RBI! NISCBNOIS OP WAI.

‘ Tn: thing that hath been, is that which shall be, and that wbicli is done, is that which shall be done : and there is no new thing under the son,’ said the wise man of vore—and true. ‘W903’. was the apborism.

ace had mellowed down the memories of the

twar: but the wail that rises amongst us now, awakens in the survivors reminiscences ofsimilar sorrows felt then, and stories are told us, which show that we do but progress through one of 'l‘ime’s ceaseless repetitions;

that we only Wear our rue with a ditferencs

‘ Announcements of victory are, blended rejoicing and weeping,’ sai

theatre at Portsmouth, with my sing, to see a

tleman whom I recogn Iset.

Iletealf and her kind old father.

‘they all looked, when, just as the curtain fe

the manager etc pod forward, and bowing, ia- iirmed the audience, that he was rejoiced at lisvin good news to communicate: “ The En- on the tof June, in the Atlantic. under Lor Howe; Iorg, one of the victorious squadron, was

even than beating into Spithead.” I never can forget the sheet of this announcement. Nearly are in the house had some one dear to fliem in that fleet; it was, besides, a nearly nautical, and, in every sense, a martial assem- 'plc rose like one man. A cheer, ea thrilled through the

lab set had gained a glorious victo

blage. The absolutely ening, house; it was repeat again an again;

the second time, other cries mingled with it- tbc hysterical sobbing of women-tho move- ment of those who were removing some ladies who were fainting. When I looked towards my mother's box, to see what she thought of the tidings, Mrs Metcalf was still standing, with a look of triumph on her sweet face ; her check was flushed, and she grasped her fan, like a weapon, under the strong excitement of the moment. And well, I thought, she might. for her husband was master of the Glory, and {is renown was hers: besides, he was close at home, and I had often heard her long for his I joined my mother's party when we must

return.

orty -years of

always, of 'd an old dy of our acquaintance the other day. ‘I recollect the first I ever heard rather by the bitter we I then witnessed, than by anything so. I was a little child, and my mother, the wife of a naval olficer, had let me go to the nurse one eve- rformancs considered lit for Iiy age. Some ittle time after I had been in the box, nurse pointed out to me my father and mother in an opposite one, with a lady and an ised as intimate ‘ends of theirs—-an old doctor and his dau h- Osr. the wife of an oflicer at that time with tie They had coaxed my mother to follow ass. I guessed that at once, for few people could have resisted the entrcaties of pretty Mrs. I remember «thinking how lovely she was, and bow bapp

O" G ee-

HASZARD'S GAZETTE, ocvonaa 6.

injustice and maladministration, but what should we think ofa period when oficerslin the navy wci-centered, and their time commenced on the ship's books, actually be are their birth, on_ the chance of their after-services! the name being erased from the books, as dead, if the expected son rovcd a daughter. The same lauy who_was present at the announcement of tho ‘ glorious lst ofJune’ victory, informed us that her brother was entered as afirst-class young gentleman on the books of the Sag/lower while he was still an infant; and that till his parents rejected it, his allowance, as such, was sent_ on shore; little Johnny thus regularly receiving beef, biscuit, currants, pork, lime- juice. &c-. in the due sea proportions. These infants also received pay; and Master John, belonging to a lucky ship, actually had his share of prize-money sent to him before he could understand its meaning Our landsinen readers may not perhaps be aware, that a ser- vice of six cars is required before a oungster can be ma e lieutenant. It was to o tain this promotion earlier that the absurd entries in question were doubtless made, as only the years of service, not those of age, were sent up to the Admiralty. Thus we have heard of a living admiral who was a commander at fifteen; and who, at his first dinner- arty after his promo- tion, challenged a brotier-ollicer of inferior rank, old enou h to be his father, on some slight oflence. at the duel did not come 0d‘. The young commander's brother followed him to his room with a horse-whip; and after in- dieting meet school-boy chastisement, compelled him to beg the old lieutenant’s pardon. My own father, afterwards engagin in a fencing- match with the young hero ‘ or fun,’ with naked swords, their being no fails at hand, gave him a straight finger.

