Burrows, and to change his whole deportment. His proper pride was gratified on having a separate command; he no longer felt like an unimportant individual, but that he had rank and station to support. He threw off a great deal of his habitual reserve, became urbane and attentive; and those who had lately looked upon him as a mere misanthrope, were delighted with the manly frankness of his manners.

On the first of September, the Enterprise sailed from Portsmouth on a cruise. On the fifth, early in the morning, they espied a brig in shore getting under way. They reconnoitred her for a while to ascertain her character, of which they were soon informed by her hoisting three British ensigns, and firing a shot as a challenge. The Enterprise then haled upon a wind, stood out of the bay, and prepared for action. A calm for some time delayed the encounter; it was succeeded by a breeze from the S. W. which gave our vessel the weathergage. After manoeuvring for a while to the windward in order to try her sailing with the enemy, and to ascertain his force, the Enterprise, about 3 P. M., shortened sail, hoisted three ensigns, fired a gun, tacked, and ran down with an intention to bring him to close quarters. When within half pistol shot the enemy gave three cheers, and commenced the action with his starboard broadside. The cheers and the broadside were returned on our part, and the action became general. In about five minutes after the battle had commenced, the gallant Burrows received a musket ball in his body and fell; he however refused to be carried below, but continued on deck through the action. The active command was then taken by Lieut. M'Call, who conducted himself with great skill and coolness. The enemy was out manœuvred and cut up: his maintopmast and topsail-yard shot away; a position gained on his starboard bow, and a raking fire kept up, until his guns were silenced and he cried for quarters, saying that as his colours were nailed to the mast he could not hale them down. The prize proved to be his Britannic majesty's brig Boxer of 14 guns. The number of her crew is a matter of conjecture and dispute. Sixty-four prisoners were taken, seventeen of whom were wounded.

VOL. II. New Series.

How many of the dead were thrown

31

into the sea during the action it is impossible to say ;* the British return only four as killed; courtesy forbids us to question the veracity of an officer on mere presumption; but it is ever the natu→ ral wish of the vanquished to depreciate their force; and, in truth, we have seen with regret various instances of disingenuousness on the part of the enemy, in their statements of our naval encounters. But we will not enter into disputes of this kind. It is enough that the enemy entered into the battle with a bravado at the mast head. and a confidence of success; this either implied a consciousness of his own force, or a low opinion of his antagonist; in either case he was mistaken. It is a fruitless task to vindicate victories against the excuses of the vanquished-sufficient for the victor is the joy of his triumph, he should allow the enemy the consolation of accounting for it.

We turn gladly from such an idle discussion to notice the last moments of the worthy Burrows. There needs no elaborate pencil to impart pathos and grandeur to the death of a brave man. The simple anecdotes given in simple terms by his surviving comrades, present more striking pictures, than could be wrought up by the most refined attempts of art. "At 20 minutes past three P. M." says one account, "our brave commander fell, and while lying on the deck, refusing to be carried below, raised his head and requested that the flag might never be struck." In this situation he remained during the rest of the engagement, regardless of bodily pain; regardless of the life-blood fast ebbing from his wound; watching with anxious eye the vicissitudes of battle; cheering his men by his voice, but animating them still more by his glorious example. When the sword of the vanquished enemy was presented to him, we are told that he clasped his hands and exclaimed, "I am satisfied, I die contented!" He now permitted himself to be carried below, and the necessary attentions were paid to save his life, or alleviate his sufferings. His wound, however, was

In a letter from Captain Hull to Commodore Bainbridge he describes the state of the Boxer when brought into port: and observes, "We find it impossible to get at the number of killed; no papers are found by which we can ascertain it. I however counted ninety hammocks which were in her netting with beds in them, besides several beds without hammocks; and she had excellent accommodations for all her officers below in state-rooms, so that I have no doubt that she had one hundred men on board."

beyond the power of surgery, and he breathed his last within a few hours after the victory.

The commander of the Boxer, Captain Samuel Blythe, was killed early in the action by a cannon ball; had he lived he might have defended his ship more desperately, but it is not probable with more success. He was an officer of distinguished merit; having received a sword from government for his good conduct under Sir James L. Yeo, in the capture of Cayenne. He was also one of the pall-bearers to our lamented Lawrence, when buried at Halifax. It was his fate now to receive like courtesy at the hands of his enemy. His remains, in company with those of the brave Burrows, were brought to Portland, where they were interred with military honours. It was a striking and affecting sight, to behold two gallant commanders, who had lately been arrayed in deadly hostility against each other, descending into one quiet grave, there to mingle their dust peacefully to gether.

