on the larboard quarter, the French Gibraltar, which was closely pressed ship of war Le Pegase, of 74 guns, on the land-side by the forces of Spain, and 700 men, commanded by the Che- and on that of the sea by the united ar valier de Cillart, surrendered. The dis- maments of France and Spain, amountciplne and good conduct of the officers ing to nearly fifty ships of the line.and men under my command will best After this service had been successfully appear by the state of the killed and performed, Sir John Jervis had a broad wounded, and of the damages sustained pendant given him on board the Sain each ship. I am happy to inform lisbury, of 50 guns, with the rank of you, that only two or three people, commodore, being destined, with a small with myself, are slightly wounded:- squadron of eight or ten sail of vessels but I learn from the Chevalier de Cillart, of war, and armed transports, for a that Le Pegase suffered a great carnage, secret expedition. An unexpected cesand was materially damaged in her sation of hostilities obviated the necesmasts and yards, the mizen-mast and sity of carrying this plan into exeforetop-mast having gone away soon cution. after the action ceased. It blew so The next year after the peace, a gene strong yesterday morning, that I with ral election took place, and Sir John, difficulty put eighty men on board the who had before been returned for prize, but received only forty prisoners Launceston, was now chosen for the in return; in performing which I fear town of North Yarmouth. Although two of our boats were lost. The dis- he never distinguished himself by much abled state of the prize, together with speaking, yet his opinion on most subthe strong wind and heavy sea, induced jects, and especially on professional me make the signal for immediate ones, was greatly attended to. It was assistance, which Commodore Elliot easy to discover that his confidence was supplied, by making the Queen's signal most inclined to repose itself on the to assist the disabled ship. "At eight o'clock last night, they hore S. S. W. four miles distant from us. -We lay-to till ten, in hopes of their joining; but not perceiving them, we bore up and ran N. E. twenty three miles, till day light; when seeing nothing of them, we brought-to, and at half past eight made sail to join the squadron. By all I can learn from the prisoners, this small squadron, composed of Le Protecteur, M. de Soulange, Commodore, Le Pegase, and L'Andromaque frigate, was making a second attempt to proceed on an expedition to the East Indies: some of the troops having been before captured on that destination, by the squadron under the command of Rear-admiral Kempenfelt, in the presence of the above-mentioned ships of war. J. JERVIS. Whig party. He opposed with firmness the extravagant scheme for fortifying the different dock-yards, paying a just and well-merited coinpliment to the unrivalled and vigilant conduct of the navy in general, and expressing a desire to leave the defence of the arsenals of England where the hero and the patriot would wish to see it. At a promotion of flag-officers, the 24th of September, 1787, Sir John was raised to the rank of rear-admiral of the blue, and on the 21st of the same month, in 1790, was farther exalted to the same rank in the white squadron. Upon the apprehension of hostilities with the court of Spain, concerning the trade to Nootka Sound, Sir John prepared to attend his old friend Admiral Barrington upon an expedition; but the storm blowing over, the ships were ordered to be dismantled; Sir John taking upon himself the command in the absence of his chief, during which time Captain Jervis's wound (although he he hoisted his flag on board the Barmentions it so slightly) was of rather a fleur. His public attention was wholly severe nature, being caused by a splinter turned to the senate till the commencestriking him on the temple. It endan- ment of 1794, when he vacated his seat, gered his eye-sight. This act of gal- upon receiving the command of a squalantry was rewarded by his Sovereign; dron fitted out for the West Indies, and for on the 29th of May following, he intended to co-operate with General was invested with the most honourable Sir Charles Grey at the head of a forOrder of the Bath. The Knight, as he midable land force. They commenced is now become, attended Lord Howe their operations by an attack upon the with the Channel fleet in the relief of French island of Martinique, which fell, "Foudroyant, April 23, 1782.” after a short but vigorous assault; and exposed to indiscriminate confiscation. the reduction of this prepared the way It would be improper or tedious to e for the fall of the islands of St. Lucia ter at large into the merits of these c_mand Guadaloupe. The rapidity with plaints, and their justification. The which these conquests were made, puts commanders in their justificatory meas in mind of Cæsar's motto, Veni, Vidi, morial, reply, "The fear of retaliation Vici. It was soon proved, however, must arise not from our treatment of that these colonies were easier taken the enemies, but of the friends of the than retained. Previously to this exploit, French government." "To this," viz. on the 1st of February, in the pre- (say they) "we can give no other anceding year, our admiral had been made swer than that the peculiar nature of vice of the blue; and in this rank he the war, and the orders transmitted to issued orders, which not pleasing his us by his Majesty's ministers, left us co-adjutor General Grey, the latter no discretion as to the treatment either thought proper to contein, in his ovn of that government, or its supporters.” public orders to the army. This was a They add, Upon a reference to our proceeding greatly to be regretted, and in secret instructions, your Grace will persome situations might have been rainous ceive that government (meaning the to the service. The admiral, it was said, French) to be represented as an usurtreated the general's opinions with too pation, having no legal authority, and little deference, and the general in re- its supporters as rebels and traitors."