The illness of Strachan, who commanded | dition are matters of history, in which the a small sloop, the Experiment, placed Lieu- name of Wolfe is emblazoned in imperishtenant Jervis, for the first time, in the com- able characters. 'In England,' says Lord Orford, 'the people despaired, they triumphed, they wept, for Wolle had fallen in the hour of victory; joy, grief, curiosity, astonishment, were painted in mand of a ship; and being sent out on a cruise, he fell in with and engaged the French privateer Xebeque, much superior in force and sailing. In a running fight, which lasted above two hours, the Experi- every countenance; the more they inquired, ment had a midshipman killed and several the higher their admiration rose; not an inciof the crew wounded; the sloop was much dent but was heroic and affecting.'-'Still, damaged in her hull and rigging, and her however,' says Mr. Tucker, 'does one incident remain, which, it is believed, is not genemain-mast shot through. The Xebeque rally known, and which, as Commander Jervis made off; but her speed was SO that the pursuit was soon decided to be hopeless. superior participated in it, should be related. The expedition against Canada being decided on, and the renowned Wolfe appointed to the command of the military forces, Admiral, now Sir Charles Saunders, who was recalled from the Mediterranean for the ex On the night previous to the battle, after all the orders for the assault were given, Wolfe requested a private interview with his friend; at which, saying he had the strongest presentiment that he should be killed in the fight of to-morrow, but he was sure he should die on the field of glory, Wolfe unbuttoned his waistcoat, and taking from his bosom the miniature of a young press purpose of taking the command of lady with whose heart his own "blended," he the fleet to be employed on this expedition, delivered it to Commander Jervis, entreating again hoisted his flag in the Prince, and se- that, if the foreboding came to pass, he would lected Mr. Jervis to be his first lieutenant. himself return it to her on his arrival in EngThe military Commander-in-chief, and his land. Wolfe's presages were too completely fulfilled, and Commander Jervis had the most aide-de-camp, Captain (afterwards Colonel) painful duty of delivering the pledge to Miss Barré, were among Sir Charles Saunders's Lowther.' guests. Wolfe and Jervis had been at school together, 'when the generous acIn 1769 he was appointed to the Alarm quaintance of youthful hours' had been frigate, and sent to the Mediterranean. formed, now in a maturer age to be re- When at Genoa, (not at Tunis, as Captain newed; and such was the confidence the Brenton says,) two African slaves, sauntersoldier here placed in the sailor, that, ing in their galley near the mole, jumped 'when on the eve of battle, that gallant into the Alarm's boat, enfolded themselves young hero sought for a friend to whom he in the British colors, and shouted out, might unbosom the fondest secret of his heart, Jervis was the chosen depositary.' By the time the forces had arrived at the mouth of the St. Lawrence, Sir Charles had appointed Jervis to command the Porcupine sloop, with which, by his alertness on all occasions, he was judged to be of material service to the army. The Porcupine was ordered to lead, and the General was embarked in the leading ship. When under the guns of Quebec, it fell a dead calm. The stream of the river set the Porcupine rapidly towards the flats, and within the reach of the guns of Fort Louis, from whence she was cannonaded. But, by the judicious exertions of Jervis and his crew, she was towed off, and the fleet conducted to a landing-place; and here Commander Jervis's participation ceased. The exploits and the result of this expe * Is not this doubtful? Wolfe was born in 1726, Jervis in 1734, making a difference of eight years in their ages. 'We are free!' The Genoese officer, hearing this, caused them to be taken forcibly from their place of refuge, one of the slaves carrying away with him the piece of the flag torn off. This being reported to Captain Jervis, he at once decided it was an insult to the British flag; and 'accordingly,' he says, 'I demanded of both the Doge and Senate that both the slaves should be brought on board the Alarm, with the part of the torn color which the slave carried off with him, the officer of the guard punished, and an apology made on the quarterdeck of the Alarm, under the king's colors, for the outrage offered to the British nation;' and he carried every point of his demand. Mr. Tucker, rather unnecessarily, here introduces Jervis's opinions in after life as decidedly averse from the abolition of negro slavery; and we notice this the rather because we think Captain