But if their youth and position somewhat encoura boyish arro ace, it is nevertheless a fact, t at no age eon d have exhibited mpre heroic courage, or more simple and toucliin self-devotion, than did the boyhood of our nava heroes. The s irit which animated all was manifested stri in l in the followin instan- ces :-—'l‘he family of hurnham, of Scar rough, had a son of great proiuise——a fair boy scarcely seventeen, but already a lieutenant of marines. They were looking daily for his return from a long cruise, when, instead—.is in the _case of poor Metcill‘----the received his sword, his coat, and the following etter, atfeeting from the hold, true spirit shown in it, and the evident p_reseri- timent of doom experienced. We think_it equals in simplicity and devotion those which have won all our sympathies for the heroes of

the Crimea. :-

‘ ll0N0l7llED F.i'rusn—I think it my duty to jwrite, as I am going this evening on a danger- lous entcrprisc—to cut ‘out a Spanish sloop-of-

war. Ifany disaster should happen to me, you apply to Mr. Mackio for my clothes. to

1°“ ill‘ l'l'°“i’°- Tl” °“'°°l5 “'°’° “ l‘°"r°‘fl whonil have ordered them to be sent; il' they

blaze of light, for the houses were all illumi- ld doctor insisted on us all going into the hotel—the Georgc—and having 8 bottle of wine, to drink the health ofthe vie- lors. Mrs. Metcalf was wild with joy; she was I ievoted to her husband, and had had and foro- a,.,,'; bodings respecting his fate. Now, all apprc- b,.0u,c,. Ilousion had vanished , she was eager to return ' home, that slio might have his house illumina- ted also, and be ready to receive him if he come In the morning, my M hduor to the famil '.

stated; and the e

on shore that night. another, who was her near neighbour, called

her house, to inquire if Mr. Meteulf had come “mo death

on shore, and took me with her. We were a - mitted, and ushered in to it dressing—room, where Mrs. Metcalf was un(lcr the bands of her friseur, just having the lust dust of powder aliaken from the silk pad, with which, stumiing atalittlc distance, the hairdresser sprinkled the crepcd and pomotumed hair. She was a Qlatcly beauty. and new, full dressed for the fly, looked quite radiant with hope and happi- less. She told my mother she had been dress- ing for her husband—-to do honour to his re- rn and his victory. He had not arrived yet, but probably there was much to do, and he could not get leave to come on shore. She asked my mother to sit with her till he came; and we were there :1. long, long time, listening at first to the salutes and the happy bells, and at last, for Mr. Metcalf's knock at the door. The doctor had gone out to make inquiries. At last the (Lvpceted Hound came; the shadow ofa cocked-hat brushed past the window ; there wasa knock at the door. Mrs. Metealf had opened the parlour-door by the time the ser- want had admitted him whom she fondly thought to see, and, between tears and smiles, sprang forward to moet—two strange oificcrs. Their looks were very, very sad, and a sailor stood behind them with ii. bundle on his arm: the name Glory was marked, in gilt letters. on his tar aulin-hat. She stood absolutely tanslixed

be ore them, then gasped out the words: “ M husband !” The first of the strangers took her IIand,and led her silently into the room. It was some minutes before the could tell her that he was gone-that he he fallen llzintly The sci or bore

should not be sent, application must be made to Captain 8. of the II.’ustriou.r. Do not_blamc iuo for volunlcrring my services, as while the blood of tho Thuruhanis circulates in my veins. could not bear to have it said that he is a raw- Give my love to my dear mother. my and sister. I hope they will not re- gret what I have done. If I escape, nothing will give me so much plcawro as to think lllit

I have neither disgraced my coiuniission nor niv father, and to have it said that I am an If I die, I die an honor- (iod iless you all, and may the next son you have die as lionoumbly as _o! Ibeseech you to remember me to my cousin,

land to all my dear rclatives.—-l remain, your

faithful son, - s D. 'l‘iii.'i'..\ii.uI. II. M. Smr Ii.i.us-raiovs.