-turn looked upon the admiral as of an In justific inn of the seizures they made, impracticable temper. Whatever might they cited the instances of former wars: have been the cause of so indecent a at Vigo, in 1702; at Payta, in 1741; misunderstanding, neither commander at Senegal, in 1759; at the Havannah, is thought to have neglected his personal in 173; at Oinoa, in 1780; and at interest. Both secured an ample for- St. Eustatius, in 1781. The circumtune by their captures, and both were stance, however, which most tended complained of by the merchants and to shield their conduct from obloquy, traders for their rigid conduct, and es- was the entertainments given to the pecially by those who were ruined or joint commanders by some public comdisappointed through the sudden fall panies, and the freedom of the city of of Guadaloupe again into the hands of London being voted to them. the French. The tables of the prvy Sir John Jervis was now raised to the council, at the time we are speaking of, rank of vice-admiral of the white, and were spread over with memorials, and on the 1st of June, 1795, further adcounter-memorials. That of the com- vanced to that of admirai of the blue, in manders in chief occupied, as we have which year he proceeded to the Mediheard, three score sheets; for however terranean in a frigate, and assumed the they had disagreed about the nature of command of the fleet which had been the treatment they should adopt towards under the orders of Admiral Hotham. the property of the captured; they This was a critical moment; for the united in the mode of defending them- French having contrived to detach the selves from the aspersions of the in- Spaniards from the interests of Great jured, malicious, and disappointed. Britain, he had not only the Toulon The first complainants signified to the fleet to watch, but a much larger one Duke of Portland, then secretary of of the Spaniards in Cadiz. On the 6th state, that the exactions of the con- of February 1707, Rear-admiral Parker querors were rigorous beyond all ex- joined him, with a reinforcement from ample, and that should the fortune of England; but still he had to contend war turn the wheel about, the precedent with an enemy far more numerous. could not fail to work the ruin of every Independently of that superiority, posmerchant and trader interested in such a sessed in force, they had the advantage reverse. Other complaints were made and satisfaction of being near their own by emigrants, and those persons who, ports, whither they could retire under from dislike to the measures of the Di- a discomfiture, without the danger of rectory of France, had underhandedly being pursued. On the 13th, at night, assisted the English, by intelligence or intelligence was given the admiral, by otherwise, to possess themselves of the Captain Foote of the Niger, that the French colonies, that notwithstanding Spanish squadron was within three or such aid, their property was nevertheless four leagues distance; and both fleets within ten of Cape St. Vincent. The and patriotic system of reform, that ever magnitude of the object made the com- entered the head of man. If he had mander disregard surrounding difficul- been seconded in this grand object, as ties, and by a new mode of attack, he ought to have been, the saving ta which he is said to have long had in the nation in this department of its outcontemplation, he obtained the most goings, would have been immense; and, brilliant victory ever achieved against followed up by the like retrenchments such vast odds. The particulars are well in the other branches of expenditure, known; the event ennobled his person, the country would have derived a great and immortalized his fame. The Sal- portion of that kind of strength, which vador del Mundo, the San Joseph, both enabled France, as a republic, to beat of 112 guns each, with two other ships, off the forces of ten crowned heads, and two-deckers, were cut off from the fleet, more than an equal number of sovereign and captured. Royal and public grati- states. But no! retrenchment to the tude equalled the importance of this ex- extravagant, is almost as galling as reploit. He was rewarded by the King funding to the peculator; a swarm of with the titles of Earl of St. Vincent, wasps and hornets, who in indolence the scene of his bravery, and Baron devour the honey, which should supJervis, of Meaford, the place of his port the industrious bee, was aroused by birth; together with a pension of 3000l. his searching hand, to sting him; and a-year. It will not soon be forgotten, as his regard for discipline at all times, that fifteen British ships of the line, rendered him often inaccessible, and fought and defeated twenty Spanish his manners not the most conciliating, ships, the smallest of them carrying 74 a number of professional men joined the guns, and seven others, mounting from cry of the discontented, and made