and two n December inted general J a salary of and was also vy council. This d at his seat at near Guildford, in

Surrey, of a bilious fever, on the 10th of June, 1761.

Admiral Boscawen was remarkable for leaning his head on one side; a habit which he contracted when a youth, by taking off an old servant of the family, and which he never could divest himself of.

attack on Martinico, in Imiral Rodney superinlanding of the artillery; t on shore a large body of , who carried the cannon upof three miles, through what ht seem almost insurmountable iculties, and drew the heaviest uns and mortars up the mountains, exposed to a heavy fire from the enemy. With such singular coolness and intrepidity was this duty performed, that on the first cannon that ascended the heights, a sailor was seen sitting singing the national air of "God save the King."

In the expedition against Baltimore, in the United States, Admiral Cockburn, who accompanied the army, was in the wood were General Ross was killed, and observed an American rifleman taking deliberate aim at him from behind a tree. Instead of turning aside or discharging a pistol at the fellow,

as any other man would have done, the brave admiral doubling his fist shook it at his enemy, and cried aloud, "O you damned Yankey, I'll give it you!" Upon which the man dropped his musket, in the greatest alarm, and took to his heels.

Peter Heine, a Dutchman, from a cabin boy, rose to the rank of admiral. He was killed in an action at the moment his fleet had triumphed over that of Spain. The States-general sent a deputation to

his mother, at Delft, to condole with her on the loss of her son, This simple old woman, who still remained in her original obscurity, answered the deputies in these words: --"I always foretold that Peter would perish like a miserable wretch that he was; he loved nothing but rambling about from one country to another, and now he has received the reward of his folly !"

A humourous tar of the name of Jack Simpson, of the Dreadnought, went to Bath, with his "she messmate," and had their names inserted in the journals of the pump-room, as new arrivals to drink the waters. On his return, Jack brought the newspaper with him, and the ship's barber read the article aloud on the main deck, to the no small merriment of "a crowded house," astonished at his abstemious habits.

An old sailor, who had fought at the battle of the Nile, in the Temeraire, had by some means got into St. Paul's, to witness the funeral of Lord Nelson, who, it will be remembered, commanded the Victory, on board which he fell. During the funeral sermon, preached on that melancholy day, when the grave closed on the remains of the hero, Jack observed that the clergyman in almost every sentence introduced the word victory. "The victory is alone to be ascribed to THEE!"

tar burning with impatience at hearing this, roared out "Come, damme, master parson, why don't you say something about the Temeraire -my ship, d'ye see.

When Admiral Campbell was to be presented to the king by Lord Sandwich, he told him that probably his Majesty would, in consideration of his services, knight him: the Admiral did not much relish the honour. 66 Well, but," said Lord S." perhaps Mrs. Campbell will like it?" "Then let the king knight her," answered the blunt seaman.

Poetical Scraps.

CASABIANCA.

BY MRS. HEMENS.

[Young Casabianca, a boy about thirteen years old, son to the Admiral of the Orient, remained at his post (in the battle of the Nile) after the ship had taken fire, and all the guns had been abandoned; and perished in the explosion of the vessel, when the flames had reached the powder.]

The boy stood on the burning deck

Whence all but him had fled;
The flame that lit the battle's wreck

Shone round him o'er the dead.
Yet beautiful and bright he stood,
As born to rule the storm;
A creature of heroic blood,

A proud though child-like form.

The flames rolled on-he would not go,
Without his father's word;
That father, faint in death below,
His voice no longer heard.

He called aloud :-" Say, father, say
gone!

If I yet may
be
And" but the booming shots replied,
And fast the flames rolled on.

Upon his brow he felt their breath,

And in his waving hair,

And look'd from that lone post of death,
In still yet brave despair.
And shouted but once more aloud,
"My father! must I stay?"
While o'er him fast, through sail and shroud,
The wreathing fires made way.
They wrapt the ship in splendour wild,
They caught the flag on high,
And stream'd above the gallant child,
Like banners in the sky.

There came a burst of thunder sound-

The boy-oh! where was he? Ask of the winds that far around

With fragments strew'd the sea: With mast, and helm, and pennon fair, That well had borne their partBut the noblest thing that perished there Was that young faithful heart!

THE BEACON.