Jan. 9, I805.‘

Faithful, indeed, even unto death! There is something very machine in the struggle, unin- tentionally cxpressed, etween his desiro_ of glory and his unwillingness t.o cause possible regret to his mother and kindred; and in the ‘ besecching' to be remembered to his (:UuSlll—- perhaps some boyish love of his. We can well fancy now how, fifty years nfgo, the poor mother wept over the relics of her rst-born.

'l‘.'ie next anecdote we would relate of these children of victory, is ofa plensantcr character. A very worthy, though second-rate, actor at Covent Garden ’l‘he-.itro_lnid a young son, who became a inidshipinun in the royal navy. He was a line boy, and had a pleasant and: rather more polished manner than was usual n lads

by their own fireside, the young adventurer (In

related how his baby face (-howas three years younger then,‘ he reifirked) had won the pity of a Spanish mother, nearly relate: to t viceroy of New 8 ain—how she had clothed and fed and cheris ed hiin--and at length, by her influence and ontreatics, procured his liberty, and sent him back to lus home with many kind and thoughtful gifts’; and how he had put on his old uniform again, in s _it_c of its small dimensions and worn-out con man, because he wished to show he still served the

I'll

3‘ O

ha su an

in .

The family rejoicings over this lost one found were great, as we may su pose. ’l‘heS anish lady's name becamea be oved and he lowed sound in the English household; the mother’s heart blessed her; but not even film! llfld llle her full reward. The boy returned to his pro- fession, and served on board the ship which proved ofall others most successful in taking Spanish prizes. The lad so providontially re- stored to his country was no common spirit: ever foremcst in boarding, and ready for any freak of perilous adventure or boyisi fun, he. became a favourite with his captain, and was detached by hiin—after a hard sea-tight-—to hold possession of a valuable prise just tuken., On boarding the ship with his seamen, behe- held to his utter astonishment, the friend and protectress of his childhood-—his ‘ Spanish mo- thcr,‘ as be loved to call her. She was re- turning to her native land with all the wealth acquired and saved in New S in, when this misfortune befell her. She id not at first recognise the child-captive in the young man begriinmed with smoke and b ood who sudden- ly presented himself before her; but when his words and voice revealed the secret, she shed tears of joy. Now, it was his turn to become benefactor. He told the story of her goodness to his comrades and his shipmates; and with the generosity of British seamen, both ollicers and crew immediately agreed to restore her private property to the illustrious captive. All her large and beautiful vessels of pure gold, an immense quantity of the most valuable jewels, her costly furniture and property of every description, were restored to nor by these chiviilrous fellows, in acknowledginent of the gentle deed which had given them back a com- rade. The happy midshipman took her, on their arrival in port, to his own home, and she r«.-uiained with his family till her restoration to freedom. llis share of prize-money, even after the resignation of her private property, was between L.~‘l(l00 and L..'i(l00.

XIII

Illl

lie qu an du

av to

lo

til

llp

as he

as

lt is singular. when one glances back at the p.is't——in so many instances a prototype ofthe presont—to find that the lust naval bzittlo

fought oil‘ Cronstzidt \v:is ivon_/or Russia by an we,,¢|,c,..[,,._.,w,,, because he could no longer be of use—pennilcss d unfit to earn his bread in any other way ;

