No. IV.

"Extract of (I think) a most wonderful production by G. N. Hardinge, when 14 years of age. G. H." [See p. 55.]

"Lord Hood is now gone to take Fiorenza; and the Army, with the help of the sailors from the Fortitude, have got the heights, as I will explain to you. There was but one place to land the troops, where there was a little tower with two guns, which kept the boats from landing. But some jolly tars scaled the rocks, and with the help of the davit they got two guns up on a hill behind the tower, and fired down upon it. At last the tower was forced to surrender, and the landing of the troops was effected; so that they got forts upon the heights, and fired into the town. The inhabitants were obliged to evacuate it, and left their colours flying on the forts. The two frigates ran close to the shore; one of them we sunk, and the other they burnt. We were ordered to join the St. George.-Admiral Parker has hoisted his flag, and Admiral Gell has gone home in a very bad state of health. Captain Tyler volunteered to get the frigate up again which we had sunk, and succeeded. He is to have her. She is a 40-gun frigate, and her guns are 18-pounders. Her name is changed to the St. Fiorenza. She was before called Minerva.

can.

"We are now cruising off Toulon, and have taken a prize going in. Captain Cockburn commands the Meleager at present. Savage and myself shall join Captain Tyler as fast as possibly we We are now expected to be relieved by the Britannia, and a fresh squadron. The Admiral has ordered us to look into Toulon, and see what ships are remaining there; we went in, and saw seven line-of-battle ships, and three frigates. I daily gain promotion; I am at present mate of a watch, can take an observation, and work it, and tell what latitude we are in.

"Lord Hood has attempted to take Bastia with a few marines and sailors. The Army have refused to go. My Lord Hood begged, prayed, and ordered in vain. For what reason they refused, God knows. Every one is in expectation of some great event.

"Bastia hopes to receive assistance from Villa Franca-but in this they are mistaken. It is completely blockaded, and so is Genoa. It is reported that we are going to war with the Swedes and Danes. I should like to know if it is true. We stopped a Danish brig who was come out of Toulon, but said they took her in by force. We sent a Midshipman in her, and have not heard of him since. It is supposed they took him into Genoa, and murdered him.

"Admiral Parker is going to Leghorn with us, and a sick Lieutenant of the Terrible. - Admirals Cosby and Goodall have applied to go home.

"Bastia is in a fair way of being taken

the Proselite was

burnt there. She was fitted out as a bomb-ship, but the red-hot

G

shot

shot came so thick that they were obliged to abandon her; and judging it impossible for the boats of the Fleet to tow her away, they set fire to her effectually.

"Oniglia was taken by the French, and 7000 men put into it; but the Piedmontese collecting their forces together re-took it. The French cried for quarter; but they told them, that as they did not give them quarter, they should not have it, and put them all to the sword. The French army have gone as far as Genoa, and it is supposed they will make an attempt on the Duke of Tuscany's dominions, and so through Italy. We also hear the Russians are going to march several thousand men into France, and carry every thing before them. We hear the Austrians have gained seventeen victories successively, and have killed 100,000 men. It is said there is a Revolution at Paris, and the Combined Armies are in possession of it.

"I am in great want of cloaths; for the man of whom you bought mine was a great cheat. He did not send half; nor the shirts; and only one jacket, so that I have been obliged to buy a new one at Leghorn; but I am very much in want of shirts and shoes. I had no chest. A good many things were stolen from me. I am very badly off as to shirts: there are none to be got here, for the Italians wear shifts - such odd rigging that it is impossible for a sailor to make use of it.

"I am now going to join Captain Tyler on board the St. Fiorenza. -You are to direct for me at Gibraltar, as we are going there to fit out. I have nothing more to say at present, but that I am your affectionate Nephew, G. N. HARDINGE."

