to go on board the Warwick 50 gun ship commanded by Captain Elphinstone, afterwards Lord Keith, and he sailed in that vessel on a cruise off the coast of Virginia, in company with the Lion of 60 guns, Captain Fowkes, and the Vestal, and Bonette frigates. Whilst this squadron was off the Delaware, it had the good fortune to capture a French frigate, a corvette, and their prize. This, we believe, was the last piece of service in which Prince William was engaged on the American coast, and the account of it shall, therefore, be given in Captain Elphinstone's own words, extracted from his despatch to Admiral Pigot, dated at sea September 22d, 1782.

"I have the honour to inform you, that in the evening of the 11th, some strange vessels were discovered from on board his Majesty's ships Lion and Vestal, which were chased in consequence of my signal, and occasioned our separation. On the morning of the 12th, five sail were seen from off the the deck; two were to windward, whose appearance led me to think they were enemies; the three to leeward, I had every reason to believe, were his Majesty's ships under my orders; these circumstances induced me to chase to windward. About seven in the morning I was joined by the Bonette sloop. Captain Keats informed me, that the ships to windward were men-of-war, and had declined to answer the private signals which he had offered them the night before. Thus joined, we continued the chase, tacking occasionally until nine, when a third ship stood across from the eastward, shewing signals unknown to me, and firing guns. So soon as he found his signals were not answered, he changed his course, as I did my chase; this latter being the nearest and leewardmost. At twelve o'clock the chase hoisted French colours, and soon after struck. It was the Sophie from Bayonne to Philadelphia, with a cargo on board, armed with twenty-two nine-pounders, one hundred and four men, completely fitted for war, and quite new. From the prisoners I learnt that the Sophie had parted from L'Aigle and Gloire, two French frigates, having a brig under their convoy, for America; and that the frigates had many passengers of rank on board, with a large sum of money, By this

time the Lion and Vestal were at no great distance. I sent an officer to desire Captain Fooks to use every effort to gain the Delaware, and there to anchor in such a situation as would most effectively prevent the enemy from entering; and that I would follow in his Majesty's ship the instant the prisoners were shifted. At this time the wind was out of the river, blowing strong.

"On the 13th, at daylight, the enemy were seen at anchor without Cape Henlopen light-house, with his Majesty's brig Racoon in company, their prize. The signal was made to chase; the enemy weighed, and ran into the river. At this instant the wind shifted to the eastward, which enabled the Warwick and Vestal to weather them. Being thus cut off from the proper channel, it remained only for the French commodore to determine whether he would bring-to, and engage a superior force, or attempt finding a passage among the sand banks, called the Shears, where his Majesty's ships, by reason of their drawing more water, might not be able to follow them. He chose the latter, and ran up the false chaunel, where I did not hesitate to follow; for though the risk was great, the object was considerable. Unfortunately, neither of the King's ships had a pilot; here the enemy had an advantage, as I am well informed the pilot of the Racoon had not honesty enough to resist the offer of five hundred louis d' ors, and that he took charge of their ships. About twelve o'clock I was obliged to anchor, on account of shallow water, and was joined by the Lion, Bonetta, and Sophie prize-ship. The enemy anchored at the same time. The boats of the squadron were ordered out to sound, and the Bonetta, Captain Keats, to go ahead, and lead in the best water. In this manner we kept sailing and anchoring, as circumstances permitted, until the 15th, the enemy all this time retiring with the same precautions,

"At three in the afternoon, the signal was made to weigh; soon after the enemy were under sail, evidently in great confusion, changing their course frequently on account of shallow water. About six in the evening, the Bonetta made the signal for being in shallow water, and very soon after to anchor im