him 12 to 130 each. Admiral, now Lord despair of effecting his object, and indifSt. Vincent, continued nearly two years ferent whether he remained in office or blockading the port of Cadiz, when his not. This project, unexampled in maghealth becoming impaired by great fa- nitude and promise, could not have failtigue, he was compelled to return to ed in its effect, if tried and imitated in England, in July, 1799; on his reco- the army and ordnance. Men of the very, to a certain degree, he was enabled, most discernment, saw the salvation of in the month of May 1800, to take the their country in it, (for a nation can be command of the fleet sent out to bid de- as effectually crushed by the weight of fiance to the united armaments of our its own expences as by the force of an enemies, formidable as they may appear enemy.) Subsequent events have shewn to be. His constitution, however, we how repugnant any scheme of economy fear, has never been fully established; must be to the views of a powerful parthough he has never been backward in ty, whose pursuit was private gain: and, aiding his country by his sword or his which makes it a more deplorable evil counsel. Upon the change of ministry, in the eye of the true patriot, as por which occasioned Lord Spencer to re- tending the utter ruin of his country, tire from the admiralty board, the earl this same party has the knowledge, and was called to that important station, for the means, to obtain that venal suffrage, which the nation appeared to agree no which among the bulk of the people, one could be better qualified. Since passes for the public voice. There are the days of Lord Hawke, it was thought few newspapers virtuous enough to no officer was so well acquainted with withstand the temptation, and assert the routine of naval affairs. Three their own unbiassed opinions: in short, years ago, while first lord of the admi- the men who had influence enough to ralty, the earl made an extensive cir- frustrate the noble admiral's design of cuit, and personally inspected all the prin- obtaining a great victory, without spillcipal dock-yards in the kingdom, inves- ing our blood, will, if unresisted, not tigating their management with the most fail to encrease our danger, as they exscrutinizing eye, and remedying many haust our means. Under their guidance of their evils on the spot; and, as far and their purposes, it appears that noas possible, preventing the recurrence thing less than an interposition of Heaof similar abuses. It was from this ac- ven in our favour, can save us; and it curate survey, that this venerable peer behoves the sensible among us to reand warrior sketched the most judicious flect, whether our individual and na tional conduct can entitle us to look promising officer in the пому; and who for, and expect, such a divine agency in was as much beloved by those who our favour. knew him, as his death is regretted by Besides the mortification the noble all who set a proper value on modesty earl has met with in his ministerial ca- and rising merit. The earl, we are pacity, he has lately experienced two glad to learn, has, in a great measure, irreparable losses in his family. The transferred his affection and care to the Last was of his nephew and heir, a very brother of the late Captain Jervis. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. THOUGHTS ON SEDUCTION. LETTER II. Nullâ reparabilis arte SIR, a guided by the same laws that regulate society in general. The matrimonial contract is inutual; and a failure on either side is equally a violation of faith, and a breach of the confede racy. Having made these preliminous IT would be a work of supererogaobservations, I shall proceed to shew, tion to condemn either with the tem- as well as I am able, that all ages of perate chastity of morality, or the the world have agreed in holding up Erdentia verba" of satire, à vice, this sin to detestation, because this which both in the letter of the law, unanimity does, in reality, appear to and in the tablet of the heart, has me to pronounce the voice of nature, been stigmatized by all nations, as the and to give in the general decree of With regard to the Jews, enemy of public happiness, and the mankind. poison of private comfort. When adultery was death to both parties by woman, indeed, can prevail with her the constitution; and as we all know self to set aside her conscience and her that God was their legislator, we may honour, to rush through her natural rest assured that the punishment is modesty, and the reservedness of her unobjectionable, and omnipotent.education; to let loose the reins of Be it farther observed, that this pediscretion upon her fancy, and, in one nalty was not peculiar to any circumword, to discard all those maxims, stances of the Jewish state: There is which are the best safeguard of female nothing typical or figurative in it;reputation, I cannot but seriously nothing particular as to the time, think that she has widely deviated country, or neighbourhood of that from what God in his goodness ori-nation. This circumstance, I think, ginally made her. This, perhaps, will clearly manifests that the ground of strike all your readers as a plain, im- the law was meant to be perpetual. mutable truth; but it has been said, Moreover, that the sin might not eswith some plausibility, that with re- cape for want of proof, there was a gard to the consequences of adultery, miracle appointed for the discovery little blame can attach of it. Upon any suspicion of such upon the