Brenton has been led into a mistake. He says that Sir George Naylor waited on Lord St. Vincent for some historical anecdotes to grace the history of his peerage; that his lordship ploy, by great economy my own pocket expressed his dissent, being utterly averse supported myself, and maintained my indefrom such nonsense and vanity; but that, pendence, though it was hard work; but I after a short silence, he said, 'Yes, there is one anecdote which I will give you, and one at which I am more proud than of any other event of my life;'-and he tells the story of the two slaves. This is not exactly what we should expect from one, who was not only indifferent, but invariably hostile, to slave emancipation; and we think, moreover, that some little 'vanity' was displayed (but could any one blame it?) in the emblazonment of his arms with an historical anecdote that no one can mistake; -his supporters bearing the Thunderer's eagle and the winged horse of Helicon, in could not afford to purchase any thing in this land of tempting curiosities and arts.' The Duke quitted in May, with a heart overflowing with thankfulness for the unalloyed pleasure he had received from his trip with Jervis. The Alarm, after this, went home, was paid off, and Jervis, with his friend Captain Barrington, the former having first for some time studied the French language, set off on a tour of inspection of the European naval arsenals-chiefly those of France. They then proceeded to St. Petersburg by the Baltic; and Jervis gives a direct allusion to the capture of the Pegase concise and spirited account of the Emby the Foudroyant. press Catharine, and the noted characters After a severe storm, and the shipwreck who were then found in the Russian capiof the Alarm, at Marseilles, it required the tal. Stockholm, Carlscrona, Copenhagen, most extraordinary exertions, together with and the harbors of Norway, were also the valuable assistance of M. Pleville de visited; as were Hamburg, Lubeck, and Peltier, the port officer, to make her again the ports of Holland, together with the seaworthy; after which Jervis, by his rep-northern ports of France; and in the auresentations to the Admiralty, had the tumn of the second year of their travels, gratification of presenting to M. de Peltier they returned to Plymouth. a valuable piece of plate. A few months Soon after his arrival, Jervis was apafter the accident, he writes to his sister- pointed to the Foudroyant, the finest two'The Alarm is the completest thing I ever deck ship in the British navy. She was saw on the water:'-having previously de- annexed to the Channel fleet under Admiscribed her as wreck.' 'a miserable sunken He also wrote to his father on this occasion; but nothing appears in reply either then or thereafter. 'I have the happiness to inform my dearest father that my pros ral Keppel, and was stationed immediately astern of the Commander-in-chief's ship, the Victory. In our review of the Life of Keppel, by the Hon. and Rev. Augustus Keppel, we adverted to the straightforward evidence of Captain Jervis on the court pects brighten, and I hope to be at sea in a martial called for by Palliser against Kepmonth. I have had a severe lesson of sub-pel. Mr. Tucker has reprinted, at full mission to the Divine will, gained some experience, and, I have the vanity to think, lost no reputation, although other loss I have sustained enough; but that is not to be named.' ength, the evidence of Jervis, which occupied two days, and which consists of ninetyone questions and cross-questions, with the answers. All of these were clear, concise, decided, and consistent; and that evidence alone left not a doubt as to the conduct of His Royal Highness Prince William state of health, it was the King's pleasure In 1779 the Foudroyant was still attach ed to the Channel fleet, then under the command of Sir Charles Hardy, who made so dignified a retreat before the immensely superior Spanish and French fleets, that Lord Howe and his Board of Admiralty expressed their high 'approbation' of the Admiral's wise and prudent conduct. that a winter's sojourn in Italy should take place, and that a frigate should convey him from port to port-and the Alarm was ordered on that service. On this occasion Jervis proved, in one respect, that as the boy had been, so was the man. Alive to the advantages of visiting the several courts of Italy under such favorable auspices, and in the society in which he was compelled, as it were, to move, he thus informs his friends how he supported him- humbled state of mind I ever experienced, self: 'Throughout such an expensive em- from the retreat we have made before the It would appear, however, that Jervis considered it in a different light. Writing to his sister he says-'I am in the most combined