mediately, which was done in four fathoms and a half. A boat then came on board to inform me, that it was impossible to to advance further; however, to counterbalance this mortification, we had the satisfaction to see the largest of the enemy run aground and stick fast. I sent Mr. Lock, first lieutenant of the Warwick, with orders to Captain Fooks of the Vestal, and Captain Keats of the Bonetta, that they should run upon each quarter of the enemy, as near as possible, and attack. Mr. Lock after having delivered my orders, was directed to take command of the Sophie, now furnished with one hundred and fifty men from the Warwick and Lion, and join the attack. In justice to these officers, I must acknowledge that my orders were put in execution with a celerity and address that does them credit. The Vestal ran aground close on the starboard quarter, the Bonetta within two hundred yards on the larboard quarter; and the third ship, placing herself under the stern, the French commodore found himself obliged to surrender, on the Vestal's begining to fire, not having a gun to bear on any of our ships. Thus, owing to the good conduct of the captains and other officers, employed on this service, and the activity of the men, was L'Aigle of forty guns, the finest frigate ever sent forth from Europe, taken possession of, for his Majesty. She was commanded by Comte La Touche, bearing a broad pendant; an officer of great reputation, and if I may be allowed an opinion, who made great exertions to extricate himself from his difficulties; he cut away the masts, and bored the bottom, before she struck. L'Aigle mounts twenty-eight guns on the main deck; twenty-four pounders and twelve nine-pounders on the quarter-deck and forecastle; with upwards of six hundred men on board. The Baron Virminil, commander-inchief of the French army, Monsieur de Montmorency, Duke Lauzun, Vicomte de Fleury, and some other officers of rank, escaped on shore in the same boats which took away a great part of their treasure; but two small casks, and two boxes, have fallen into our hands; the Gloire drawing less water than L'Aigle, got up the river. So soon as the King's ships were got off the ground, and in safety, every body was employed to

save the prize, which, with much labour, under the management of Captain Fooks, was effected on the 17th. On the 20th, in running down the bay, I observed two brigs, which had been prevented from getting up the river, in the act of landing their cargoes. I ordered the Vestal to dislodge the people on board, and send the boats to burn them, which was done."

The Warwick now returned to Sandy Hook, and about the same time, Sir Samuel Hood arrived there from the West Indies, with the view of intercepting the Marquess de Vaudreuil, who then lay at Boston ready to start for the West Indies.

In consequence of some orders sent out expressly by his Majesty, Prince William was removed from the Warwick into the Barfleur, which was commanded by Sir Samuel Hood. It has been publicly stated, that this removal was resolved upon by the King, to prevent any possibility of another attempt being made to kidnap the Prince; but a moment's reflection will be sufficient to show that the King could not have the slightest reference to that circumstance. The squadron under the command of Captain Elphinston, was what was termed in the navy a flying squadron, having no particular service to which it is attached; but generally keeps the sea to catch up any straggling vessels, which might fall in their way, and seldom coming into port, but for the temporary purpose of refitting. It was not, therefore, probable, that so long as Prince William remained on board a squadron of this kind, any danger to his person could be apprehended; but the removal of Prince William arose from no other cause than to perfect him in naval tactics. Some fault had been found with the progress which Prince William made in nautical science, during his service on board the Prince George, arising from the incompetency of his nautical tutor, who was Mr. James Williams, the first lieutenant on board the Prince George. He had been originally a foremast man, and by his steadiness, sobriety, and general seaman-like qualities, had gained the good opinion of Admiral Digby, who promoted

him step by step, until he attained the rank of first lieutenant. At this time Mr., afterwards Sir Richard Goodwin Keats, was second lieutenant on board the Prince George, and in fact he had served in that capacity during the whole time that Prince William was on board of her. As a seaman, Mr. Williams was perhaps superior to Mr. Keats; but from his contracted education, and the general vulgarity and coarseness of his manners, and conversation, he was not exactly the individual fitted for the tuition of a Prince of the royal blood. On the other hand, Mr. Keats had received a very liberal education under his father, who was a clergyman and master of the grammar-school at Tiverton, which being combined with great affability and pleasing manners, rendered him a fit person to perfect Prince William in every branch of his profession.

On the 23d of November, Sir Samuel Hood sailed from Sandy Hook, with twelve sail of the line, for Jamaica.

It was on this service that Prince William and the immortal Nelson first became acquainted. The latter was then in command of the Albemarle frigate, and only 24 years of age, and in the month of November he arrived at Sandy Hook, where Sir Samuel Hood was then lying in the Barfleur, with Prince William on board. He requested Sir Samuel to grant him leave to serve in his squadron, which after some difficulty was granted. When Nelson waited on Admiral Digby, the latter said to him, "You are come on a fine station for prizemoney." "Yes, Sir," replied Nelson, "but the West Indies is the station for honour."

The following is the account of the first interview of Prince William and Nelson, as it was related by the former himself, when he was Duke of Clarence, at Bushy Park :

"I was then a midshipman on board the Barfleur, lying in the Narrows off Staten Island, and had the watch on deck; when Captain Nelson of the Albemarle came in his barge alongside. He appeared to be the merest boy of a Captain I ever beheld, and his dress was worthy of attention. He had on a full-laced uniform, his lank unpowdered hair was tied in