piping of the boatswain's whistle. But old Norval had chalked out a different career for his first-born. He did not, it is true, desire to keep him at home, but he intended that he should "follow to the field some warlike lord"-in other words, that he should become a soldier; and with that view a military commission was actually obtained, through the interest of a relative, for the unhappy boy, who was driven very nearly frantic. The following account of his early trials strikes us as extremely droll, and exhibits great literary ability:

:

By way of initiation into the mysteries of the military profession, I was placed under the tuition of an old sergeant, whose first lessons well accorded with his instructions not to pay attention to my foibles. My hair, cherished with boyish pride, was formally cut, and plastered back with a vile composition of candle-grease and flour, to which was added the torture incident to the cultivation of an incipient queue. My neck, from childhood open to the lowland breeze, was encased in an inflexible leathern collar or stock, selected according to my preceptor's notions of military propriety; these almost verging on stran gulation. A blue semi-military tunic, with red collar and cuffs, in imitation of the Windsor uniform, was provided; and to complete the tout ensemble, my father, who was a determined Whig partisan, insisted on my wearing yellow waistcoat and breeches; yellow being the Whig colour, of which I was admonished never to be ashamed. A more certain mode of calling into action the dormant obstinacy of a sensitive, high-spirited lad

could not have been devised than that

of converting him into a caricature, hateful to himself, and ridiculous to others.

“As may be imagined, my costume was calculated to attract attention, the more so from being accompanied by a stature beyond my years. Passing one day near the Duke of Northumberland's palace at Charing Cross, I was beset by a troop of ragged boys, evidently bent on amusing themselves at the expense of my personal appearance, and in their peculiar slang indulging in comments thereon far more critical than complimentary.

Stung to the quick, I made my

escape from them, and, rushing home, begged my father to let me go to sea with my uncle, in order to save me from the degradation of floured head, pig-tail, and yellow breeches. This burst

of despair aroused the indignation of the parent and the Whig, and the reply was a sound cuffing. Remonstrance was useless: but my dislike to everything military became confirmed; and the events of that day certainly cost his majesty's 104th Regiment an officer, notwithstanding that my military training proceeded with redoubled severity."

-

The words in the foregoing extract, "go to sea with iny uncle," must be thus explained. An uncle of Lord Cochrane the Hon. Captain, and afterwards Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane had noted the singular penchant of the boy for the sea; and, unknown to Lord Dundonald, had placed his name on the books of various vessels under his command days, for the purpose of giving a few -a practice not uncommon in those years' standing in the service. Young Cochrane, then, at an early age, was actually rated both as a soldier and a sailor. We cannot say that we regret the discontinuance of such a system, which forcibly reminds us of the well-known answer of a servant in a Scottish family which enjoyed an unusual share of patronage, who, being questioned as to the cause of a piercing yell that proceeded from the it's naething but the Major greeting schoolroom, replied-" Hoots, mem! for his parritch."

Old Dundonald, being a Whig, doubtless esteemed himself a Brutus; for the elder Brutus is the real Whig type-very cold, very unamiable, very arbitrary, and exceedingly fond of power and perquisite ; but he had to deal with a son far more indomitable than the poor Roman lad, whom the paternal brute consigned to death for his adherence to the cause of legitimacy. The sapling was tougher than the oak; so at last Brutus gave in; and young Lord Cochrane, with no prospects of fortune save what he might win by his bold heart and stalwart arm, joined the Hind frigate as a midshipman, at the age of seventeen years and a half.

in falling in at once with a tar of He was, we apprehend, most lucky the genuine old British breed; and though the quotation may be something long, it is nevertheless so good of its kind, reminding us very forcibly

of Smollett's delineations of seamen in Roderick Random, that we cannot persuade ourselves to make it shorter.

"My kind uncle, the Hon. John Cochrane, accompanied me on board the Hind for the purpose of introducing me to my future superior officer, Lieutenant Larmour, or, as he was more familiarly

known in the service, Jack Larmour-a specimen of the old British seaman, little calculated to inspire exalted ideas of the gentility of the naval profession, though presenting at a glance a personification of its efficiency. Jack was, in fact, one of a not very numerous class, whom, from their superior seamanship, the Admiralty was glad to promote from the forecastle to the quarterdeck, in order that they might mould into ship-shape the questionable materials supplied by parliamentary influence-even then paramount in the navy to a degree which might otherwise have led to disaster. Lucky was the commander who could secure such an officer for his quarterdeck.

