SIR JOHN HARROW'S LIFE OP HOWE.

THE great exploits connected with the name of Howe, are the victory of the let of June 1794, and his pacification of the two muti- nies at Spithead. Although embalmed in naval verses, and always

mentioned in triumphant enumerations, the battle (which really lasted five days) was not distinguished for much clearness of purpose in the plan, brilliancy of conduct in the execution, or completeness of result. But the settlemt nt of the naval insurrection was more glorious to Howe than victories. Retired from com- mand, past the years fixed by the Psalmist as the duration of life,.

and overwhelmed by bodily infirmities, he was called up in by the voice of the King, the necessity of the Government, and the con- fidence of the fleet, to quiet an outbreak which under any

circumstances would have been fearful; but when 'lows was

applied to, discontent was heightened by exasperation and dis- trust. The Whig and Tory officials,* standing ulna their dig-

nity, yielded with such an ill grace, issued afterwards such an

absurd order, created such delays, and gave such apparent signs of shuffling, that the crews again rose, took the command from their officers, and sent some of the most disliked on shore. It was then, as a last resource, that the Government resorted to Howe ; wh i agreed to redress the just grievances of the sailors, yielded to their stipulation that the unpopular officers should not be restored to command, and by restoring order preserved the fleet, and very probably saved the country : in return for which, he got censured by official underatrappers for " giving way."

Although the greater part of Howe's career was passed in active service, and at a time when the Navy was fuller of hardships, characters, and incidents than now, his life affords few ma- terials for the biographer. Part of this paucity may wise, as Sir JOHN BARROW'supposes, from the destruction of many family papers by a fire; a good deal from the reserved and silent nature of the man,—which qualities, according to HORACE W Ar.ectut, were " characteristic of the race." This .‘ race " was respectable, if not very ancient ; its representative being made a baronet in CHARLES the Second's time. The grandfather of our hero joined WILLI/011 •

the Third, by whom he was created Viscount Howe; a title to which the subject of the present memoir eventually succeeded on

the death of his elder brother. Of his early years nothing at all is known. His monument in St. Paul's hays lie was born in 1726; his family, in 1725. Ile might have been at Westminster ; it is supposed he went to Eton ; and he entered the Navy when about fourteen years of age. His first voyage may be assumed to have thoroughly seasoned him against any future hardships; for lie was in one of the vessels of Aiesosis fleet, winch, after doubling Cape Horn, was driven back by tempests, distress, and

want of provisions. His next service was in the West Indies; and Ile continued actively employed both in war and peace during the

reigns of GEORGS the Second and the greater part of that ofGeoans the Third. Sir Jon is BARROW thinks that Howe was not indebted to his family interest for professional advancement ; and he certainly remained nearly six years a Midshipman, but his subsequent pre.

• The second and most alarming mutiny took plait is 17P7, after the junction of the Whigs and Tories.

motion was rapid enough. Ile was made Lieutenant in 1744, Commander in 1745, and Captain in 1747 ; afteriwhich, be gradu- ally mounted upwards to the highest naval' honours. In 1784 be was made First Lord of the Admiralty ; and in 1790 he was appointed to the command of the Channel fleet. During the long period of time over which this enumeration extends, he was only engaged as leader in two services of consequence —the relief of Gibraltar, where he arrived after the attack was defeated ; and on the American station during the war of Independence. The ob- ject of this mission was to conciliate; but the day of concession was gone by ; and, disapproving of the war, he only retained his command whilst the English fleet was inferior to the French : when reinforcements arrived, be returned home.

As both the great events of Lord HOWE'S life occurred after he bad reached the highest honours of his profession, the reader may perhaps inquire how be attained them and his reputation. The cause will be found in the steady worth and high respectability of his character. As a sailor, he was distinguished for great profes- sional knowledge, experience, and scientific acquirements, a con- stant zeal for the interest and advancement of the service, as well as personal attention to the wellbeing of the individuals who com- posed it. As a man, his moral character was unimpeachable; and notwithstanding his reserve and apparent sternness, lie had a real kindness of heart, and displayed at times an almost nervous sensibility. He was also free from all suspicion of self-seeking, or taint of mercenary motives. After the victory of the 1st of June, the King promised him the Garter ; but PITT had also pro- mised it to the Duke of PORTLAND, as a reward for political ratting. When this dilemma in the " King's service" was sub- mitted to Howe, be at once waved his turn, but declined the alternative of a Marquisate, which the Premier offered him. It is understood that he refused a pension, because ho had sufficient means to live without it; and, on the list being opened for con- tributions to carry on the war, he put down his name for the whole of the annual income lie was receiving from the public. When his infirmities rendered him incapable of active service, he Wished to resign the command of the fleet, but retained it in obedience to the King's wishes. Unwilling, however, to receive emolument for a sinecure, he drew up a plan by which his share of the prize-money would be distributed amongst the vessels effecting the capture. Howe's proposal was assented to by the Admiralty ; and then the official jobbers defeated his intentions by withdrawing the greater part of the fleet from his command, and placing it under another Admiral. The personal courage of HOWE was undoubted, but in the latter part of his life he had the reputation of shyness; and we believe this feeling prevailed to such an extent in the fleet, that hrevious to the 1st of June his own officers refused to drink his ealth at the mess. After the battle, ho was censured for allowing the dismasled vessels of the enemy to get off, when he had enough undamaged ships to have renewed the action ; and Sir JOHN BARROW quotes letters addressed to him from five surviving officers, all of whom consider that these ships ought to have been secured. Some feeling of dissatisfaction, perhaps, was felt by the authori- ties at home; for, notwithstanding congratulations and rejoicings, he received no solid reward. The Houses voted him thanks, and the King eventually gave him the blue riband; but he was not raised in the Peerage. The cause of this shortcoming was generally attributed to the advice of Howes Captain of the Fleet ; and Sir ROBERT STOP.. FORD'S letter to the biographer proves the fact of the advice. Why the Admiral followed it, is the question. Sir JOHN BARROW thinks that age might somewhat have enfeebled his energy ; or

