New York, was proceeding down the channel, when he fell in with a vessel sent express from Jersey, with the first account of the danger of that island. He sailed directly with a part of his squadron for its relief, ordering the rest to wait his return in Torbay; but finding on his arrival off Guernsey, that the French fleet had been repulsed, he rejoined his convoy. This deviation from his course, though short, was the cause of much subsequent delay, as the fleet was detained for nearly a month afterwards by contrary winds. In the interval of its detention, it was apprehended that the French would receive intelligence of its great value, and of the force that protected it; in consequence of which, ten ships from the channel fleet were detached under Admiral Darby, to accompany Arbuthnot to a certain latitude. The channel fleet thus weakened, was obliged to suspend a plan for blocking up the harbour of Brest, and the French availing themselves of the opportunity, hurried to sea with an imperfect equipment, and joined the fleet of Spain on the 24th of June. This junction was truly alarming, the two fleets amounting to more than sixty sail of the line, with nearly an equal number of frigates and smaller vessels, steered for the British channel, in the mouth of which, Sir Charles Hardy, who had succeeded Keppel, was cruising with thirty-eight ships of the line and some frigates. The combined fleets passed him about the middle of August, neither party observing the other, and appeared before Plymouth for two or three days, until a strong easterly wind compelled them to retire. The same wind had also driven the British fleet to sea; but on the last day of August, Sir Charles Hardy entered the channel in full view of the enemy, who followed him as high as Plymouth, but as their crews were said to be sickly, their ships to be in bad condition, and the season for equinoctial gales was fast approaching, Count D'Orvilliers steered back to Brest, early in September, without effecting anything further, than the capture of the Ardent man of war, which had accidentally fallen in with the combined fleets. The naval pride of England

was certainly much mortified at these occurences on her own coasts, but the hopes of France and Spain, in fitting out so great an armament, must have been greatly disappointed.

Such was the situation of the British navy at home and abroad, when it was determined that Prince William should become a sailor. They were no piping times of peace; but a period of danger, in which the existence of England itself, depended upon the exertions of the navy, and the enemy evincing a boldness and promptitude which promised them success, considering the comparative inferiority of the force which England could bring against them.

On the evening previously to the departure of Prince William, the whole of the royal family met at supper, at which that gloom prevailed, which is the usual attendant on the approaching loss of a member of a family, under whatever circumstances it may take place, but under those which accompanied the estrangement of Prince William from the family circle, the pain of separation was more acutely felt. On supper being over, and the members of the family were about to retire to their respective apartment; the King on presenting Prince William with a bible, addressed him in the following terms, "You are on the eve, my dear boy, of leaving the residence of your parents, to enter into the duties of a profession, in which I will not conceal it from you, that you will be obliged to undergo many privations, and be surrounded by many dangers. Let me impress it strongly upon your mind, that obedience to your superior officers is your first, your principal duty. By knowing how to obey, you will learn how to command, and think not that the high station in which you were born, absolves you from the performance of even the most menial duty attached to the rank which you may hold in the ship. Expect not that because you are the son of the King of England, that you will be treated with greater respect than what is shown to the other officers of the same rank as yourself. You will in every respect be subject to the same discipline, and the same routine of duty, as the other officers, and

I have issued my private commands to the officer, under whose orders you will be placed, that all distinction of rank shall be waived, and that the title of Prince be lost in the common name of the sailor. In presenting you with this book, I consider it the best gift which a father can make to a son, in the situation in which you are about to be placed; in the midst of the dangers by which you will be surrounded, place your confidence in that God who can rule the tempest, and turn the sword of the enemy from you. You will, I fear, meet with many, who will turn your pious devotions into ridicule, but be not diverted by their sneers, from the performance of your duty to your God, and rest assured, you will thereby gain the respect and esteem of your superiors, and what you will find still more valuable to you, you will enjoy the consciousness of inward piety and rectitude, and which will carry you through the hour of trial and danger, with cheerfulness and composure. Now, go, my son, may the God of battles be with you, and should it please him to return you safe to the arms of your parents, may they receive you without a stain upon your honour-may you return to them an ornament to the glorious profession to which you are about to belong, and it will be a proud day in the life of your father, if by your courage and your skill, you may have contributed to the defeat of the enemies of your country, and to the security of your father's Crown."