"On my introduction, Jack was dressed in the garb of a seaman, with marling-spike slung round his neck and a lump of grease in his hand, and was busily employed in setting up the rigging. His reception of me was anything but gracious. Indeed a tall fellow, over six feet high, the nephew of his captain, and a lord to boot, were not very promising recommendations for a midshipman. It is not impossible that he might have learned from my uncle something about a military commission of several years' standing; and this, coupled with my age and stature, might easily have impressed him with the idea that he had caught a scapegrace with whom the family did not know what to do, and that he was hence to be saddled with a 'hard bargain.'

"After a little constrained civility on the part of the first-lieutenant, who was evidently not very well pleased with the interruption to his avocation, he ordered me to get my traps below.' Scarcely was the order complied with, and myself introduced to the midshipman's berth, than I overheard Jack grumbling at the magnitude of my equipments. "This Lord Cochrane's chest? Does Lord Cochrane think he is going to bring a cabin aboard? The service is going to the devil! Get it up on the main

deck.'

"The order being promptly obeyed, amidst a running fire of similar objurgations, the key of the chest was sent for, and shortly afterwards the sound of

sawing became audible. It was now high time to follow my property, which, to my astonishment, had been turned out on the deck-Jack superintending the process of sawing off one end of the chest just beyond the keyhole, and accomplimentary observations on midship. companying the operation by sundry unmen in general, and on myself in particular.

"The metamorphosis being completed to the lieutenant's satisfaction, though not at all to mine-for my neat chest had become an unshapely piece of lumber-he pointed out the 'lubberliness of shore-going people in not making keyholes where they could be most easily got at,' viz., at the end of a chest instead

of the middle ! The observation was

perhaps made to test my temper, but if for his kindness in imparting so useful so, it failed in its object. I thanked him a lesson, and left him evidently puzzled as to whether I was a cool hand or a simple one.

"Poor Jack! his limited acquaintance with the world-which, in his estimation, was bounded by the taffrail and the bowsprit-rendered him an indifferent judge of character, or he might have seen in me nothing but an ardent desire diligently to apply myself to my chosen heart than money in my pocket. A short profession-with no more pride in my time, however, developed this. Finding me anxious to learn my duty, Jack warmly took me by the hand, and as his only ideas of relaxation were to throw off the lieutenant and resume the functions of the able seaman, 'my improvement speedily rewarded my kind though rough teacher, by converting into a useful adjunct one whom he had, perhaps not unjustifiably, regarded as a nuisance. We soon became fast friends, and throughout life few more kindly recollections are impressed on my memory than those of my first naval instructor, honest Jack Larmour."

We shall pass over without special comment the record of the first few years' service of Lord Cochrane in the navy; not because the narrative is deficient in interest-on the contrary, it abounds with characteristic anecdotes and sketches-but because his genius found no opportunity for display until he attained a separate command. Meantime he had become a thorough and practical seaman, able to turn his hand to anything, quick, resolute, and full of invention-a quality which he seems to have inherited from his father, but with a better capacity for its practical and

useful application. The father could only plan the son could both devise and execute.

In 1798, Lord Keith, being appoint

ed to relieve Lord St Vincent in the command of the Mediterranean fleet, took Cochrane with him as a supernumerary. He was, however, soon appointed to a ship, being still a lieutenant, and saw much service in that stirring and eventful year. His recollections and impressions of Nelson are interesting.

"From Gibraltar we proceeded to Sicily, where we found Lord Nelson surrounded by the élite of Neapolitan society, amongst whom he was justly regarded as a deliverer. It was never my good fortune to serve under his lordship, either at that or any subsequent period. During our stay at Palermo I had, however, opportunities of personal conversation with him; and from one of his frequent injunctions, Never mind inanoeuvres-always go at them,' I subsequently had reason to consider myself indebted for successful attacks under apparently difficult circumstances.

"The impression left on my mind during these opportunities of association

with Nelson, was that of his being an embodiment of dashing courage, which would not take much trouble to circumvent an enemy, but, being confronted with one, would regard victory so much a matter of course as hardly to deem the chance of defeat worth consideration.

"This was, in fact, the case; for though the enemy's ships were for the most part superior to ours in build, the discipline and seamanship of their crews was in that day so inferior as to leave little room for doubt of victory on our part.

Trafalgar itself is an illustration of Nelson's peculiar dash. It has been remarked that Trafalgar was a rash action, and that had Nelson lost it, and lived, he would have been brought to a court martial for the way in which that action was conducted. But such cavillers forget that, from previous experience, he had calculated both the nature and amount of resistance to be expected; such calculation forming as essential a part of his plan of attack as even his own means for making it. The result justified his expectations of victory, which were not only well founded, but certain.

