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authority. What other object could I have had in recording such a sentiment, than as a redeeming clause to the preceding paragraph? The strongest test by which the truth of such an assertion can be tried, is to consider in what light the words, "that the Rear-admiral had been hardly dealt with," would have been received, had he been ordered to strike his flag through the displeasure of the admiralty? Surely it would have appeared the effort of a friend, to support a reputation unjustly assailed; and as such I sincerely declare it to have been intended by me.

I make no reply to the numerous unjust accusations which have been brought against me; and the remarks which follow are not intended in the slightest degree to renew or to allude to the subject.

I pass over the remarks in the New Edinburgh Review, as unworthy of notice. Facts are not to be concealed by ignorance or distorted by misrepresentation-the Public is enabled to judge for itself, and to its decision I cheerfully appeal.Impartial, and unbought criticism is what every author has a right to expect; but it is surely unjust and absurd to deny him the advantage of youthful memory or retrospective judgment. Of a regular classical education I never could boast; my life, from the age of thirteen, has been devoted to naval duties, and, in the intervals of active service, to mental improvement. If local and professional knowledge, if acquaintance with actions

and most of the men who performed them, will not atone for grammatical inaccuracies or the want of elegant construction, I throw myself on the mercy of my readers.

The labour, the anxiety, and the loss of health, which I have sustained in the progress of this work, no one but myself can appreciate; my consolation is that, with all its faults, it is more likely to do good than harm, and that nothing will be found in it contrary to the real interests of my country, or of the naval profession.

I have been censured for giving opinions, and for relating facts, which it is said should have been buried in oblivion. Such conduct would have been a shameful dereliction of duty; in one case I fear I may have incurred enmity, in the other I should have merited contempt. Public opinion on the merits of all naval actions, received its final and irrevocable stamp by the sentence of the courtmartial on Sir Robert Calder. It has often been observed, that he who writes the history of his own times must, if he does his duty, make himself enemies. If I had suppressed some important observations, I might have been justly accused of partiality; while, at the same time, I should have withheld the moral of history, and failed to deter from misconduct by concealing the deformity of bad example.

I can do no more than correct errors wherever they are pointed out, and make all the amends in my power to wounded feelings; and with this

concession, I am more fearful of being accused of flattery than severity. The attainment of truth has ever been my greatest object, but this is often denied to the most persevering efforts.

On one very important occasion I experienced the full force of this assertion. I applied to a brother officer who was present and saw the fact, of which I was doubtful; his evasive answer is now in my possession, "No one believes it." Not satisfied, I applied to another, who, with still more powerful motives for concealing it, candidly owned that I was correct: but for this last evidence, I was on the point of blotting it from my work, with every apology for its insertion.

Justice to some officers who are dead, and to others who are still living, demands reparation for apparent neglect. The late Captain John Elphinstone, who commanded the Glory on the 1st of June, is acknowledged by all who were present, to have conducted himself in the most becoming and gallant style in that action.

In the battle of Copenhagen, in 1801, the plate, as drawn by the late Rear-admiral William Bligh, is, in some measure, erroneous; the vacant positions, marked 1, 2, and 3, should have been filled by the frigates Amazon, Blanche, and Alcmene, which were in a right line ahead of the Defiance, and engaged the Crown batteries.

Captain (now Vice-admiral) Alexander Frazer, who, in the late war, commanded the Shannon, of thirty-eight guns, should have been named as one

of our most diligent and successful cruisers, having, in a very short time, captured three of the enemy's largest privateers, with many vessels of smaller

note.

Since the appearance of the first and second volumes, the noble and venerable officer, to whom they are dedicated, has ended his earthly career. I have the satisfaction to reflect that, four months before his death, he sat at my request for the portrait which adorns the first volume. By the kindness of Sir William Beechy I am enabled to offer another, done at an earlier period of his life, and which I hope will not be deemed intrusive. Want of space alone has prevented the insertion of more of his Lordship's valuable correspondence.

Park Lane, March 5, 1824.

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