It was on the 15th of June 1779 that Prince William was rated as a midshipman on board the Prince George of 98, guns then bearing the flag of Rear Admiral Digby at Spithead. With the view of removing from his mind as much as possible, all idea of the superiority of his rank, his equipment was rather of a secondary character, than such as might be supposed to be furnished to a son of the King of England. The ridiculous foppery of a court dress, was laid aside for the plain blue jacket and trowsers of the sailor, and the little three cornered cocked hat was abandoned for the slouched low crowned hat of a member of a middy's cabin. To say that Prince William expressed at first any particular pleasure at the situation in which he found himself, contrasting it as he did with the

royal splendour which he had just quitted, were to give him credit for a greater share of professional enthusiasm, than in reality belonged to him, or which could be expected from him. The transition from a power of command, to a state of the most unlimited obedience, from the power of control, to a station of direct submission, was too sudden to be immediately relished by a youth, who though possessing one of the principal requisites for his profession, namely courage, had in secret, argued the point with himself, touching the necessity of his entering a profession at all, considering the prospects which his rank in life held out to him. There is however one anecdote related of him, on his introduction into the midshipman's cabin, which shows that he had treasured up the counsels of his father, and that he was determined to act in conformity with them. Being seated at the midshipman's table, the youngsters of it did not know how to address him. Although they knew him to be a son of the King of England, yet there was a spirit of independence about them, which would not let them look upon him in any other light than their equal, subject in every respect to the same duties as themselves, and his superiors in rank according to the date of their commissions. There was something in the title of "your Royal Highness" too high sounding for them, and one of them, possessing a little more effrontery than the others, asked him "by what name he was rated in the books?" "I am entered," replied the royal youth, "as Prince William Henry, but my father's name is Guelph, and therefore if you please, you may call me William Guelph, for I am nothing more than a sailor like yourselves." This trait of affability gained him the esteem of his youthful associates, nor did he by any after-conduct ever forfeit it.

Another anecdote that is related of the young Prince, is strongly corroborative of his natural generosity, and highmindedness. A quarrel once arose between him and a brother midshipman; high words passed between the parties, till at length the Prince's opponent, losing all command of his temper, struck the Prince a severe blow on the face. He was a weak,

delicate boy, considerably younger than William Henry, so that retaliation would have been perfectly safe. But his Royal Highness with that patient forbearance, which characterized his after life, scorned to take advantage of a circumstance like this. While his youthful companions were standing round in mute expectation, some hoping for, others dreading an affray, the insulted Prince calmly observed, that he was quite sure his friend would speedily regret having been guilty of conduct so ungentlemanly, and that, therefore, he was content to wait for an apology till his passion had subsided. As the courage of the young Prince was beyond question, and his superiority over his antagonist in personal strength most manifest, joined to the fact, that the quarrel had been none of his seeking, this could not fail to excite the admiration, and call for the applause of the juvenile heroes, who are not slow to appreciate, however, backward they may be to imitate an example of generous forbearance. The offender whose principal fault was an infirmity of temper, was so moved at the noble conduct of the Prince, that he instantly asked pardon for his rashness, and the affair was apparently forgotten.

Many years afterwards, we believe about the time that his Royal Highness was appointed Lord High Admiral, the quondam midshipman, whose promotion had not kept pace with his merit, chanced to come in contact with his royal shipmate. On hearing his name, his Royal Highness instantly inquired whether he was not the hero of the scene which we have just described, and on being answered in the affirmative, his Royal Highness with great good humour referred to the particulars of the occurrence, and from that day to the day of his death, his youthful foe never wanted a friend. The illustrious benefactor, and the grateful object of his bounty, have now alike yielded to the last mortal enemy; but the memory of them lives after them.

A few days after Prince William was received on board the Prince George, she weighed anchor for Torbay, there to join the channel fleet under the command of Sir Charles Hardy. The whole was then to sail to the westward, with the