The fact is, that many commanders in those days committed the error of overrating the French navy, just as, in the present day, we are nationally falling

into the still more dangerous extreme of underrating it. Steam has, indeed, gone far towards equalising seamanship; and the strenuous exertions of the French department of Marine have perhaps rendered discipline in their navy as good as in ours. They, moreover, keep their trained men; whilst we thoughtlessly turn ours adrift whenever ships are paid off-to be replaced by raw hands in case of emergency!"

The first vessel of which Lord Cochrane had the command was the Speedy, which he describes as having been little more than a burlesque on a vessel of war. "She was about the size of an average coasting brig, her burden being 158 tons. She was crowded rather than manned with a crew of eighty-four men and six officers, myself included. Her armament consisted of fourteen fourpounders!-a species of gun little larger than a blunderbuss.' Still it was something to have a vessel, and still more to be allowed independent action, which Lord Keith, who seems even then to have thoroughly appreciated the daring character of his protégé, spontaneously granted. The Speedy did not sail with the squadron, but went out as a cruiser, Britain being then at war both with France and Spain; and in a very short time it became noised all along the Spanish coast that a new Paul Jones had arisen. The Speedy, as managed by Lord Cochrane, contrived, notwithstanding the contemptible nature of her armament, to convulse the merchantmen with terror. was here to-day, and there to-morrow sometimes disguised with paint, sometimes altered in her rig, picking up prizes, cutting out ships that lay under the protection of forts, giving battle to gunboats, and playing the mischief with the French privateers. In short, she became a recognised nuisance, and special orders were issued by the Spanish naval authorities that she should be traced, trapped, and captured. But it was not by any means an easy matter to catch Lord Cochrane. His plan of operations was to keep well out of sight during the day, giving the enemy a clear offing, and to run in before dawn on the next morning. On one occasion, however, he made a most

She

narrow escape, not so much through good fortune, as by the exercise of that rapid inventive genius which, as we have already remarked, he possessed in an extraordinary measure. Don Whiskerandos, though not largely gifted with that faculty which our Transatlantic brethren denominate "'cuteness," had for once condescended to a "dodge;" and one morning, when off Plane Island, Lord Cochrane was gratified with the sight of a large ship inshore, which presented the appearance of a well-laden merchantman. It was a honey-pot for the hornet-an utterly irresistible temptation. We say that on the authority of Lord Cochrane (or rather Lord Dundonald) himself, because he has the courage to avow, though he avows it too broadly and too often, that, in time of naval warfare, the hope of prize-money is a grand incentive to the sailor. The men who talk about the inviolability of private property of non-belligerents are simply idiots. We know perfectly well what are the sinews of war; and war is so terrible a curse that, when once declared, every means should be used to cut the sinews of the antagonist, else the curse would be unnecessarily, and in some cases indefinitely, prolonged. There is but one sound rule in naval warfare; and that is, to do as much mischief as you can: and though at first sight it may be considered satanic, we are satisfied that, in the long run, it will be found to be eminently Christian. Better clear off scores at once, than prolong a professional warfare. We do not hesitate to express our opinion that a very strong case may be made out even in favour of privateering; and in the event of a general war, we are satisfied that no congress resolutions would be adhered to for a single month. There must be a clausum, as well as an apertum mare; and in the first case, when it is of the utmost importance to cripple the trade of an enemy, privateers are quite as likely to be useful as regular vessels

of war. But to return to our narrative: Lord Cochrane, seeing this argosy apparently well laden, bore down upon her; but, on nearing, the ports were raised, and discovered the heavy armament of a formidable Spanish frigate.

A difficult situation that! The Speedy could not get away, for the Spaniard would have outsailed her, and run her down by mere weight. To fight was a desperate alternative, which Lord Cochrane, considering his inferiority in armament, thought it exceedingly imprudent to adopt, unless absolutely compelled to do so. He therefore met craft with craft, having been already prepared for such an emergency. It had become known to him, while at Port Mahon, that the Spaniards were determined, if possible, to put him down, so, says he, "I had the Speedy painted in imitation of the Danish brig Clomer, the appearance of this vessel being well known on the Spanish coast. We also shipped a Danish quartermaster, taking the further precaution of providing him with the uniform of an officer of that nation. On discovering the real character of our neighbour, the Speedy hoisted Danish colours, and spoke her. At first this failed to satisfy the Spaniard, who sent a boat to board us. It was now time to bring the Danish quartermaster into play in his officer's uniform; and to add force to his explanations, we ran the quarantine flag up to the fore, calculating on the Spanish horror of the plague, then prevalent along the Barbary coast. On the boat coming within hail,-for the yellow flag effectually repressed the enemy's desire to board us,-our mock officer informed the Spaniards that we were two days from Algiers, where at the time the plague was violently raging. This was enough. The boat returned to the frigate, which, wishing us a good voyage, filled and made sail, whilst we did the same."