The scene was more beautiful far to my eye, Than if day in its pride had arrayed it; The land-breeze blew mild, and the azurearch'd sky

Looked pure as the spirit that made it; The murmur rose soft, as I silently gaz'd

On the shadowy wave's playful motion, From the dim, distant isle, till the beacon-fire blaz'd

Like a star in the midst of the ocean.

No longer the joy of the sailor-boy's breast Was heard in his wildly breath'd numbers; The sea-bird had flown to her wave-girdl'd

nest

The fisherman sunk in his slumbers: One moment I look'd from the hills gentle slope

(All hush'd was the billow's commotion) And I thought that the beacon look'd lovely as hope

That star of life's tremulous ocean.

The time is long pass'd, and the scene is afar, Yet, when my head rests on its pillow, Will memory sometimes rekindle the star

That blaz'd on the breast of the billow. In life's closing hour, when the trembling soul flies,

And death stiils the heart's last emotion, Oh, there may the Seraph of mercy arise, Like the star on eternity's ocean.

THE VESSEL COMING IN.

A SONNET.

Borne on the mighty billows of the tide, From distant lands the sons of ocean come

Spreading their amplest sails, they quickly glide

Over the deep, impatient for their home. See, on the pier,-a mother takes her stand,

With varied countenance of fear and joy, She, in her arms, exulting, clasps her boy, Long ere he springs on his dear native land.

The wife, the tender partner of her care Expects, and eager eyes the distant sail: The prattlers point, and say, "My father's

there!"

It is astonishing that, amid the almost daily instances of folly and ruin attendant on the pernicious evils of gaming, so many infatuated followers of that destestable pursuit should still be found in those cities claiming a pre-eminence of civilization. It is an evil that the laws ought to root out; in the want, however, of legislative authority, perhaps a few atrocious instances of the depravity incident upon such a course might awaken the mind of some from following in the same delusive path. The following is a lamentable instance, and, though but little known, is borne out by historical veracity.

The celebrated Danish vice-admiral Tordenskiold, who was born. in 1891, and died in 1720, had so distinguished himself in his earliest youth, by his immoveable courage and presence of mind in the naval service, that he rapidly rose in the profession. He was not only the [No. 14.

favourite of his sovereign, Frederic IV. of Denmark, who made him vice-admiral; but his glorious victories over the Swedish navy spread his renown through Europe.

Lord Carteret, who had become acquainted with Tordenskiold at the blockade of Gottenburg, and highly esteemed him, came to Copenhagen, in 1720, as British ambassador. Here he renewed his friendship with Tordenskiold, and having to go to Hanover to attend his sovereign, George 1., he prevailed on Tordenskiold to accompany him, that he might present him to the king. The friends of a young man of the name of Lehn, the son of a rich and considerable family, desiring that he should travel, thought this was a favourable opportunity, and requested Tordenskiold to take him under his protection; with which, his friendship for Lehn's family easily induced him to comply. Lord Carteret and Tordenskiold stopped

weeks at Hamburg, and Lehn took this opportunity to make himself acquainted with all that is curious in that great commercial city and its environs. Among other things, somebody told him of a Swedish colonel, named Stahl, who had in his possession a very singular natural phenomenon, viz. a serpent with seven crowned heads. Having inquired the colonel's residence, he did not hesitate to call on him. He was admitted; and the colonel having learned his wish, and artfully inquired his name, country, and family connections, politely asked him to join a party which the possessor of the seven-headed serpent had just invited. Young Lehn the more readily accepted this invitation, as it gave him the best opportunity to gratify his curiosity. The colonel introduced him to his company, which was numerous, and who for the most part amused themselves with play. The colonel asked his new acquaintance to join them; saying, he feared he would be dull if he merely looked

on.

Similar invitations were made him by persons who, from external appearance, wearing' orders of knighthood, &c. seemed to be of rank. The young man did not hesitate to accept the proposal, and sat down at a table where a very high game of hazard was played. Lehn not only lost all the money he had about him, but, impelled by youthful ardour, and in the hope of regaining what he had lost, remained in debt for a sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, for which he was obliged to give his written bond. The young man, who had been so shamefully imposed on, was almost desperate; he knew not how he could pay his debt, without informing his protector, which he dreaded to do, knowing his violent temper.