At the time of his decease Lieutenant Burrows was but in his twenty-ninth year; a most untimely death, as it concerned the interests of his country, and the fulness of his own renown. Had he survived there is little doubt that his great professional merits, being rendered conspicuous by this achievement, would have raised him to importance, and enlarged the sphere of his usefulness. And it is more than probable that those rich qualities of heart and mind, which, chilled by neglect, had lain almost withering in the shade, being once vivified by the quickening rays of public favour, would have sprung forth in full luxuriance. As it is, his public actions will live on the proud page of our naval history, and his private worth will long flourish in the memory of his intimates, who dwell with honest warmth on the eccentric merits of this generous and truehearted sailor. For himself he was resigned to his premature fate: life seems never to have had much value in his eyes, and was nothing when weighed with reputation. He had attained the bright object of his wishes, and died in the full fruition of the warrior's hope, with the shouts of victory still sounding in his ears.

SPIRIT OF MAGAZINES.

INTERNAL STATE OF FRANCE.

[From the Monthly Magazine, for August, 1818.]

Ir is upwards of ten years since any correct account of the internal condition of France was submitted to the English nation. The works of Mr. PINKERTON and Miss PLUMPTRE, are doubt less exceptions to this observation; but as their representations did not favour the prejudices which the inventions of the London newspapers had succeeded in raising, they have been counteracted by the greater activity and reiterated misstatements of these newspapers. During this absence of all genuine information, we have therefore conceived that we should perform an acceptable service to many of our readers, by collecting some facts from an English gentleman who has recently returned to London after a residence of nearly eleven years in Paris. We believe our informant to be a man of strict veracity, or we should not give publicity to his statements; at the same time they must be left to speak for themselves, and we consider that we are merely filling up, by means accidentally presented to us, an hiatus in the public intelligence, on subjects which merit the most serious attention.

According to the testimony of our informant, "The forces brought together and raised by Napoleon, after his return from Russia, for the opening of the northern campaign of 1813, consisted of

The half of which had crossed the Rhine before the first of May, forming, with the French troops then in Germany, about 300,000. "The present French armies and forces in active service are estimated as follows:

In Lusatia and Silesia

250,000

On the Lower Rhine, under Eckmuhl, Belluno, and

Vandamme

50,000

Under Castiliogne, at Wurtsburgh

30,000

Reserve at the grand depot at Mentz, under Valmy

50,000

Under the Viceroy on the Adige

40,000

In Dantzic, Rome, Naples, and various garrisons

50,000

546,000

In reserve, training, and in different parts of France

154,000

The Neapolitans are not included, because a lukewarmness has arisen between Napoleon and Murat, owing to the desire of the former to make the latter King of Poland, and then to unite Naples to the kingdom of Italy.

"The best officers in the French service in the public estimation in France are, 1. MACDONALD, Duke of Tarentum, formerly of the Irish brigade, and born of Irish parents, at Douay, a man of excellent character and generally beloved; 2. NEY, Prince of the Mosqua, a native of Alsace, an officer of the rarest qualities, and of great personal bravery, activity and coolness; 3. BEAUHARNOIS, Viceroy of Italy, son of the late empress, remarkable for his presence of mind, courage, and amiable character; 4. OUDINOT, Duke of Reggio, esteemed one of the bravest officers in the French service; 5. SUCHET, Duke of Albufera, an active and skilful officer; 6. SOULT, Duke of Dalmatia, chiefly eminent for his desperate personal courage; 7. VICTOR, Duke of Belluno, an officer of great activity and good moral character.

"BERTHIER, Prince of Neufchatel and Wagram, eminent for his skill in managing the staff affairs of an army; D'AvousT, Prince of Eckmuhl, much attached to Napoleon, and confidentially employed by him on difficult services; JUNOT, Duke of Abrantes, a man of great bravery, but devoid of skill as a general, lately sent governor to Venice, owing to various military blunders with which he has been charged; AUGEREAU, Duke of Castiliogne, esteemed