fleets all yesterday and this morn- | boarders were soon in possession of the ing.' Fortune, however, ere long cheered enemy's deck, struck her colors with him up. In 1782, his friend Admiral Bar- cheers, and thus in about three quarters of rington was sent to sea with twelve sail of an hour the action ceased. the line, and one of them was the FoudroyThe prize was the Pegase of seventyant. The Brest fleet came out; the signal four guns, commanded by Le Chevalier was made for a general chase, and the Foud- Cillart, who by the fortune of war became royant, being the best sailer, soon walked a prisoner to an old acquaintance, to by the fleet, and, towards the evening, saw whom, of course, Jervis was delighted to the French, six ships of war, and eighteen pay the most marked attention; giving sail of convoy. About ten P. M., Jervis, positive injunctions that every article of observing they were separating, and select- furniture, clothing, books, and papers, ing the largest for pursuit, ordered Bowen, belonging to the captain and the officers, a favorite midshipman, to the forecastle, to should be carefully collected and brought keep sight of her by his night-glass. In on board the Foudroyant. Captain Brenthe mean time every thing was made ready ton tells a very different story, which he for action; and to the repeated questions says he had from Sir John Jervis himself. to young Bowen, if he saw the chase? the The French captain showed him a letter reply being always in the affirmative, he had written to the minister of marine, Jervis was so delighted with the boy's at- giving an account of his capture, and he tention, that at last he called out, 'That's asked Jervis his opinion of it. 'I read it,' right, Bowen; do you only keep sight of said the latter, 'and returned it to him, her, and rely upon it I will never lose sight saying I had but one objection, namely, of you. A promise most faithfully kept.* that not one word of it was true-" Mais Young Bowen, now seeing a close action comment pas vrai?" No, sir, not one at hand, took his station, as aide-de-camp, word of it is true; but you can send it if by the side of his captain on the quarter you please. He did send it, sir, and, when deck. The Foudroyant, running at the he was tried for the loss of his ship, the rate of eleven miles an hour, was speedily letter was produced; he was dismissed the within hail of the adversary, when the service, and his sword broken over his officer on the forecastle called out-She head.' Sir John Jervis, we venture to say, has put her helm up to rake us, sir.' never would use so insulting and brutal a When Jervis was on the point of putting phrase to any one, much less to a friend in the Foudroyant's helm a-starboard, in order misfortune, his prisoner and his guest. to give her a broadside from her starboard guns, young Bowen was so forcibly struck with the advantage that might be taken by a contrary proceeding, that he could not help exclaiming- 'Then, if we put our helm to port we shall rake her.' Jervis, The loss of life, and the damage to the masts and yards, were great in the Pegase; in the Foudroyant not a man was killed, and only five wounded-of whom Jervis was one, being struck between the eyes, both of which were blackened. Admiral instantly feeling the force of the observa- Barrington, in a private letter to Mr. Rose, tion, in his turn exclaimed, 'You are right, after due praise of Jervis, says-' He, poor Bowen-helm a-port!' Passing close under fellow, has got an honorable mark above the enemy's stern, the Foudroyant poured his eye, which I conceive will be of no bad in, and continued for some time, a raking consequence, rather the reverse; for, as a fire. The enemy being thrown into con- man of middle age, it may make his forfusion, her sails in the greatest disorder, tune. The fair honor the brave, and, as Jervis determined on boarding, and laid we suppose delight in kissing the honorable the Foudroyant on the enemy's larboard mark.' In submitting to the King what side. * Headed by young Bowen, the At the close of the year, at the relief of Gibraltar, he appointed Bowen acting lieutenant of the Foudroyant, and he was confirmed to the Prince in 1790. In 1792, following his patron to the West Indies, he obtained the rank of com mander, then of post-captain into the Terpsi chore, in which ship so often and brilliantly distinguished himself; and while captain of her at Teneriffe, he there gallantly fell. reward should be conferred on Jervis, his Majesty at once said to Lord Keppel-' Let him be made Knight Commander of the Bath; but no baronetcy, as Mr. Tucker has stated. In 1782, the Foudroyant was attached to the fleet under Lord Howe for the relief of Gibraltar, where Sir John Jervis got great credit for