University of Virginia Library

Adonis.

Sir Alexander Murray of Balmanno, Bart, was a Scotch officer of family, and of uncommon merit. In the action of Long Island, August 28, his regiment, the gallant 17th, had the post of honour in the brigade which so eminently distinguished themselves under the conduct of the brave General Grant.—Sir Alexander was unfortunately slain at the head of the advanced guard, as he was bravely encouraging the soldiers.

An officer who acquired that day great honour and public commendation by his intrepid valour.

Col. Mawhood, who commanded the battalion, distinguished himself in the most particular manner, by his conduct and heroism, and received the public thanks and approbation.

Adonis was the son of Cynara King of Cyprus.

D'Estaing.

See the Bard, by the elegant Mr Gray.

A Colonel, a relation of the Count de Grasse.

After the very unfortunate repulse of the British army before Charlestown, these brave Caledonians, in testimony of their intrepid valour, had the post of honour assigned them; and saved the remainder of the troops, by covering the retreat.

The campaign was from the beginning loitered away in a most shameful inactivity. Count Polasky threw in 1500 men into the place, and the Honourable Colonel Maitland remonstrated in vain against such most unworthy and unsoldier-like proceedings.

To the memory of William Dalrymple, Esq; eldest son of Sir John Dalrymple, Bart. one of the Barons of Exchequer in Scotland, and of Elizabeth Hamilton Macgill, representative of the Viscounts of Oxenford.

Who, tho' heir of ample estates, preferred to a life of indolence and pleasure, the toilsome and perilous profession of a seaman, when his country was in danger.

At the age of eighteen he was one of the Officers who advised Captain Salter, and animated the crew of the Santa Margarita, to attack the Amazon, a French ship of superior force, in sight of the French fleet.

Pleased with a spirit so like his own, that brave Officer, in a desperate action, took her, but his brave adviser sell! yet received, in the public dispatches of his skillful and generous Commander, the honourable testimony, “That he was a worthy and deserving youth, who, had he lived, would have been an ornament to his profession:” Yet leaving to his once happy parents (in whose fond eyes he appeared to promise whatever might be expected from genius, spirit, and the best gift of God, a kind and melting heart,) the endearing remembrance of his virtues.

Father of all! grant to the prayer of a mother and a father, that the surviving children may imitate the qualities of such a brother, and that there may never be wanting to the British youth the spirit to pursue that line of public honour which he marked out for himself and for them!

All the officers in the Amazon were slain in the engagement, and the killed and wounded of the crew were above two hundred.

This most intelligent and enterprising Officer was chosen by the Right Honourable the Lords of the Admiralty to conduct the several expeditions which were undertaken between the years 1768 and 1780, for the discovery of the south polar regions, and for exploring the several islands of the Great South Sea. What gave life and vigour to all these researches was the express orders of his present Majesty, the royal and munificent patron of scientific and naval discoveries, so beneficial to the interests of a great maritime state.

How successfully these expeditions were conducted by this most famous circumnavigator is obvious, from the splendid edition of several large volumes, most elegantly illuminated with curious charts and drawings. Such was the avidity of the public to obtain the first impression of such interesting compilations, from the journals of Captain Cooke, that the whole large impression was bought up in the course of a few days, and the price of the book with the learned and curious, on account of the first impression of such elegant charts and engravings, rose from four guineas the set to eighteen guineas, in seven days.

These volumes contain the most authentic, the most curious and interesting narration of all the wonderful discoveries made by this great man, and his very learned associates, the most ingenious and philosophic Mr Banks and Dr Solander, the learned disciple of the great Linnæus; also a particular and minute account of all his many hardy, dangerous, and enterprising voyages.

A new and very elegant edition of the four last volumes is with all expedition now preparing. The work will be executed in the highest taste, by the most eminent London artists, and merits the attention and encouragement of the public, when all things are considered, in a very distinguished manner.

The Hollanders or the Spaniards had unhappily communicated this malady to the inhabitants long before the arrival of Captain Cooke in the South Seas.

The author residing in a remote part of the country, had no opportunity till lately of perusing that most elegant Monody on this mournful subject by the ingenious Miss Seward.

The richly flowing fancy, the fine exertions of true poetic genius, by this Fair Sister of the Muses, had deservedly superseded all farther attempts as vain and unnecessary.

In the old war songs the Scottish Princes had their names from the territories over which they presided; so the ancient Caledonia, Scotia, Angusia, Argathelia, &c.

The Scandian Princes, as the most ancient records inform us, frequently invaded Caledonia. The Friths of Moray, Tay, and Forth, which water the eastern coasts, were navigable for a long way by their numerous fleets of small burthen.

Landing their troops about Whitsuntide, near the river Leven, then, with all her tributary brooks, overflowing her banks, they were defeated by Constantine 2d, with great slaughter. Great numbers perished in the river in attempting to escape the sword. This Prince, much renowned for his justice and valour in war, was afterwards cruelly murdered by these desperadoes in a cave near Crail.

Some noted obelisks mark the field of battle to this day; and, on the north banks of the river Leven, are still to be seen the most famous monuments of the Scandian Princes who fell in this desperate invasion. These battles were fought an. 874.

Against all earnest intreaties of Sir Charles Douglas, the Hon. Hamilton Douglas Halyburton went with the following officers into the barge to stay the mutiny of the seamen, viz. Lieutenant James Champion of Marines, Messrs James Haywood, Charles Gascoine, William Sprey, George Towers, George Faddy, William Scott, David Reddie, and Alexander Johnston.

