-tial narrator has sometimes forced me to make remarks, which may be considered novel, if not, in an unprofessional writer presumptuous. Where such strictures appear, the grounds of them also appear; and it would be as impossible for a rational mind to overlook, as it would be degrading for an independent one to withhold, the fair conclusion. If, notwithstanding my endeavours to be accurate, I have in any case argued from wrong data, and thus unintentionally committed injustice, I shall be ready to make the best atonement in my power. But who is so weak as to expect that, because among the attributes of a profession, gallantry ranks as one, no member of that profession can be otherwise than gallant ? Is it any reflection upon the army or the navy to say, that this general has nothing of the soldier about him but his gait ; or that that admiral displays no trait of the genuine tar but his sea-phrases ? I feel a satisfaction, however, in being able to declare, that no material mistatement has been charged to me in the first edition of this work ; and yet, I neither spared the high, where facts told against them, nor refused my humble aid to the low, where their claims had been disregarded, and blustering assurance allowed to usurp the rights of modest merit.

There may be persons who consider, that a compilation of official letters from the London Gazette, properly headed and arranged, would form the best Naval history that could be written. As I have not only omitted to give one of those letters entire, but have amended some, flatly contradicted others, and enlarged upon the remainder, it becomes me to show upon what grounds I, a private individual, have taken such liberties with documents, that, as being official, are usually held too sacred to have their contents called in question. Beginning with the fleet-actions, let the reader refer to Lord Howe's letter. It contains two mistatements : one, that a French ship of the line was captured in the night of the 28th of May; the other, that a French ship of the line was sunk during the engagement of the 1st of June. No doubt his lordship firmly believed what he stated, for a more honourable man did not exist. Lord Howe gives a sketch of the day's proceedings, and, for further information, refers to the bearer of his despatches,

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