and illiberal adminiftration of George Grenville, the ftamp act was paffed. The Americans at first fullen and discontented, gave way to pride and refentment; infinite difcontents prevailed, both at home and abroad; an univerfal panic in particular spread itself over America. The inhabitants of that extenfive region, trembled for their property, their perfons and their liberty; for that liberty which their ancestors found not in their own country, which they fought for in the woods, and which they bequeathed to them as an invaluable inheritance.They had been accustomed to look to the mother country as their protector; and they were confcious that they had enlarged its territories by their labour, and increafed ́its commerce by their indultry. But the ftamp act was about to divide the two countries, and to produce all the molt cruel miferies of war. In a moft perilous condition of public affairs, the marquis of Rockingham fucceeded to Mr. Grenville. The first intelligence of the stamp act reached New England. The fhips in the harbour of Bofton hung out their colours half maft high, as tokens of the deepeft diftreis; the bells were muffled, and rung a dumb peal. The act itself being printed with a death's head affixed to it, was fet up in the place ufually deftined for flamps, and was publicly cried about the firects by the name of the Folly of England, and the Ruin of America. Tumultuous proceedings were held every where; the founds of complaint and injury refounded from the fhores of America to the ports of England. Such a season requires the aid, and is calculated to prove the fidelity of the patriot; it is amidft toils, perils, and tumults, that patriotifim is difplayed with the greatest luftre. While fome were refrained by fear, and others were labour. ing under uncertainty and fufpence, the marquis of Rockingham undertook refolutely the management of affairs, and difcharged it with integrity and firmnets. To maintain the dignity of the mother country, to appeafe the minds of the colonifts, to confult their just rights, and to give fatisfaction to the people of England at large, were the objects of his adminiftration. He was affailed by one univerfal cry of deteftation against the tyrannical government of his predeceffor. Remontrances without number were fent from America; and at home a great body of the merchants reprefented in dutiful and refpectful terms the dangers aring to commerce from the reftraints impofed upon it by a rapacious miniftry, and from the fortitude and unanim ty exerted by the colonifts. The marquis propofed and carried the repeal of the ftamp act, as the moft efficacious method of allaying the troubles which had been raised. It was the child of arbitrary power, and he was the friend of liberty and the conftitution. Nor did this illuftrious statesman content himself with the repeal of the ftamp act. He procured the paffing of a law which indemnified all thofe who had incurred the penalties of the stamp act, and which afforded a compenfation to all who had fuffered in America from the riots occali oned by it. By the former law he difpelled the fears of the colonifts; and by the latter he was anxious to preserve them in their duty and allegiance. It is not, however, to be denied, that the oppofition he met with in parliament was fierce and ftrong. He had yet the confolation to receive frequent addreffes, in which the Americans, impressed with gratitude, extolled his services. From the merchants too, at home, he received marks of the warmest approbation; and he was disposed to proceed with vigour in the career upon which he had entered. There were appearances of peace and concord; but thefe hopes were all blafted! He ceafed to be minifter in the moment when he was about to fettie the differences of the mother country and the colonies, and when he was folicitous to re-establish the grandeur of Great Britain. By that fyftem of favouritifm which has proved fe fatal to England, it is to be con. ceived that the marquis of Rockingham was driven from the flation where he might have been fo useful to his country, and where he had acted with so much ho nour to himself. This fyftem is known to be most hoftile to the conftitution of England, and it has been productive of effects, the moft ruinous to its affairs. By the cabal who promoted it the conduct of this ftatefman was narrowly examined, his opinions were contradi&ed, and bis measures reprobated, He was fudious to acquit himself, as the accountable fervant of the people; but they required him to adapt his fentiments to the prerogatives of the crown. He was eager to re etablish the national profpen. ty upon a firm and solid basis; and they infifted that he ought to regulate his couduct by the will of the court. To have conditions preferibed to him was offenfive to his virtue. He heard them with abberrence, and rejected them with difdain. Unable to stop the progrefs of corruption, and unwilling to yield to its influence, he abandoned an office which he could no longer reconcile with his ideas of private honour, nor render fubfervient to the pub lic good. But the lofs of power neither weakened his principles, nor diminished his activity. The caufe which he could no longer promote by official employment, he did not enfeeble by filent alleence, The fyftem which he could