male sex that when a woman proves per- to be drunk, and thus the matter a case, the waters of jealousy were fidious, the misfortune is incorporated with the blood of the family-the would eventually be detected. adulterous brood are fed upon the ously to this test, the wife was oblighusband; but when he goes astray, ed not to hold any correspondence the wife can lay no claim to such with a person the husband had obgreat damages, or such gross mischiet; jected to, and if, after this admonition and that consequently he may be exshe was found to converse privately empted, in some degree, from adhering with such a person, the trial aboveto the rigid rules of female discipline. -In my opinion, Sir, exemption from virtue is the privilege of a brute; and as marriage creates a peculiar and incommunicable friendship, liberty is no more to be entailed upon the husband than the wife: they live under the same duties of religion, and are Previ *See Deut. xxii. 22. and Lev. xx. 10. According to Philo and Tertullian, some of the Greek copies placed adultery before murder in the Decalogue. See Ter. de pud. Carl. conc. c. 7. and Un. Hist. Vol. I. p. 676 folio. t Numbers v. 12, 13, 14, &c. mentioned was to pass upon her. a simple death; but it was inflicted In such a manner was this crime pu- by the amputation of the sinful innished by the Jewish law, and if we strument, or the insertion of sharp come on farther, we shall find all the reeds or tubes into the pores of most terrors of the gospel drawn up against exquisite sensibility. He stretched it. Our blessed Saviour, recounting to past, as well as to future offences, those things which come from within, the operations of his edicts, with the and defile the man, mentions fornica- previous allowance of a short respite tions, adulteries and murders. At the for repentance and pardon. The wis Council of Jerusalem, in their letter, dom of Augustus applied in a more which runs in the name of the Holy mild and mitigated manner the aniGhost, adultery is one of those neces- madversion of the laws to this moral sary things which the Gentiles were pestilence; and the guilty parties, to abstain from ✦ St Paul, in his after the payment of heavy forfeitures several letters, mentions the crime and fines, were condemned to perwith frequent and emphatical marks, petual exile in two separate islands. of abomination. He ranges it with Religion, as I have before observed, the worst of sins, and threatens it in her goodness and impartiality, with the deepest vengeance. After pronounces an equal censure against the introduction of Christianity into the infidelity of the husband; but as Europe, the severest punishments it is not accompanied with the same were inflicted upon adulteries. We civil effects, and does not affect the find, by consulting the precept of fame and the fortunes of his family to Constantine the Great to Evagrius, the same extent with the illicit inthat this famous man punished them dulgences of a wife, the female only, with death || His sons and successors, according to the Augustan code, was Constantine and Constans, gave their never permitted to vindicate her judges strict injunctions to burn all wrongs. With regard to the Egypsuch criminals alive, or else to sew 64. them up in a sack with serpents, and can scarcely be excused by the purity of other venomous reptiles, and then his motives for the cruelty of his persedrown them altogether. Ammianus cutions. I have not room to recite any Marcellinus informs us, that in the of them; but refer the classical eader to reign of Valentinian, Cethegus, a Just. Nov. 77. 134. 141. Procopius in Roman senator, was prosecuted for Anecd. c. 11. 16. with the notes of adultery, and lost his head.¶ The Alemannus. 1 heop. p. 151. Cedrenus. Emperors Leo and Majorianus sof- p. 368. and Zonaras. lib. 14. p. tened the sentence to perpetual ba- * Until the publication of the Julius nishment, with this condition, that if Paulus of Schultring, lib. 2. tit. 27. criminals of either sex ventured to re- c. 317. 323. it was affirmed and believed, turn from their eternal exile, it would that the Julian laws punished adultery be lawful to kill them. But Justinian with death; and the mistake arose from afterwards revised the code with a pen the fraud or error of Trebonian. Yet of severity, and the law made it Lipsius had suspected the truth from the death to the adulterer.** Nor was it narrative of Tacitus. See Ann. 2. 50. and 3. 24. and 4. 42. *See Selden. Uxor. Ebraic. lib. 3. cap. 13. p. 287. V. f See Mark. vii. 21. and Acts. xv. 20. See and read 1 Cor. vi. 9. 10. Gal. 19. Ephes. v. 3, 5. 11 im. i. 9, 10. Heb. xiii. 4. Rev. xxi. 8 Rev. ii. 14, 15. 1 Cor. v. 10. to the end. The precept is dated A. D. 326. See Cod. Just. lib. 3. tit. Ad Leg. Jul. de Adul. See Lib. 4th. Cod. Theod. lib. 11. tit. 36. 1 Amm. Marcell. b. 28. ** Ausben. Coll. 9. tit. 17. c. 10. Let me observe, however, that Justinian Just. 1 9. tit 9. leg. 1. + Severus, in cases of adultery, confined to the husband the right of public accusation; as any one may find, who will think it worth his while to consult Cod. "Nor is this privilege unjust," says Mr. Gibbon, so different are the effects of male and female infidelity." See the IVth Vol. 4to. of his Hist. p. 407. I beg leave to differ from the historian, and entirely agree with the sentiments of Cato, as they are recorded by Aulus Gellius: In adulterio, uxorem tuam si deprependisses, sine judicio impune necares; Illa te, si adultares, digito non auderet contingere :— |