Colonel Stahl had seemingly given security for the young Dane, to those who had won his money; and as the time for Tordenskiold's departure was at hand, he urged Lehn to release him from his obligation by

paying the debt. This was accompanied by such threats, that Lehn, who had till then carefully concealed the matter from Tordenskiold, saw no possibility, the day before that fixed for their departure, of any longer being silent. With a beating heart, he frankly confessed to the admiral the embarrassment in which he had involved himself, Tordenskiold was extremely angry; but as he was pressed for time, and could not delay, if he meant to see the King of England at Hanover, he enabled his young friend to redeem his bond, and continued his journey with him and Lord Carteret to Hanover. The king received the Danish admiral in the most flattering manner, and the people of Hanover were eager to show their esteem to so celebrated a naval hero. When the king left Hanover, he very gra ciously invited Tordenskiold to visit England.

On the day that the king depart ed, Tordenskiold dined at the house of the General Von Belau. The Swedish Colonel Stahl was one of the company. After dinner cards were introduced! but Tordenskiold declined playing, and joined that part of the company who preferred an agreeable or instructive conversation to cards and dice. The conversation happened to turn on a company of false players, who for a time had carried on their infamous profession in Hanover, but were at length discovered, and their proceedings put a stop to. This put Tordenskiold in mind of what had happened to his young friend in Hamburg, and he said," Would to God the police were every where as vigilant as here! such worthless scoundrels, who are more dangerous than pickpockets and highwaymen would not then plunder inexper enced youth, ruin the happiness many families, and make those whom they have robbed become, in their despair, criminals or suicides. Such swindlers would not then impudently intrude in the company of honest

men" and then turning to Colonel Stahl, he asked him in a sarcastic tone, " pray did you ever hear of a serpent with seven crowned heads, which a rogue in Hamburg exhibited, in order to cheat the curious of their money? A young man," he continued, with increased bitterness, "whom I regard, both on his own account and that of his respectable family, was scandalously plundered by this rascal; and I am surprised the magistrates at Hamburg suffer such villains to remain in their territory. They ought to be well bastinadoed, and sent over the frontiers." During the whole of this philippic, Tordenskiold looked at the colonel with such a fixed and significant manner, that those present could not but perceive that he alluded to him. The latter was perfectly sensible of the admiral's intention, but, like most people of his stamp, lost none of that composure which longpractised impudence produces. With forced calmness he interrupted the admiral," The serpent you mention certainly belongs to me; but what you say of cheating and knavery is to me a riddle: I therefore beg you, admiral, to explain whether you mean to allude to me." "It is the same to me," replied Tordenskiold, haughtily, "how you interpret my expressions. You are certainly the best able to judge " "That was spoken by a scoundrel!" exclaimed Stahl. He had not expected such a public affront, but rather calculated that his impudence would intimidate his opponents; a mode which he had frequently tried with success, but which could not avail with a man like Tordenskiold, He lost his counterfeit composure, and involuntarily uttered this coarse expression.

Tordenskiold did not answer a syllable: but scarcely had the words escaped the colonel's lips, when he raised his cane to bestow on him the chastisement which, in his opinion, Stahl deserved. The colonel hastily retreated to the door of the

room, and escaped. Tordenskiold pursued him. Two of the company followed the admiral to prevent him from chastising the colonel, but they came too late. Stahl, when he saw that he could not escape by flight, had drawn out, in his confusion, his sword with the scabbard. Tordenskiold struck it out of his hand, collared him, threw him on the ground, and caned him severely. The colonel cried aloud, "Help-help!— will nobody take my part?" "Yes," returned Tordenskiold," you shall have your due." He then took up Stahl's sword from the pavement, gave him some blows on the head with it, broke it, and threw the pieces over a wall. Having thus cooled his anger, he left the humbled colonel, and returned to his hotel.

Stahl, as soon as he saw the admiral at a distance, slowly rose, and being severely mauled, with some difficulty crawled to his lodgings. When he reflected on what had passed, it appeared evident that, after such treatment, he could never show his face in the world again: which would, of course, absolutely prevent the further exercise of his ingenuity. It, however, occurred to him, that, according to certain notions of honour, there was one means to wiping off the disgrace, and that was, a duel.

Colonel Stahl accordingly consulted a couple of his gambling associates; and, the following morning, Tordenskiold received a visit from them. They hypocritically apologised for troubling him so early, but their attachment to an illtreated friend placed them under the disagreeable necessity of demanding of him, in Stahl's name, that satisfaction which persons of his birth and profession were entitled to claim for every affront put on them. requested him, therefore, to nan time, place, and weapons.

Gentlemen," replied To skiold, coldly, "I feel neither clination, nor call, • draw sword against a m

or