the able manner in which he conducted safely into port the fleet of victuallers and powder ships, in the face of tional questions the strong inclination of the Spanish fleet, and amid the acclama- his opinion was toward the liberal side, tions of the garrison. On the passage out yet, of the necessary and lawful prerogato Gibraltar, Lord Howe one day assembled tives of the crown, and of its consequence the flag-officers and captains, to know their and grandeur, he was at all times the eager opinions with regard to the prudence, or defender.' His name is to be found in all otherwise, of an inferior fleet engaging a the great struggles of the Whigs for liberty, superior one by night. Jervis was the and at all their meetings in favor of relionly captain who decided against it, as-gious Toleration and of Parliamentary Resigning various reasons for giving prefer- form. ence to a battle by day; in which he was In 1787 Sir John Jervis was promoted supported by Admiral Barrington, who ob- to the rank of Rear-Admiral; and in 1790, served, 'that he could not contemplate that when the Nootka Sound quarrel occurred, any ship would be found wanting in the he hoisted his flag in the Prince, of 98 day of battle; yet, should there unfortu-guns, under Lord Howe, and was placed in nately be a shy cock among them, daylight command of a division of the fleet. Spain would expose him.'* having applied to the National Assembly On her return from Gibraltar, at the of France for assistance, the latter, as usual, close of 1782, the Foudroyant was paid ever ready to show her hatred of England, off, after being eight years in commission: assembled a fleet at Brest; but licentiousa more perfect man-of-war, or a more ness and insubordination having usurped beautiful model, the British navy had the place of discipline, the inevitable conthen never seen-superior alike for her sequence, mutiny, followed; officers were sailing and fighting qualities. Yet when appointed and removed at the pleasure of in the French service, this fine ship, of 84 the crews; and nothing was, or could be, guns and 800 men, was captured by the attempted by such a disorganized fleet. A Monmouth, a small 64, after an action of convention was made by England with four hours, in which Captain Gardiner was Spain, hostilities were avoided, the fleet first wounded in the arm, then shot dead paid off, and each flag-officer was indulged by a ball striking his forehead; but the with the remuneration of a midshipman for action was nobly continued by the first promotion. The quarter-deck of the lieutenant, Carket. The enemy had 100 Prince was full of young gentlemen of the men killed and 90 wounded; the Mon-first families in the kingdom. Many were mouth, 28 killed and 79 wounded. Splen- the candidates, and overpowering the indid as the Foudroyant was, we believe that terest made, for the highly connected aspi no model or lines of her beautiful figure have been preserved; but one of her name was built at Plymouth, in 1798, by Sir John Henslove. On a conjoint expedition projected by the Government against the Spanish West rants; but when the day came for nomination, surprise and disappointment arrived with it. The unsolicited recommendation of Sir John Jervis was in favor of a friendless, retiring, but well-behaved son of an old and poor, but well-conducted, lieute Indies, Sir John Jervis accepted a com- nant. In answer to the youth's overflowmand, on the principle that he never solicit- ings of gratitude and astonishment at his ed or refused any particular service, and good fortune, Sir John said 'Sir, I named his broad pendant was hoisted in the Salis- you for the lieutenant I was allowed to bury; but on the armed neutrality being promote, because you had merited the settled, the project was abandoned, and Sir good opinion of your superiors, and that John struck his broad pendant, and re- you were the son of an old officer and mained on shore about six or seven years. worthy man in no great affluence. A person, however, of such an active mind steady perseverance in that conduct which was not likely to continue idle; and, on has now caused you to be thus distinthe general election of 1784, he was re-guished, is the most likely means to carry turned for N. Yarmouth. In politics he you forward in your profession; for I trust was a decided Whig; but, as Mr. Tucker says, he should be called 'a Whig Royalist; for although upon all other constitu * Sir John Barrow gives this anecdote in his life of Howe, as he tells us, on living authority. A that other officers of my rank will observe the maxim that I do-to prefer the son of a brother officer, when deserving, before any other.' That Sir John's correspondence was well suited to its subject, the following, forming a