Let us accept the omen as a pledge that British vulour will again be triumphant on those \\'.tl.Cl‘S. In the war be- tween llussiu and Sweden, 1780, English ullieers received permission to engage in either service as they thought fit. Admiral Crease, Sir Frederick Tliesiger, Captain Elpliiiistoiie, and several other distiiigiiislicd men, tlIllt}l‘i.‘il tl.c Rus-“inn service, and oil" Cronstadt, in the May of lT-‘ill, defeated the Swedes. It is lIlIl.‘l‘¢‘illll:_‘; to learn how the antocrat of those (liiys esti- lllil.IL'Il the con.-seqiiem-es ofa naval defeat in the lillic. Catherine was, at the time, residing at the palace of Zirsko '/lelo. For four days and nights before the action, she took no rest, and but little r«.-l'reslim:.-nt lluring its coiiiiminn-:o., she paced the be:i.utiful turr:u-e near the llatbs of l’orpliyry,_ listening with terrible niixiety to the thunder ofthe cannon, which was so tremendous that several windows in St. l’ct«-rsblirg were broken by the concus- sion. It is said thit, anticipating defeat, her carria-(;es and horses were wuitingiin readi- ness to (:oli\'0y her to Moscow. ()no of the English boy-lieutenants, Elpliiristoue, thund- iniv~.il‘s nephew, at length brought her the tidings of victory. llis dispatches were car- ried to the ciiipress, who ordered her attendants to give the bearer rcfrcsliinents and a bed. The ;;.illant boy took advantage of the perniission, and slept till the dawn was fir adv:in(-ed, dur- ing whioli period C.iil:crine sent three times to kiiow if he were awake. Starting at length from sleep, be was iniinediately conducted, in his soiled and \\".tl'-tilitlllfll gear. to the royal pl’C.°(‘.ll\30- The empress received hiui with gracious kin.lne.~m, called him ‘my son,‘ and desired him to give her adescription of the liattle, imirkiiig on the dispatehes,us be obeyed, the position of the different ships. She then gave him her orders for the comiiiaiidcr—in-

l‘In;;lisli admiral. an bu

be

ill: bu

'l'l: its gu

iii:

no ln up sl: in: on

How men who had been

for the generous nature of the race. instance, this iniser was spared b ‘h 1

intervention. all I n ‘I 8" H (iravesend, and was almost instantly bon,;d,d by it were a ways sure of being impressed; and the young uian who now anticipated such a fate was the more pained. because his old mother a very poor iviclow, who relied on him wholly for support, was, he had heard, (lying. Sh.

farewell. spirit he watched the party ascend the si e;

llelp came! were brought on deck; and whilst the lieute.

blessed the thraldoin he would

pinions threats were vain. a man-of-war, which instantly put to sea ; and for years and years afterwards no tidings of him reached his family.

would never believe that ho was dca .

tlmfic days‘, for Admiral M I";-p(.‘.'ll.iEl,ll_\‘ vvrliout l‘cct‘|\’ln;5 an answer, and louinl. on his return to his native village, that

ily toil, and met the spoiler ere nightfall

thus injured could fighi they did, is marvellous, and speaks volumes In one

A st Indisman arrived at

ress-gang. 'l‘hc mates of these vessel.

d, the ‘pilot assured him, vvutclie: om,-

nriscan sunset,with theconstantly efcrrcd d sickening hope of bidding her be a la“ With it sinking heart an ar. y

d in his agony, murmured a rayer for help. The crew of the Vest lndiaman

at was examining them, a healtli-boat or.

rived. As no clean bill ofhealth was found on board the \_Vest liidiaman, or at least nong deemed satisfactory, the vessel, with tho

utcnant of the inan-of-war and all his gang,

was ordered to Stangate Creek, to perform

arantine together for forty do s! The mats

ave execratcd hour earlier, since it enabled him, by a little rin and cunning, to esca on shore, and

oid the late impending. lleis mother lived bless her son once more.

