in the month of February, attacked a large French frigate on the coast of France, and engaged her for nearly two hours, when she hauled off, and the British sloops, as soon as they were again in condition, went in pursuit of her; fortunately they fell in with a squadron under Captain Newman, in La Loire of forty guns, who joined in the chase, and on the following morning the enemy took refuge under a battery among the seven islands, where Captain Newman very soon compelled her to surrender. She was called La Pallas, of forty-two guns and three hundred and fifty men; Captains Horton and Bazely, as a mark of approbation for their gallantry, were promoted to the rank of post-captains.

The incidents on the coast of Africa being few, are classed under the head of Channel-service.

The island of Goree was taken in 1800 by Captain Sir Charles Hamilton, in the Melpomene: it surrendered on the 5th of April, without resistance, and Sir Charles appointed Mr. Tidy, his first lieutenant, to be the governor, giving him the rank of commander: the fort and garrison being considered and rated as a sloop of war.

Sir John Warren was off Noirmoutier, where the enemy had collected a convoy of victuallers, destined for the supply of the fleet at Brest. It consisted of a ship of twenty and a lugger of twelve guns, two sloops of six guns each, and one cutter of six guns, with fifteen sail of merchant vessels; the whole of which were boarded under a heavy

fire from the batteries, and as the tide would not admit of their being brought out, they were all burnt. This service was performed under the direction of Captain T. B. Martin of the Fisgard, assisted by Lieutenant Burke, who had the boats of the Renown, Defence, and Fisgard, under his orders, with a detachment of marines from each. The immense superiority of force brought against our brave fellows, after their boats were high and dry a-ground, occasioned some loss; though they dragged a vessel large enough to contain their party over a sand two miles in length, until they were up to their necks in water, before she floated. Ninety-two officers, seamen, and marines, were taken prisoners, some of them wounded. Lieutenant Burke, of the Renown, was among the latter, and made prisoner: he was afterward promoted, and drowned, with all his crew, in the Seagull brig.

CHAP. XIV.

Captain Lawford takes Swedish frigate and convoy-Judgment of Sir William Scott-Observations on the armed neutrality and the Baltic trade-Reasons why Russia cannot become a naval power-Statement of shipping which passed the Sound in one year-Attack on the sluices of Slykens, and capture of Sir Eyre Coote and his army-Captain King in the Syrius takes two Dutch frigates-Unfortunate decision of a British captain, and consequent suicide-Reflections and maxim of Nelson Claims of sloops of war to share in the captureJudgment-Gallant conduct of Captains Winthorp and M'Kenzie-Great armament and attack on the Helder-Capture of the Dutch fleet-Russian auxiliaries--Farther successes, and disasters in Holland-Landing of the Duke of York-Severe battles-Suspension of arms-Evacuation of Holland by the allied forces-Ruin of Holland-List of Dutch ships taken, and of British forces-Observations-Official papers-Thanks of parliament-Reward to Admiral Mitchell -One of the Dutch frigates upset at the Nore, in 1801Cause-Anecdote of a British sailor saving a DutchmanJealousy between Russia and England-Madame Chevalier sent to take advantage of it to St. Petersburg-Revival of northern confederacy-Right of search disputed-Rigorous detention of neutrals by British cruisers-Difficulty of enemy procuring colonial produce-Anecdote of the Shark-Affair of the Nemesis and Freya-Lord Whitworth sent to adjust the dispute between England and Denmark-Temporary arrangement-Affair of the Haufernan Danish frigate at Gibraltar-Observation of Sir William Scott supported by Puffendorf-Captain Inman and squadron attack French ships in Dunkirk-roads-Capture of La Desirée, and gallant conduct of Captain Patrick Campbell of the Dart.

In the month of January an affair took place between some British cruisers and a Swedish frigate with her convoy, which though on our side en

tirely conformable to the law of nations, served to embitter those irritated feelings so long cherished against us by the northern powers.

Captain John Lawford in the Romney of fifty guns, and Captain Henry Raper in the Champion of twenty-four guns, stationed between the North Foreland and the Flemish banks, fell in with a frigate having a great number of ships and vessels under her charge. Captain Lawford desired them to heave to, and immediately sent an officer on board to inquire of what the cargoes of the merchant vessels consisted, and whither they were bound. The answer returned was that they were Swedes, laden with pitch, tar, iron, and hemp, bound-to various ports in the Mediterranean. Captain Lawford feeling all the responsibility of his situation, still keeping the convoy in view, instantly sent an officer to the admiralty for instructions. He returned with directions to detain the merchant vessels, and carry them into the nearest English port; these orders Captain Lawford communicated by Captain Raper in respectful terms to the Swedish captain, who, having prepared for action, shewed his instructions to repel force by force, should any attempt be made to obstruct the passage of his convoy, and declared that he should defend it to the last. The British commodore was equally prepared, and, during the night, got possession of most of the vessels: in the morning the Swede sent an armed boat to one of his convoy that had been boarded, and

taking out by force the British officer left in charge of her, detained him; after which he sent an officer to remonstrate with Captain Lawford for having, under cover of the night, boarded and got possession of his convoy, which he said was unobserved by him, or he should have resisted; upon farther conference, however, and being convinced that he was incapable of effectually opposing the force of the British vessels, he consented to go with his convoy into Margateroads, and released the British officer; but on his arrival there he repented of his conduct, and regretted that he had not exchanged a few broadsides with the Romney.

In the following year, Sir William Scott gave his judgment on this important case; he severely commented on the hostile array and threatening language used by the Swede, and after one of the most luminous and learned discourses ever pronounced on such an occasion, he finally condemned the hulls and cargoes of all the merchant vessels, but directed the restoration of the private ventures of the masters. The property condemned, taken at a rough valuation, was estimated at 600,0001. sterling. The whole of the judgment is given at length in Schomberg, vol. 3, p. 264, and is well worthy the attention of the naval and mercantile reader. It is remarkable that, in summing up the merits of the case, the learned judge was chiefly guided in his decision by the writings of the celebrated Swedish author Puffendorf.