striking contrast with the preceding, will | reported he had been commanded to do. furnish an example:-' I enclose 's We can well imagine the fierce look from letter as a testimony of his effrontery; no the all-piercing eye which Sir John cast on consideration will ever induce me to coun- first sight of this impudent order; and with tenance any officer who slights the good what ineffable scorn he treated 'the ignoropinion of his captain, or presumes to at-ance, the presumption, and the arrogance' tempt to pay me a compliment at the expense of him.' In 1793, the Government decided on a joint expedition against the French West India islands, when Sir John Jervis was of the silly writer. It appears, however, that the general soon recovered his senses, as he says in the Gazette-' I cannot help acknowledging the great obligations I lie under to Sir John Jervis, for the many and selected to command the naval part, and essential services which he rendered me Sir Charles Grey the troops. A combined and my garrison while he continued in the expedition is not always a cordial or a suc-command, and which were always offered cessful one; but in the present instance a with the utmost alacrity, and performed good feeling and harmony prevailed, not with equal diligence.' only between the respective commanders, To recount the operations of the besiegbut on every occasion between the soldiers ing forces is beyond the scope of this arti cle; but we cannot withhold a few words on the eminently gallant conduct of Commander Faulknor, of the Zebra, before Fort Bourbon. The Zebra, with bamboo and sailors-each vying with the others which should outdo their fellow warriors in the same cause. In no instance was there the slightest misunderstanding between the Commanders-in-chief; it is on record that scaling ladders triced up to the shrouds, neither of them had occasion even to write was ordered to lead in; made sail straight a single letter on service to the other, during to the fort; laid his little sloop as close unthe whole campaign. The result was, that although the French were well prepared, and fought desperately, every island fell in succession into our hands; so that, in a fort. On the covered way a whole regi campaign of scarcely more than three months, when all the main objects of the expedition had been accomplished, Sir John Jervis was enabled to inform the Admiralty, 'that all the French islands in those seas were reduced.' der the guns as the water allowed, to within fifteen feet of the wall; and Faulknor headed his boarders over the parapet into the ment waited their approach; a tremendous discharge of musketry thinned the ranks of the seamen; but the enemy was charged so fiercely that nothing could withstand it, and the whole regiment laid down their arms. Faulknor forced his way through the iron gates, gained the summit of the citadel, There was, however, a single instance, and but one, of foolish feeling, originating and struck the French and hoisted the Enprobably in weakness of intellect, but ex-glish colors, amidst shouts of triumph from plained into a misunderstanding, on the the armed boats, from the squadron, and part of a general officer. The following from the army on the outside. 'No lan order was given out by General Prescott :Whereas Vice-Admiral Sir John Jervis has given orders frequently on shore here, and particularly in a note dated Boyne, June 11th, which must have arisen either from great ignorance, or great presumption and arrogance-if from ignorance, poor man, he is to be pitied; but if from great presumption and arrogance, to be checked. It is therefore Lieutenant-General Prescott's orders, that in future no attention is to be given to such notes or orders, and his signature to be as little regarded as those of John Nokes and Peter Styles.' The cause of this peevish and foolish order was owing to the Admiral having seen a few soldiers in a state of intoxication, and requested the officer on guard to hand them over to his boat, to be sent on board, which the officer guage of mine,' says the Commander-inchief, 'can express the merit of Captain Faulknor upon the occasion; but as every officer and man in the arn army and squadron bears testimony to it, this incomparable achievement cannot fail of being recorded in history.' On a signal being made for the Commander of the Zebra, Sir John ordered the Boyne's hands to be turned up, and placing himself at the head of his officers, he thus greeted the hero-'Captain Faulknor, by your daring courage this day, a French frigate has fallen into our hands. I have ordered her to be taken into our service, and here is your commission to command her, in which I have named her, after yourself, sir, the Undaunted.' But this brave officer did not long sur |