The following Letter from this excellent young Officer to his Uncle is uncommonly interesting:

"MY EVER DEAREST FRIEND, Scorpion, April 12, 1804. "I am on my way to the Nore, after six days of severe, but unrepented fatigue, and have sixty Dutch prisoners on-board. We are accompanied by the Atalante, a Dutch war brig of sixteen guns, prize to us. I was ordered on the 28th to reconnoitre at Vlie, and perceived a couple of the Enemy's brigs at anchor in the roads. Despairing to reach them with my ship, on account of the shoals that surrounded the entrance, I determined upon a dash at the outermost one in the boats, if a good opportunity could be found, or made. It came unsolicited, March 31. Preparing to embark, we accidentally were joined by the Beaver sloop, who offered us her boats to act in concert with ours. We accepted the reinforcement under an impression that it would spare lives on both sides, and would shorten the contest. half past nine in the evening, we began the enterprize in three boats from Scorpio,' and in two from the Beaver. Captain Pelly (a very spirited and intelligent officer) did me the honour to serve under me as a volunteer in one of his boats. We had near sixty men, including officers, headed by your humble servant in the foremost boat. As we rowed with tide-flood, we arrived along

At

side the enemy at half past eleven. I had the good fortune, or (as by some it has been considered) the honour, to be the first man who boarded her. She was prepared for us, with boardnettings up, and with all the other customary implements of defence. But the noise, and the alarm, &c. &c. so intimidated her crew, that many of them ran below in a panic, leaving to us the painful duty of combating those whom we respected the most. The decks were slippery in consequence of rain; so that grappling with my first opponent, a mate of the watch, I fell, but recovered my position,-fought him upon equal terms, and killed him. I then engaged the Captain, as brave a man as any service ever boasted; he had almost killed one of my seamen. To my shame be it spoken, he disarmed me, and was on the point of killing me, when a seaman † of mine came up, rescued me at the peril of his own life,-and enabled me to recover my sword. At this time all the men were come from the boats, and were in possession of the deck. Two were going to fall upon the Captain at once. I ran up ‡-held them back, and then adjured him to accept quarter. With inflexible heroism he disdained the gift,-kept us at bay, and compelled us to kill him-he fell, covered with honourable wounds. The vessel was ours; and we secured the hatches, which, headed by a Lieutenant, who has received a desperate wound, they attempted repeatedly to force. Thus far we had been fortunate; - but we had another Enemy to fight; it was the element. A sudden gale, and shifted against us, impeded all the efforts we could make. But, as we had made the capture, we determined at all events to sustain it, or to perish. We made the Dutch below surrender-put forty of them into their own irons-and stationed our men at their guns; brought the powder up, and made all the necessary arrangements to attack the other brig. But, as the day broke, and without abatement of the wind, she was off, at such a distance, and in such a position, that we had no chance to reach her. In this extremity of peril we remained eight-and-forty hours. Two of the boats had broken a-drift from us; two had swampt alongside. The wind shifted again, and we made a push to extricate ourselves; but found the navigation so difficult, that it required the intense labour of three days to accomplish it. We carried the point at last, and were commended by the Admiral for our perseverance. You will see in the Gazette my letter to him. I aimed at modesty; and am a little afraid that, in the pursuit of this object, I may have left material facts a little too indefinite, if not obscure. The Atalante's Captain and four others were killed; eleven are wounded, and so dreadfully that our Surgeon thinks every one of them will die. To the end of my existence I shall regret the Captain-he was a perfect Hero; and,

This &c. &c. is full of character.

↑ He thought so when he wrote, but it proved upon inquiry to be a mistake: Mr. Williams, the Master, had this honour, and was proud of it. Captain Hardinge desired him to accept the sword he had used in the enterprize. This would make a subject for a picture.

if his crew had been like him, critical indeed would have been our peril. The Atalante is much larger than my vessel; and she mounted 16 long twelve-pounders: we have not a single brig equal to that calibre. Her intended complement was 200 men ;but she had only 76 on-board.

I expect your joy by the return of the post.

"Ever affectionately yours,

GEO. N. HARDINGE. "P. S. In two days after the Captain's death, he was buried with all the naval honours in my power to bestow upon him; during the ceremony of his interment, the English colours disappeared, and the Dutch were hoisted in their place. All the Dutch officers were liberated-one of them pronounced an éloge on the Hero they had lost-and we fired three volleys over him as he descended into the deep. G. N. H."

Of the preceding Letter Mr. George Hardinge was justly proud. To use his own words, "The Naval Hero's Letter was written to his adopted Father; that is, to me, who educated him, and had appointed him, by an irrevocable deed of gift, my sole heir, when I lost him *.'

