a crew three times as numerous as the Experiment. After a furious but short conflict, the enemy was so disabled as to be glad to take advantage of a light and favour able breeze of wind, to escape from her opponent, and secure herself by flight.

Captain Jervis soon after returned to England, and continued to command the Albany sloop until the 11th of October, 1760, when he was promoted to the rank of post-captain in the Gosport of 40 guns, in which ship he continued until the end of the war, in a situation which afforded little opportunity for exertion. From this period until 1769, no event of importance occurred; but at that period captain Jervis's services were again called for, and he was appointed to the Alarm frigate of 22 guns. His orders were to go to the Mediterranean, where, in 1770, being at Villa Franca, he had the honour of entertaining the Duc de Chablais, brother to the king of Sardinia.

Returning to England in 1774, he was promoted to the Foudroyant, of 84 guns, which being ordered to join the fleet equipped for channel service, became the admiral's ship, and our officer was selected by admiral Keppel to be one of his captains.

impartiality, and spoke in the fol lowing terms of his superior officer:

"That during the whole time that the English fleet was in sight of the French fleet, he displayed the greatest naval skill and ability, and the boldest enterprize upon the 27th of July; which, with the promptitude of sir Robert Harland, will be subjects of my admiration and imitation as long as I live."

From the evidence given upon this trial, it appears, that the Foudroyant, which had got into her station about three, and never left it till four the next morning, was very closely engaged, and in a most disabled state. Her mainmast had received a shot very near through the head and lodged in the cheek, which passed through the heart of the mast, and several other shot in different places; her foremast had also received several shot; a large excavation had been made in her bowsprit near the centre; the fore-topmast was so disabled that it was obliged to be reefed, and the mizen was totally disabled; every hope of her running-rigging cut, and her shrouds demolished; no braces or bowlines left and scarcely any haulyards: fore-stay, spring-stay, and topsail-ties, and the foot-rope of the fore-topsail, shot away; her sails also were very much shattered.

In this most disabled state, the Foudroyant was not in a condition to chase, but kept her station next the Victory, as far to windward as possible. "I was covetous of wind" said this brave officer," because, disabled as I then was, I conceived the advantage of the wind could only carry me again into action."

He had not had any opportunity

for some time to signalize his valour and conduct; but in April 1782 fortune was more favourable to him, and being part of Admiral Barrington's squadron, he engaged and took the Pegasé of 74 guns and 700 men, in a close action.

In this engagement Captain Jervis received a wound, occasioned by a splinter which struck him on the temple, and so severely affect ed him as to endanger his eyesight. On the 29th of May following, he was invested with the honourable order of the Bath. In November following, he attended lord Howe in his gallant relief of Gibraltar, then blocked up by nearly 50 of the enemies ships of the line.

On the return of the fleet, sir John was advanced to the rank of commodore, and hoisted his broad pendant on board the Salisbury, of 50

guns, and was about to be again actively employed in a secret expedition, when a sudden cessation of hostilities taking place, a stop was put, for the present, to all naval exertions.

On the 5th of June, 1783, he was married to his first cousin Martha, eldest daughter of Sir Thomas Parker, but by whom (who died Feb. 8, 1816) he had

no issue.

At the general election in 1784 he was chosen M. P. for Yarmouth, and diligently attended his parliamentary duty. On the 24th of September, 1787, he was advance ed to the rank of Rear Admiral of the Blue; and on the 21st of September 1790, to the same rank in the white squadron. A dispute with the court of Spain relative to Nootka Sound making a rupture probable, a formidable armament was equipped, and the chief command given to admiral Barrington.

On this occasion, Sir John readily accepted the honourable station of captain of the fleet, under his old friend and commander. But the impending storm dispersing, admiral Barrington struck his flag in November, and sir John hoisted his own proper flag on board the Barfleur, which had in the first instance been appointed for the commander-in-chief; but the ap pearance of peace continuing, sir John soon followed the example of his superior officer. In May he was chosen M. P. for Chipping Wycombe.

In February, 1794, he accepted the command of a squadron equip ped for the West Indies, in conjunc tion with sir Charles Grey, and destined to act against the French possessions in that part of the world. The whole armament rendezvoused at Barbadoes, and ope rations were immediately com menced by an attack on Martinico, which fell after a short but vigorous contest on the 26th of March; and this event proved the prelude to a speedy reduction of St. Lucia and Guadaloupe. This success was afterwards abated, by a petty armament of about 1500 troops, in four ships of war, and five transports, eluding the vigilance of the British commanders, and landing at and retaking the island of Guadaloupe.

Though calumny was very active in examining the conduct of the two commanders, nothing to their discredit appeared; on the contrary it was proved they had conducted themselves, in difficult circumstances, with propriety and even delicacy, in the matter inquired after. The thanks of the House of Commons were voted to both, and about the same time the freedom of the City of London was

conferred in gold boxes. But the great exploit of his life was the celebrated battle of Cape St. Vincent, which will for ever stand con-, spicuous in the naval annals of Great Britain. This memorable action took place on the 14th of February, 1797. The British fleet, under sir John Jervis, amounted to no. more than fifteen sail of the line. The Spanish fleet consisted of twenty seven sail of the line; one of which was a four decker, carrying 136 guns, and was the largest ship in the world; six were three deckers, of 112 guns each: two of 84 guns; and eighteen of 74 guns. This fleet was under the command of admiral Cordova, on its way to form a junction with the French fleet, for the purpose of invading Ireland, then in a rebellious and distracted state. The moment was most critical and important. The responsibility attached to encountering the enemy with such a disparity of force, would have justified the bravest man in declining such a contest. But sir John Jervis, confident in the skill and bravery of the Nelsons, the Collingwoods, the Trow bridges, and the heroes he commanded, seized with his characteristic promptitude the brilliant opportunity, and in a battle which, for the manner in which it was planned and executed, can never be surpassed he gained a most important and decisive victory. The Salvador del Mundo, and the San Josef, of 112 guns each; the San Nicholas of 84, and the San Isidro of 74 guns, were taken; the rest, many of them absolute wrecks, (particularly the 136 gun ship,

which was fought by Nelson with a 74,) took shelter in Cadiz, and were there blockaded by the gallant admirah From the excellent skill and discipline of the British fleet, the fire of our ships was superior to that of their opponents, in the proportion of five or six to one. The Culloden, captain Trowbridge, expended 170 barrels of powder; the Captain, commodore Nelson, 146; and the Blenheim, Captain Frederick, 180 barrels. Soon after this, Sir John Jervis was created a peer, by the title of baron Jervis, of Meaford, and viscount and earl of St. Vincent. The earldom has become extinct, but the titles of baron Jervis, and viscount St. Vincent have descended to his lordship's nephew, Edward Jervis Ricketts, Esq. of Meaford, in the county of Stafford. He had also a pension granted him of three thousand a-year. During the administra tion of Mr. Addington, lord St. Vincent held the place of first Lord of the Admiralty; and, as usual, on the conclusion of the peace, ordered the surplus stores to be sold. For this, upon the renewal of the war, charge was brought against him of leaving the navy. not properly supplied with stores, The charge ought rather to have been brought against the minister, who should have made his warlike intentions known. He retired from the Admiralty in 1805, and for some time commanded the channel fleet. In political life his lordship generally voted against ministerial measures, many of which he was expected professionally to support.