They were some hours after put ashore upon the Jersey side, and after the tempest abated were all found frozen to death in one another's arms. The other three gentlemen, Messrs Andrew Hamilton, Robert Wood, and William Thomlison, were also found frozen at a little distance: They had attempted to reach the shelter of a house.

See the letter from Commodore Sir Charles Douglas, London Chronicle, May 6, 1784.

See anonymous verses. The additional stanza by the author.

Prometheus

The annals of the former as well as of the late war are emblazon'd with records of the most signal national deliverances, and brilliant victories over the numerous fleets and armies of France. No time can erase the memory of the glorious service done his country, when the magnanimous Sir Edward Hawke encountered and subdued the powerful fleets of Bourbon, equipped for the invasion and destruction of the British nation.

While we glory in the name and prerogative of free Britons, the important overthrow of the common enemy of our religious liberty, accomplished under the immediate direction of divine providence, must be engraven on our hearts in the very deepest characters of gratitude and praise: And more especially as the discomfiture of an enraged and disappointed enemy brings to our remembrance the awful catastrophe of another Armada (in that age of heroism) whose signal overthrow, at that critical time, was the everlasting renown of the English navy, as it was in a most eminent degree the supreme safety and deliverance of these nations. But these atchievement of true heroism have been recorded by much abler pens; I consine myself to the northern invasion.

With manifest design to devide the force, to distract the attention of Britain from making a suitable resistance, while M. Conflans spread terror and desolation over the southern coasts of England, M. Thurot was appointed by express commission from the French King to disturb the eastern coasts of Scotland, the northern and western islands, and to land his troops in some of the remote districts, as should appear most eligible at the time.

After a long delay, M. Thurot succeeded at last in getting into the north seas with his squadron, which had been blocked up for many weeks by twenty sail of British men of war. Thurot's fleet consisted of the Marshal Belleisle of 48 guns, 600 men, the Begon of 36 guns, 600 men, La Blonde 36 guns, 400 men, La Terpsichore 24 guns, 230 men, La Marante 24 guns, 140 men. This armament took on board a select draught of troops from five different regiments. It was furnished with 168 guns, with 900 sailors, and with 1270 soldiers, draughted from the Swiss guards, from the corps of Hussars, and the light armed companies about Dunkirk.

The rumour of such an armament, so completely furnished, was sufficient to disturb the peace of a country entirely defenceless towards the north, alarming apprehensions were entertained of their destination, and Commodore Boice watched their motions, with a large fleet of men of war, and followed their course as far north as Aberdeen.

After collecting from the islands of Orkney what could then be had of provisions, they sailed for the western islands about the end of January 1760: There they landed in a few days, and continued two weeks victualling their little fleet. M. Thurot was of the greatest service to the gentlemen of Ilay, to John Campbell of Ardmac, to Mr M'Donald, and Mr M'Neil, in procuring payment to the inhabitants for meal, flour, and cattle. Particularly, he behaved in the most generous and honourable manner, obliging the land-officers to lay down all the gold they had, and to give draughts for the remainder on the King's Bank at Paris. Some officers had been so mean as to cheat the people with mock bills on the resident at the Hague; but this was severely remonstrated against by M. Thurot, whose deportment was in every respect most honourable, like a soldier.

When by consent they had agreed to burn and waste the whole country, he brought from his desk the commission from the French King, which expressly declared against hostilities unless resisted; and when some appeared yet by their looks refractory, he swore in great indignation, that not a soul of them should set foot again aboard the Marshal Belleisle who should commit the least trespass upon the friendly and defenceless inhabitants of the western islands.

M. Thurot landed at Carricfergus about a thousand troops: The town was without walls, and garrisoned by 180 new recruits, who, without ammunition, most obstinately defended the gate with their fixed bayonets. The Old Castle, in whose wall was a breach of 50 feet, capitulated with the town. The French there lost near 100 men, and again embarked on some sudden information, after carrying off the arms and necessaries from the Royal Magazine.

Upon the first tidings of the enemy being at Carricfergus, Commodore Elliot sailed in the Eolus, with the Pallas and Brilliant of 36 guns each, and in two days came up with the French squadron off the Isle of Man. The engagement continued near four glasses, and was obstinate, bloody, and decisive. They were all captured, the Marshal Belliesle commanded by M. Thurot, the La Blonde by Captain La Kayce, and the Terpsichore by Captain Dufraudais. The gallant M. Thurot fighting bravely to the last, and encouraging his men, was unfortunately slain.

The engagement having been continued closely and for so long a time, the slaughter on board the French ships was a perfect carnage: Amid the undistinguished mass of mangled bodies, the corpse of the brave commander was thrown over board with others. The public thanks was decreed by the Irish House of Commons, to Commodore Elliot and the other Captains with him, but the joy of all ranks was clouded by the death of Thurot; so far had the humane and generous conduct of an enemy gained upon the impartial sensations of mankind.

Some days after, the body of Thurot was cast ashore near Wigton, and being known by his dress and by some certain particular marks, was interred in the church-yard of Sorbay. A monument was erected over his grave, and his portrait engraven in copper, by subscription.

Here is the burial place of the famous Fergus Lord of Galloway, who so bravely repulsed the various inroads of the ancient Britons, and gave them a memorable overthrow.