not overthrow, he continued to combat with steadines and vigour. But while his oppofition was firm, it was managed, at least on his part, with moderation. The temper with which he acted forms a ftriking feature in his character. It marks and diftinguishes the whole course of his oppofition. It taught him to foften the acrimony of debate, to retrain the eagerness of decilion, and to mitigate mitigate the ardour of patriotism. vourite scheme of coercion ; and mifcarriages from every quarter, ferved to awaken him from his flumbers, but did not rouze him to vigour. His errors were without end, and he was incapable of being detached from them. The effects which flowed from them were too obvious not to be generally perceived; and too dreadful to be aggravated even by the clamours of faction. The Dutch joined themfelves to the enemies of Great Bri tain; and its glory was not only tarnished, but in danger of being utterly anninilated. Her colonies were lott; her armies were perithing in inaction; her enemies were increafing in ftrength; and her navies were unable to maintain the superio He never ventured to call in queftion the virtue of his fovereign. He delivered his own fentiments with dignity; and he objected to those of others with candour. In propofing measures he was never directed by violence; and in defending them he never degenerated into fcurrility. Even when he fupported schemes the most highly conducive to the public good, and oppofed others of the moll oppofite complexion, even in those seasons when it is most difficult for the patriot to confine his keennels within bounds, he maintained a dignified calmness and recollection. Hence the greatett refpect was uniformly paid to his conduct. His fucceffor, the duke of Grafton, ir-rity of the ocean. ritated all the ills of his country. A fet- The accumulated diftreffes of his countled scheme feemed to be formed to overturn the rights of the people. The army appeared to be more refpected than the civil power. Monarchical principles thre tened to grow formidable; and a defpote violence, it was apprehended, might humble for ever the fiends of liberty and independence. Corruption grew to amenormous height. Lord North fucceeded the duke of Grafton, and improved upon his demerits. Much was expected from him; and he difappointed all parties. He acted from expediency, not from policy. He had no views, no measures, and was expert in nothing but in inventing taxes. He fell asleep with the helm of affurs in his hands. Commanders by fea and land were employed whom he ought to have avoided. The misfortunes of the country multiplied, and he appeared to be unaffected by them. Obftmate in nothing, but in adding to the national calamities, he changed his conduct, without adopting what was right. Feeble, ill informed, irrefolute, and fluctuating, he difgufted all orders of men. The nation was involved in a war without neceffity; and it was carried on without wifdom. The minif. ter, liftening with the credulity of a child to the mifreprefentations of ignorant or interefted men, conceived that the Americans had neither courage, nor fpirit, nor refources. I thought he could fubdue them with a handful of troops; and by this conqueft it was to be feared, that the royal aut might be increafed to an inordinate pw } The humiliation of America, by chaling the weight of the crown, might be the burnination of England. Amedicus, however, driven to on, dovered that they were in that they Fence try, drove lord North from a ftation for which he was altogether unqualified. His fall, like his adminiftration, was stained with meannels and difgrace. This nation had not yet forgotten the fervices of the marquis of Rockingham. He was called again to manage the helm of affairs; and every man was convinced, that he would confult with integrity the interes of his country; and that he defpifed infinitely the fytem of fivouritifin, which had fupported to long his predeceffor, and which had nothing lels in view, than the deftruc-. tion of the liberties of England. The Gtuation of affairs was perplexed and intricate. The dangers which furrounded the nation were many and alarming. But the patriotifm of his lordthip kept him from defpondence; and he undertook to serve his country to the utmolt of his abilities. He had formerly been incited to rescue her from the influence of intenine commotions; and he was now called to deliver her from foreign as well as domestic foes. Courace, and Sp England dey gamit His nomination to office was attended with the univerfal fatisfaction of all who had the real interefts of their country at heart. No murmurs were heard but from Scotfmen; and thefe ought to be confi dered as marks of diftinction. The expectations formed of the marquis of Rockingham were founded upon his former adminiftration, and the general tenor of his public life. Nor were they faile or deceitful. He entered into office with the fixed refolution of diminishing the exorbitant power of the crown, and of fecuring the just rights of the people. It was alfo his intention to bring about a reconciliation with our ancient allies. But, alas! his death put a period to all his public cares, and deprived the nation of the man from whom it had the greatelt advantages to expect. The divifions which enfued in the cabinet are decutive pro |