was kept, for a long time, a prisoner, prior to his trial, the result of which was a reprimand; but, on a subsequent inquiry as to his conduct, he obtained an honourable acquittal. He then brought an action against Johnstone, in which he obtained a verdict for £5,000 damages; and these, on a new trial, which was obtained by his antagonist, were considerably increased. Johnstone then applied for an arrest of judgment; which, however, was refused by the barons of the exchequer, who confirmed the adjudication of the second jury. A writ of error was subsequently brought by the defendant, which came on for argument before Loughborough and Mansfield, on the 2nd of February, 1786, when the judgment was reversed. Johnstone's triumph was, however, of

short duration; for Sutton, on an appeal to the house of lords, procured a confirmation of the second verdict. No part of the damages were, however, as it appears, paid by Johnstone, who died, of a lingering and painful disorder, in May, 1787.

Mere animal courage, unallied to talent, seems to have been his only qualification for that rank in the navy to which he was injudiciously raised. Although much admired by many of his cotemporaries, he will, doubtless, be regarded by posterity as a turbulent senator, an imprudent commander, an obstinate litigant, and a hot-headed duellist. On a calm examination of his career, there appears much to censure, and little, if any thing, to admire.

THIS admiral, the son of Captain Palliser, an infantry officer, was born at Kirk Deighton, in Yorkshire, on the 26th of February, 1722. Having entered the navy at an early age, he became a lieutenant in the year 1742, and served in that capacity, on board the Essex, in the engagement off Toulon, in 1744. In July, 1746, he commanded the Weazle sloop, in which he captured four privateers; and, on the 25th of November following, was made postcaptain of a seventy-gun ship, under Commodore Legge, on the Leeward Islands station. He subsequently removed to the Sutherland, in which; at Prince Rupert's Bay, Dominica, he was wounded in three places, and lamed for life, in the left leg, by the accidental explosion of some fire-arms.

In spite of this mishap, Palliser actively pursued his profession; and, in 1748, commanded the Sheerness frigate, in which he proceeded to the East Indies, bearing the news of peace to Admiral Boscawen. In 1750, he was made captain of the Yarmouth, guard-ship. He soon afterwards sailed, in the Seahorse, of twenty guns, for the Scotch coast; and while there, an indenture was forged, by which it was made to that he had taken on board, as a appear,

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volunteer, one who was an apprentice to the master of a merchant-vessel. ceedings for this fictitious illegality on his part, being instituted against him in the vice-admiralty court, Palliser was arrested, and placed in the Tolbooth prison, from which, however, after a few days' confinement, he was released, through the interference of the lords of session.

In 1753, he commanded the Bristol, of fifty guns; and, in 1755, served in the Seahorse, under Commodore Keppel, in the expedition against Virginia; on the failure of which, he returned to England, and was soon afterwards appointed to the Eagle, of sixty guns. On the 30th of May, 1757, while cruising off Ushant, in company with the Medway, he captured the Duc D'Aquitain, a very large French East India ship, after an action, in which fifty of her crew were killed, and several wounded. In the following year he was removed to the Shrewsbury, seventy-four; and while employed, in July, with a detached squadron, to watch the French fleet, in the Brest Road, he drove two frigates on shore, and took part of a fleet of coasting-vessels, which they had in charge. In 1753, he served under Admiral Saunders, in the successful expe

dition against Quebec; and, in 1760, being then in the Mediterranean, was detached with a small squadron, in pursuit of a French naval force that had gone up the Levant; but the enemy took refuge in the Turkish ports, where, in consequence of the neutrality of the Ottoman empire, they were secure from attack.

In 1762, he was despatched with a small squadron to attempt the re-capture of St. John's, Newfoundland; which, however, before his arrival, had surrendered to Captain Graves. After the peace of 1764, he hoisted his broad pendant on board the Guernsey, of fifty guns, and proceeded, with several frigates, to Newfoundland, for the protection of the fishery. On his arrival, he found a French commander, with a force similar to his own, who had directions to settle all differences that should arise between the French and English, as to the right of fishing: Palliser, however, on the ground that the sovereignty of the island was vested in Great Britain, not only refused to sanction any interference on the part of the French commander, but warned him to quit the coast.

