first establishment of fuch a power could not have been hoped. Without the formidable bafis he found ready prepared for him, it might have been impoffible to have raised a force able to check the rifing ambition of the Dutch, who, ever jealous of the smallest appearance of commercial profperity in other nations, wanted nothing but the means to arrogate to themselves a monopoly of the whole.

Scarce was the affumed confequence of the Dutch checked, when that of Louis XIV. appeared as a baneful meteor portending ruin and deftruction to Britain, This malevolent afpect, averted by affiduity and courage, having at different times, under princes of fimilar temper and political influence of the fame mifchievous tendency, affumed the fame appearance, has always been repelled by the fame exertions; and Britain may at leaft felicitate herself, that in the midst of the most calamitous wars, from her infular fituation, and the protection of her fleet, fhe has never experienced thofe ravages which rarely fail to mark the progrefs of an invading army, and to which every other horror of war becomes comparatively trivial.

From the foregoing ftatement, which, as it depends merely on facts, cannot be erroneous, we are naturally led into a reflection not much to the advantage of thofe princes who have, during the last century, cherifhed their ambition by a fruitless and wicked difturbance of the public peace. We behold with gratitude that difpoition of Providence which, fuccoured by the bravery of the people, has enabled Britain, alone and unfupported, to refift the united attack of more than half the maritime force in the univerfe and we must admit, without hesitation,

that

that nothing can continue to her the poffeffion of the fame power, but an unremitting attention to those means which have fo long preserved to us the comparative tranquillity already pointed out. This is readily to be acquired by a firm adherence to a mode of defence ever hitherto fucceffful; and which we truft, while perfevered in, it will ever continue fo.

Commerce, colonial territory, and the defence of the country itself, all require, at the hands of Britons, their firm and unanimous fupport of a formidable navy. While principles only of ambition, or envy, can induce other nations to equip a fleet capable of contefting, what is called, the dominion of the fea, even her enemies must have candour enough to confefs, that the political existence and independence of Britain solely depends on the poffeffion of a force competent to establish that irrefiftible proof of her right, acknowledged power, and decided fuperiority.

BIOGRAPHIA

BIOGRAPHIA NAVALIS, &c.

1660.

ORK, JAMES, duke of,-probably, as having been the perfonage under whofe authority all naval commiffions were iffued, from the time of the restoration to the year 1673, has been omitted in every lift of admirals we have hitherto been able to obtain. The introduction of him, however, in this place, cannot be improper, although the omiffion of his name, in the inftances juft pointed out, might appear, in fome degree, to warrant a fimilar conduct in us. The general hiftory of James, duke of York, is too well known to render a regular, uninterrupted account of his life neceffary, or even warrantable; we have only to take notice of fuch part of it as is connected with his abstract character of an admiral. Among the first acts of royalty exercised by Charles the fecond, after taking regular poffeffion of his throne, was that of declaring his brother (the perfonage we allude to) lord high admiral. This appointment took place on the 4th of June, 1660. The diligence and indefatigable attention fhewn by him to the functions of his office, was extremely grateful to the people, and convinced them their fovereign's choice had been influenced by prudence, as well as by fraternal affection. Immediately after the declaration of war against the Dutch, in the year 1665, his royal highness difdaining that quietude, and retreat from danger his very high birth and elevated station might appear to have warranted in a man lefs gallant than himfelf, declared his intention of commanding the fleet in perfon. Purfuant to this refolution, having hoifted his flag on board the Royal Charles, a thip mounting eighty guns, he put to fea, on the 25th of April, at the head of a fleet confifting of an hundred and VOL. I.

B

four

fourteen fail, all men of war and frigates, befides near thirty fire-fhips, and other fmall velfels. After a month's fruitlefs cruife on the coaft of Holland, productive of no other advantage (if that could be called one) than terrifying those who lived near the fea with the apprehenfions of invafion, and probable ruin; tempeftuous weather, and fcarcity of provifions compelled the duke, to return to our own coaft. Opdam, the Dutch admiral, feized this opportunity of putting to fea, and capturing a homeward. bound fleet from Hamburgh, together with its convoy, a frigate of four-and-thirty guns. The duke, on his part, loft not a moment in haftening, as well to revenge the infult, as to acquire fome fatisfaction for the injury done to our commerce. At laft the two fleets met on the 3d of June, and after a most severe and bloody contest, in which the perfonal gallantry* of the different commanders has rarely been equalled, and never exceeded, a most decided and complete victory was obtained by the English. It has been faid, and probably with fome truth, that this fignal advantage was not purfued with that energy neceffary to render it fo beneficial and conclufive as it might have been; but no proof has ever yet been made out that the duke was in any degree acceflary to fuch miscarriage. Nevertheless, it is more than probable, the difcontent and murmuring excited on this occafion, might be among the principal reafons why he declined going to fea again, for fome years, but contented himfelf with staying at home, to fuperintend and direct the civil duties of his high office; when his attention to popular clamour, and the rage of party, prevented his being, confiftent with his own feelings, any longer ferviceable in his military capacity. At the cominencement of the fecond Dutch war, in 1672, his royal highnefs again commanded the fleet in perfon, and again difplayed the fame degree of fpirit and gallantry he had fhewn before; engaging the great De Ruyter ship to thip, till his own, the St. Michael, was completely difabled; and he was, in confequence of her being reduced to a mere wreck, obliged to quit her, and hoift his flag on board the Loyal London. Notwith

Opdam's fhip, the Eendracht of 84 guns, was blown up while engaged with the Royal Charles fhip to fhip. 5

ftanding