that, as eight of his seventy-fours had saved themselves from damage by keeping aloof, "a second battle was not to be en- trusted to such ships." It is probable, however, that Howes

habits of mind were the real cause of the insufficiency. Cautious by nature, he had been trained in an old school, where all was done "by regular approach ;" nor had the Navy yet been taught the dashing style of ST. VINCENT and NELSON. The part of the volume best deserving of study, is the account .ef the mutinies; although we think a fuller and better might have been written, for the great lessons they convey,—to remedy griev- ances before they excite resistance ; or, if that has come, to yield redress fully and frankly. This subject, however, re- quires a greater space to develop than we can yield; so we will turn to other points. Here is the origin of the old naval uniform ; which, so far as appearance goes, was better than the new,—and no wonder, when a lady's taste created one, and the late King axed the other.

Perhaps it is not quite correct to say, as it has been said, that George the Second conferred no distinction on the Navy : he gave them what they had not hitherto had, a fixed uniform dress. From the portraits in the Naval Gallery

in Greenwich Hospital, Mr. Locker has furnished an amusing account of the various modesin which:our old gallant Admirals were clothed. Some of these ancient heroes, at one of their clubs, resolved "that a uniform dress is useful

and necessary for commissioned officers, agreeable to the practice of other nations;" and a committee was appointed to wait on the Duke of Bedford, then First Lord of the Admiralty. Admiral Forbes was finally selected to

this office :, he was shown into a room surrounded with dresses: on being asked which he thought the most appropriate, he said, "one with red and blue, Of blue and red, as these were our national colours." "No," replied his Grace, " the King has settled it otherwise ; he saw my Dutchess riding in the Park a few days ago in a habit of blue faced with white, which took the fancy of his Majesty, and he has ordered it as the uniform of the Royal Navy : " and in 1748 it was established accordingly. We have kept the blue and white till within a few years back ; but now the red has superseded the white, and thus his late Majesty William the Fourth restored us to our "national colours." Ministers, in GEORGE the Second's time, seem to have provides for royal personages in a more economical manner than is dos now. See Lord Howes own account of the way in which the Duke of YORK, the brother of GEORGE the Third, was started, "After the capture of Cherburg, this set of guests were ordered to Flanders; and a new staff. little less in number, together with the late Duke of York, s. placed them. It is true I was not told how to provide for his Royal Highness; and all the answer I could obtain from Ministerial authority respecting treatment of and conduct towards the Prince, was limited to an iustrutain that I was to act respecting himjust as if I had not any such person on bolo the ship. He came, not only without bed and linen !almost of every kind, ha I paid also for his uniform clothes, which I provided for him, with all otho necessaries, at Portsmouth. I merle no inquiries how I was to be indemnifiel for every requisite attention to the then presumptive heir to the Crown. WIsl the (operations terminated, unsuecessfully as you kunst', by the defeat of uq: troops at St. Cas, and I resumed my private character as Captain in the flue the assigned allowance for the first embarkation was all it was thought fit think of for nie."

Here, as in all naval memoirs, the negligence, jobbing, and ' regard of merit displayed by the Admiralty, are frequently visible, After the 1st of June, this was the mode in which HOWE was cos. strained to get an old officer appointed to a larger ship— He was desirous of obtaining a larger and better frigate than the Pegasash Coptain Barlow, who had attended the Channel fleet since its first appointor's, to repeat signals; but, fearful of a refusal, he did nut venture to ask h another. Ou his Majesty's visit, when Lord Chatham was present, Loa Howe, on introducing Captain Barlow, observed he was a brave officer, ssi ought to have a larger frigate. The King, turning to the First Lord of tk Admiralty, said, "Sly Lord Chatham, Captain Barlow must have a lap frigate."

The following is a view of the increase of naval officers. 11 should be noted, that, in 1837, we have been twenty-two years tt peace : the other dates were shortly alter the close of a war. Iu 1750. In 1837.

Admirals 18 136 Captains 136 760

Numbers promoted in to

State of the Lists in )ears preceding 17s7. 1836. 487. 1836.

Flag. Officers 54 165 9 35 Captains 418 755 71 55 Commanders 177 823 47 86 Lieutenants 1329 2976 127 165

In passing a judgment upon the biography, the scanty natter of SirJ0Rx BARROW'S materials must be borne in mind, as well a the character of his hero ; but even with these allowances, a veil high praise cannot be awarded to the Life of Earl Hoice. traneous matter is frequently introduced, which impedes the nit retire; and that which is not extraneous, is often handled in loose and 1.101a:idea manner, alike devoid of strength and gram