LINKS WITH THE PAST.
[To say ED17011. OP 1E2 "SlliCTILSOR."] S/R,—The letter from the authors of The Book of the Duffs in your issue of February 21st sets one thinking of one's own links with the past. My grandfather, who died in 1872, aged nearly eighty-five, was the last survivor of the battle of Camperdown, October 11th, 1797, and of Lord Cornwallia's celebrated retreat on Tune 16th and 17th, 1795. It cannot be a usual occurrence for a man to survive an action seventy- seven years ! This officer, afterwards Admiral William Slaughter, Knight of Hanover, entered the Navy, together with a brother two years his senior, at the tender age of seven, on board his father's ship, the 'Triumph,' as first-class volunteers under the flag of Rear-Admiral Collingwood, in December, 1794. At Camperdovrn the little volunteer was wounded in the right hand by a splinter. The action was eon. tested for six hours; and the pigtail of the man at the wheel, William Hamlet, was shot off, and after the battle given to the boy, as being the youngest officer on board. In spite of the early grim discipline, the young sailor lived on to a happy, healthy old age. It was this same officer who almost exactly a hundred years ago, in April, 1814, conveyed to Louis XVIII. the invitation from the French to return to his throne. He had received a Commander's commission in 1809 for con- spicuous gallantry in an attack on some forts near Trieste, and, being only twenty-two, was known as the Boy Com- mander. He was commanding the sloop 'Archer,' off Dunkirk, when he received on board the French deputation. He con- veyed the despatches to the Admiralty, and then presented them to the King in presence of his niece, the Duchesse d'Angoulame, at Hartwell House, Buckinghamshire. He took
the King's joyful acceptance back to Orleans, the Park and Tower guns saluting as the 'Archer' dropped down the Thames. Louis XVIII. was not the most generous of the Bourbons, and, like other Royal exiles in oar own history, did not always recompense those who had succoured him in time of need. The expenses of the young Commander, amounting to 2230, were not ref unded, nor any Order besto %bed upon him, though the King lost no time in hurrying back to France, and in a fort- night's time had Ian ded at Calais, where an obelisk on the old jetty still marks his landing-place. These were stirring times, and called forth deeds of bravery in all ranks. A story is told in the old Admiral's family that he and Admiral Sir William node, whose tomb is in St. Paul's, would discuss after dinner in later days which of the two bad been more often wounded. The discussion became so warm that garments were removed and sears counted. The record was quickly forgotten, and the argument had to take place again. He himself was the son and grandson of naval officers, and the tradition of service for the country goes on, for among the brave sailor's youngest descendants are already three cadets who are being trained for Navy and Army.—I am, Sir, &a, Mast MORRIS. Church Kirk Rectory.
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