The Letter was printed in some of the most respectable periodical publications; and separate copies of it presented by the worthy Judge to his intimate Friends; from several of whom he received the most pleasing proofs of approbation-laudari à laudatis. A few of these, which he had very carefully preserved, shall here be copied :

"Bloomsbury-square, April 28, 1804. "Lord ELLENBOROUGH presents his compliments to Mr. Hardinge, and is obliged to him for the communication of a letter which contains a detail of circumstances, and an expression of sentiments, highly honourable to his gallant Relation."

"SIR,

Piccadilly, May 4, 1804.

"I returned but yesterday from the country, and take this earliest opportunity to express my thanks for the communication of an action so very gallantly undertaken, and executed by your brave Nephew. It is gratifying, under so many other alarming circumstances, to look up, and see the expectations the country may derive from the possession of so many young Officers of tried and superior conduct.

"I have the honour to be, Sir, with sincere esteem and regard, "Your most obedient and faithful servant, GRAFTON." "DEAR SIR, Stanhope-street, May 15, 1804. "You do me justice in supposing that I should feel pleasure from any event that does credit to your Family; and I am obliged to you for sending me Mr. G. N. Hardinge's letter. He writes, as he fights, with spirit; and I hope those, in whose power it is to reward him, have the same opinion of him that I am led to have from his letter. I am, Sir,

"Your obedient humble servant,

BAYNING."

Letter to Mr. Nichols; see " Literary Anecdotes," vol. VIII. p. 516. VOL. III.

I

"Caven

"Cavendish-square, May 3, 1804. "The Bishop of DURHAM [the Hon. and Rev. Dr. BARRINGTON] returns his thanks to Mr. Hardinge for the communication of Captain Hardinge's most interesting letter, which reflects the highest honour on his character, both as a Hero and as a Man.

"The Bishop of Durham congratulates Mr. Hardinge on having such a Nephew, and his Country on having such an Officer." "SIR, Hartlebury, May 2, 1804. "I received your favour of the 28th past, with the printed letter from your Namesake, and, I suppose, near Relation, Mr. G. N. Hardinge. The whole of what he has performed, and written, does him the highest honour in every respect. I therefore beg leave to make you my sincere and cordial congratulations on the occasion; and am, good Sir,

"Your faithful and obedient humble servant,

"R. WORCESTER [HURD]." Richmond, May 18, 1804.

"DEAR SIR, "Your Nephew's Letter is equal to any thing ancient or modern, and must lead to his being distinguished. With such Defenders at the Out-ports, who need be afraid of the First EmpeYor of the French, although it was the first Emperor of the Romans who formerly subdued this country.

"I now thank you for his Letter, which deserves a place in the memorabilia of the Navy.

"I am, Sir, your obliged, &c.

DAVID DUNDAS." "MY DEAR SIR, Dover-street, April 4, 1807. "I neither possess your talent nor your disposition for writing Letters. If I did not take particular notice of your Nephew's Letters, it was because I did not find any account of his promotion in them, on which I should have congratulated you with pleasure. I am, very faithfully, yours, R. LANDAFF [WATSON]." "DEAR SIR, Norwich, Sept. 14, 1813.

"To a mind like yours, it must be a very genuine, though a melancholy pleasure, to reflect that, among the number of young men whom this destructive War has hurried to an untimely grave, there is not one to whom the following beautiful lines of Collins are more applicable than to Captain Hardinge :

'How sleep the brave, who sink to rest,

By all their country's wishes blest,' &c.

"I shall feel a particular pride and satisfaction in placing the Engraving to the memory of your excellent Relative next to the Portrait of our Norfolk Hero, the immortal Nelson. May the sight of two such characters inspire my children with an ardent wish to emulate, as they can, their transcendant merit. My youngest son is lately gone to sea.

"Adieu! Believe me, dear Sir, with real respect and regard, "Yours, &c. H. NORWICH [BATHURST]. "P. S. If I should have neglected to pay my subscription for this Engraving, will you be so good as to desire some one to call upon Mr. Payne the Bookseller."

I shall