The veteran hints that he was blamed, by some of his officers, for not having poured in such a broadside as the Speedy could deliver, after the Spaniards, deceived by the hoisting of false colours, were thrown off their guard. No vindication is necessary. The ruse itself was perfectly justifiable and extremely clever; but, once attempted, he was bound to carry it out and an attack, under such circumstances, would have been a blot on his ancestral shield. That his forbearance did not arise from want of pluck (the

last possible imputation that could be laid to his charge), became very apparent five months afterwards. Being off Barcelona on the 6th of May 1802, after a smart engagement with some gunboats, which Lord Cochrane suspected to be a decoy, the nature of the trap was manifested by the appearance of a large ship running under the land. On hauling towards her, she altered her course in chase of the Speedy, and was presently made out to be a Spanish xebec frigate. We must again have_recourse to the words of Lord Dundonald, for we cannot venture to alter, even in language, the record of this extraordinary engagement.

"As some of my officers had expressed dissatisfaction at not having been permitted to attack the frigate fallen in with on the 21st of December, after her suspicions had been lulled by our device of hoisting Danish colours, &c., I told them they should now have a fair fight, notwithstanding that, by manning the two prizes sent to Mahon, our numbers had been reduced to fifty-four, officers and boys included. Orders were then given to pipe all hands, and prepare for

action.

66

Accordingly we made towards the frigate, which was now coming down under steering-sails. At 9.30 A.M. she fired a gun and hoisted Spanish colours, which the Speedy acknowledged by hoisting American colours, our object being, as we were now exposed to her full broadside, to puzzle her, till we got on the other tack, when we ran up the English ensign, and immediately afterwards encountered her broadside without damage.

"Shortly afterwards she gave us another broadside, also without effect. My orders were not to fire a gun till we were close to her; when, running under her lee, we locked our yards amongst her rigging, and in this position returned our broadside, such as it was.

"To have fired our popgun fourpounders at a distance would have been to throw away the ammunition; but the guns being doubly, and, as I afterwards learned, trebly shotted, and being elevated, they told admirably upon her maindeck; the first discharge, as subsequently ascertained, killing the Spanish captain and the boatswain.

was

"My reason for locking our small craft in the enemy's rigging was the one upon which I mainly relied for victory, viz. that from the height of the frigate

out of the water, the whole of her shot must necessarily go over our heads, whilst our guns, being elevated, would blow up her maindeck.

the disadvantage under which they were "The Spaniards speedily found out Speedy; but as this order was as disfighting, and gave the order to board the tinctly heard by us as by them, we avoided it at the moment of execution by sheering off sufficiently to prevent the movement, giving them a volley of musketry and a broadside before they could recover themselves.

"Twice was this manœuvre repeated, and twice thus averted. The Spaniards, finding that they were only punishing board, and stood to their guns, which themselves, gave up further attempts to were cutting up our rigging from stem to stern, but doing little farther damage; for after the lapse of an hour the loss to the Speedy was only two men killed and four wounded.

"This kind of combat, however, could not last. Our rigging being cut up, and the Speedy's sails riddled with shot, I told the men that they must either take the frigate or be themselves taken, in which case the Spaniards would give no quarter whilst a few minutes energetically employed on their part would de

cide the matter in their own favour.

"The doctor, Mr Guthrie, who, I am happy to say, is still living to peruse this record of his gallantry, volunteered to take the helm: leaving him therefore for the time both commander and crew of the Speedy, the order was given to board, and in a few seconds every man was on the enemy's deck-a feat rendered the more easy as the doctor placed the Speedy close alongside with admirable skill.

"For a moment the Spaniards seemed taken by surprise, as though unwilling to believe that so small a crew would have the audacity to board them; but soon recovering themselves, they made a rush to the waist of the frigate, where the fight was for some minutes gallantly carried on. Observing the enemy's colours still flying, I directed one of our men immediately to haul them down, when the Spanish crew, without pausing to consider by whose orders the colours had been struck, and naturally believing it the act of their own officers, gave in, and we were in possession of the Gamo frigate of thirty-two heavy guns and 319 men, who an hour and a half before had looked upon us as a certain if not an easy prey."

This was a feat probably unex