But there were few such escapes as this...

broken hearts and bitter tears generally fol. lowed the steps of the press-gang. A un‘ man ofdecent parentage, the son ofa su stan. tial farmer, was walking, on his bridal-eve, near the shore of Dartmouth harbour. less liapp thoughts were leading a new charm

Doubt.

the stil evening, and rendered him some.

what absent, for he never heard the press-gan

had come close behind him an his arms. As usual, entreatios and He was carried on board

I the

His mysterious dis- pearance caused a sorrow beyond all expres-

sion. His father never held up his head a sin,

glccted his farm,and died a poor, bro "en. artcd old man. 'l‘he bride-expectant sorrowed

for a time, and then became the wife ofanother. 'l‘ime drew its cruel veil of oblivion over his fate. and few ever named his name, save the

ed mother, who still prayed for him, and d

And this loving faith bad its fruition. A

sailor with :1. wooden leg at length returned to call her ‘ mother,‘

and explain the past—a

maimed creature, set free

tevcn thus be was iveli-onie. The old ivo-

man awoke to new life and energy since her- lost was found; she struggled to make his home comfortable, and earned his and her own bread by washing. devotion to her, and the handy way in which

It was pleasant to see his

helped her to make everything what ho

called ‘ shig.sli:i] o ’ about th.-.ui ; but often, in the midst of llvl‘ patient and meek content, a cloud would coino before her eyes when sho

iugl.t of the p;ist—of the fair lioine, the dear sbaiud, the bi-ave, haudsonic vouth, the

pr(llEll§C‘\l liyido. :ind the long, long sorrow. We may iiul.-«_-d be thaiikful that, in so for as the press-g-i.ii;; is cone»,-rni-d, we

Wear our rue with a diffoiencc.

ore is probably no mere human evil without l||lilf_!:|llI)nH. Sonic of those pressed men

had, by their enforced fate. ‘ greatness thrust upon them.‘

My mother knew three distin- ishcd udmirals who had been pressed from

tho lliCl'ClI.lvil-Rcl'\‘li'(‘, one of whom was accus-

ncel to l‘l'l2llI‘. wiih much glee, his return to

liis lioipo \vl.<_‘n a post-captain, after ii another llI_)‘:ilL‘I'llill8 diszippourzince. The pv-st-ollicc-—-at lL':i.~‘t so lar as i-':_~:uneii's letlers were concerned

must huvelwcii in a singular letliargy in

had written

to single l(.‘llL'l‘ had ever reached his home. I ‘ n . . . a

ti: lightol our present civilization, those

pear dark days indeed, \\'l!l.'ll men siiil serv-

ing mid-~r ‘ our ancient ensign, fair St. George,’

ould lrzive been as those dead to their country- ‘II. and few could answer for a day's freedom shore,

Ibo second of these involuntary admirals

chief; pr<-seiitcd him with a beautiful little’

of his profession at that time. At a period when he ought still to have been under the shelter of his parents’ roof, be was taken pri- soncr by the Spaniards. and sent by some chance, with other captives, to Peru, where he remained on arolc for some time. There was sorrow in his humble home, and doubtless many a prayer followed the poor little captive. llutone evening as they were gathered round their hearthstono, a knock summoned the mo-

ther to the street-door. The visitor was a tall lad of thirteen, bronzed by sea and breeze, and

in me diwhugo of his du .lovcd—thc blood- dressed in worn and old uniform, long since

all that remained of her

stained uniform and sliivered sword! I never outgrown.

can forget the wail of anguish the hopeless king ‘ad count’ _ “mm yea" ‘.so_. '“"_l d

, which followed that disclosure.’

neyhesr a great deal in the present day of rior often years!

Her love divined that this was her

1: son, who had sailed away in ‘defence of

t was even so ; and seats

l"rcnch watch, a roulcan of ducats ; and in spite of his extreme youth, conferred on him the

rank 0f(‘I|pinIII.'

One cannot look back on the past withouta comforting uss........ \4 that better do s have come. The press-gang, for instance, won d not be en- dured in the present age. lt is one biitor herb

the less; /ww bitter, they only

coiniuandcd, as captain, a ship on board which my father served as a young lieutenant at the battle offlipenliugen, and was guilty ofa most exiniordiniiry freak in conjunction with the latter. The British fleet came ofl' Copenhagen on the 30th of March. The battle did not begin till the 2d of April. Meantime, the shi