In 1770, he was constituted comptroller of the navy, and elected an elder brother of the Trinity-house; in 1773, he was created a baronet; in the following year, he obtained his return to parliament for Scarborough; and, in 1775, he became a flag-officer, a lord of the admiralty, and lieutenant-general of marines.

On the 27th of July, 1778, he served, as third in command, under Admiral Keppel, with the rank of vice-admiral

of the blue, (to which he had been promoted on the 29th of January preceding,) in the engagement between the British and French fleets, off Ushant. On his return to England, finding that much discontent existed among the people, as to the result of the encounter, in which no advantage whatever appears to have been gained, and that such result was partly attributed to his own conduct, he solicited, and obtained, a court-martial on himself and his superior in command, which, after a proper investigation, acquitted Keppel, and declared, "that Admiral Palliser's behaviour was, in many instances, highly meritorious and exemplary; but blameable, in not having made known to the admiral his distressed situation; yet, as he was censurable in no other part of his conduct, that he ought to be honourably acquitted." He had resigned his office of lieutenant-general of marines, as well as his seat in parliament, during the investigation, which had no sooner terminated, than he was elected member for Huntingdon, and made governor of Greenwich hospital.

He passed the latter part of his life in retirement; and, after having been made admiral of the white, and governor of Scarborough castle, died on the 19th of March, 1796, of a disorder occasioned by the wounds he received on board the Sutherland. His nephew, Hugh Palliser Walters, succeeded to the title; but his natural son, George Palliser, obtained the principal part of his property. He appears to have been a courageous and able commander; and, though warm in his temper, a truly estimable and benevolent man.

SAMUEL, son of the Rev. Samuel Hood, was born at Butleigh, in Somersetshire, in December, 1724. He was educated at Thorncombe, a maritime station, and entered as midshipman, on board the Romney, in 1740, under Admiral Smith, who, about the year 1746, made him a lieutenant. In 1754. after having received a severe wound, in cutting out an enemy's vessel, he

was appointed to the command of the Jamaica sloop-of-war; and, two years afterwards, advanced to the rank of post-captain. In 1757, with the Antelope, of fifty guns, he engaged and destroyed a French vessel of equal magnitude; and, in 1759, being then in command of the Vestal, of thirty-two guns, attached to the squadron sent out against Quebec, he captured the Bellona,

a French ship, of fifty guns, after a long and arduous encounter.

On his return to England, Lord Anson, then at the head of the admiralty, presented him to the king; who, as a reward for his gallantry, promoted him to the Africa, of sixty-four guns, with which he was present, at the bombardment of Havre-de-Grace; and, after having been employed for two years on the coast of Ireland, he served during the remainder of the war, under Sir Charles Saunders, in the Mediterranean. The peace that took place in 1763 left his lordship unemployed for a short time; and, in 1768, he hoisted a broad pendant as commodore, and the command off Boston was assigned to him, where he continued for some time, and greatly distinguished himself. In 1778, he was nominated resident commissioner of the dock-yard at Portsmouth; and, on the 20th of April, in the same year, was created a baronet.

On the 26th of September, 1780, he became rear-admiral of the blue, and sailed at the end of the year to the West Indies, in the Barfleur, with a squadron for the reinforcement of Sir George Rodney. Immediately on his arrival, he was employed in preventing the escape of the enemy's vessels from the bay, during the attack on St. Eustatius; and early in April, 1781, he was despatched, with thirteen ships of the line, to intercept the French admiral, De Grasse, whom, on the 28th of the same month, he brought to a partial action, off Martinico. De Grasse having soon afterwards repaired to North America, Hood was ordered, with fourteen ships of the line, to reinforce Rear-admiral Graves, on that station; where, in the month of September, the British fleet came to an encounter with the enemy, in which, however, Hood, being in command of the rear, took no part.

De Grasse having returned to the West Indies, in order to make an attack on St. Christopher's, Hood was despatched in pursuit of him, with twentytwo sail of the line; and arrived off the island, early in 1782. By some skilful manœuvres, he induced the French, whose force exceeded his own, to quit their anchorage in Basse-terre Road, of which he immediately took possession; but the number of the French troops

on shore, and the ruinous state of the defences of the island, having compelled the governor to capitulate, on the 13th of February, the whole of the British fleet, on the night of the 14th, cut their cables at the same moment, and put to sea, without opposition.

On the 9th of the following month, the hostile squadrons came to an engagement, in which, according to Hood's despatches, many of the French ships must have suffered very considerably. "The Ville de Paris, he adds, "was upon the heel all the next day, covering her shot-holes; and, by information from the shore, the French have sent to St. Eustatius upwards of a thousand wounded men.' 39

Sir George Rodney having arrived with a reinforcement, and taken the chief command, a decisive battle ensued on the 12th of April, when La Ville de Paris, the French admiral's ship, struck to Sir Samuel Hood, who cominanded the van division of the victorious fleet. Immediately after the engagement, he was despatched by Rodney, to intercept such of the enemy's discomfited squadron as might attempt to escape through the Mona passage; where, on the 18th, he attacked, and succeeded in capturing, with a trifling loss, two line-of-battle ships, and two frigates.

Rodney now repaired to Jamaica, leaving Hood in command of twentyfive sail of the line, off St. Domingo; whence, on peace being proclaimed, the latter returned to England. Prior to his arrival, the king had created him an Irish peer, and the corporation of London voted him the freedom of the city, in a gold box of one hundred guineas value. On his lordship's being created Viscount Hood, his former title was transferred to his lady, by the title of Baroness Hood, with remainder to her issue.

In June, 1782, he was an unsuccessful candidate for Westminster; but obtained his return for that city in 1784. He was made commander-in-chief, at Portsmouth, in 1786; and vice-admiral of the blue on the 24th of September, 1787. He vacated his seat, in 1788, on being appointed a lord of the admiralty, and failed to procure his re-election, being successfully opposed by Lord John Townshend. In 1790, he was, however, again returned for Westmin

ster; in 1793, he was equally fortunate; but his subsequent unqualified support of ministers, so disgusted his constituents, being given in opposition to their declared sentiments, that, at the next general election, he did not think fit to come forward as a candidate.

In 1790 and 1791, his lordship was appointed to the command of the squadrons destined for particular services; but the differences with Spain and Russia being adjusted before he sailed, he struck his flag on each occasion.

In 1793, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the fleet in the Mediterranean, and effected the capture of Toulon; which, however, soon ceased to be tenable. He subsequently blockaded Genoa; and, after having failed in his first attack on Corsica, succeeded, on a second attempt, in effecting the reduction of that island; which, however, was shortly afterwards retaken by the enemy. He returned, through ill-health, to England, in December, 1794: in the following year, he was elected an elder brother of the Trinity House: in 1796, appointed governor of Greenwich Hospital, and created a viscount: in 1799, made admiral of the white; and shortly after

wards, admiral of the blue. In addition to his other honours, he was, at the time of his death, which took place at Bath, on the 27th of January, 1816, a knight grand cross of the order of the Bath. He was married, in August, 1749, to Miss Susanna Linzee, daughter of the mayor of Plymouth, by whom he had three sons; only one of whom survived him. His lordship died at the advanced age of ninety-two, and was the second senior admiral on the list.

Lord Hood appears to have been not only courageous and skilful, but eminently prudent. He was averse to risking the interests of his country, and the lives of his men, at such a disadvantage, as would have been despised by more daring, but less judicious commanders; when, however, an opportunity occurred of coping with the enemy on even terms, no man could be more desirous of an engagement, or more effective in bringing it to a successful result.

In private life he was highly esteemed, and, as a member of parliament, he is said, on account of the apparent honesty of his intentions, to have enjoyed the respect of those who were most opposed to him in policy.

AUGUSTUS, second son of William Anne Keppel, second Earl of Albemarle, was born on the 2nd of April, 1725, and entered the navy under the auspices of Lord Anson, with whom he served at the taking of Paita. He was soon afterwards promoted to the rank of lieutenant; in September, 1744, to that of commander; and, in the following month, he became captain of the Sapphire frigate, with which he captured the Atalanta, a valuable French ship, and the Superbe, a Spanish cutter. In 1746, he was removed to the Maidstone; and, soon afterwards, took the Ferret, a French privateer. In 1747, having ventured too near the coast of France, he fell into the enemy's hands;

and, on being exchanged, was brought to a court-martial, by which, however, his conduct was declared to have been blameless.

He was next appointed to the Anson, of sixty-four guns; and, after having been employed for some time in the channel, he was despatched, in 1749, to the Mediterranean, where, about the end of the year 1751, he entered into a treaty of peace with the states of Algiers, Tripoli, and Tunis. At an audience which he had obtained, while on this service, of the Dey of Algiers, for the purpose of demanding that some vessels, which had been taken by the pirates, should be restored, his deportment was so spirited, that the dey exclaimed, "I

wonder at the English king's insolence, in sending me such a foolish, beardless boy!" "Had my master," replied Keppel, "supposed wisdom to be measured by the length of the beard, he would have sent you a he-goat." This answer so enraged the dey, that he ordered his mutes to attend with the bow-string. Keppel, however, displayed no symptom of alarm, but coolly observed, pointing through a window to the English ships riding at anchor in the bay, as he spoke," If it be your pleasure to put me to death, there are Englishmen enough in that fleet to make me a glorious funeral pile!" The dey, it is added, saw so much truth in this remark, that he consented to grant the restitution which Keppel had demanded.

In 1754, Keppel was employed as commodore of the squadron which conveyed the troops commanded by General Braddock, to Virginia. After his return, he commanded, successively, the Swiftsure and Torbay; and served, under Sir Edward Hawke, in the unsuccessful expedition against Rochfort. In 1758, he had the charge of a small squadron, which, in the course of its cruises in the channel, and off the French coast, took many prizes of importance. He was soon afterwards appointed commander-in-chief of the troops, as well as of the naval armament sent out against Goree, which, although he had lost three of his vessels, and about three hundred and fifty men and officers during the voyage, he succeeded in capturing. He was soon after engaged, in the Torbay, under Sir Edward Hawke, at the defeat of the Marquis De Conflans, and made Colonel of the Plymouth division of

marines.

On the 29th of March, 1761, he sailed from Spithead, with a squadron, having on board a body of troops, commanded by General Hodgson, to attack Belleisle, which, after a brave resistance, was forced to capitulate. He next served under the command of Sir George Pocock, with the fleet sent out against Havannah, where he covered the landing of the troops, with great spirit and skill. On the 21st of October, 1762, he was promoted to the rank of rear-admiral of the blue, and commanded on the Havannah station,

where he captured several prizes, until the conclusion of the war.

In 1763, he was made groom of the bedchamber; and, in 1765, a lord of the admiralty, but held these appointments only until 1766, in which year he convoyed the Queen of Denmark to Holland. He was made rear-ad

miral of the red, on the 18th of October, 1770; vice of the blue, on the 24th of the same month; vice of the white, on the 31st of March, 1775; vice of the red, on the 3rd of February, 1776; and admiral of the red, on the 29th of January, 1778.

On the 8th of June, in the last-mentioned year, a renewal of hostilities being expected with France, a fleet of twenty-seven sail of the line was sent into the channel, under the command of Admiral Keppel, who hoisted his flag on board the Victory, of one hundred guns. On the 17th of the month, he discovered two French frigates, which appeared to be reconnoitring his squadron. To these, although war had not been declared, he thought proper to give chase, and one of them was captured. He subsequently took another frigate and a schooner; so that the French could no longer refrain from ordering reprisals to be made on British vessels. By the papers found on board the prizes, it appeared, that the enemy had more than thirty sail of the line, and twelve frigates, ready for sea, in Brest harbour. Keppel, therefore, thought proper to return to port; whence, having obtained a reinforcement, he sailed again, on the 10th of July. By this time the French had put to sea; and, on the 27th of the month, the two fleets came to an action off Ushant. Being upon different tacks, they passed each other in action; and the French so disabled the British ships, in their rigging, that when the latter wore, they were unable to stand after the enemy, until the French had, towards the close of the day, formed their line of battle again, to leeward of their antagonists. "This," said Keppel, in his despatches, "I did not discourage, but allowed of their doing so, without firing upon them, thinking they meant handsomely to try their force with me in the morning; but," he adds, "they had been so beaten in the day, that they took advantage of the night to go off."