Lord Bridport then advanced, with his usual spirit, and engaged again; firing at the same time at the French three decker, and keeping up an heavy fire on both sides. We also were by this time up, and engaged again; when the Admiral, not thinking it prudent to advance any farther into the bay, as the enemy had already opened a battery upon us from the shore, bore up, and passing to leeward, whilst we were firing, gave us three cheers. About nine o'clock the firing ceased on both sides: when Admiral Gardner, in the Queen, made our signal to take possession of the Tigre. We accordingly hoisted out our boats and boarded her: but were obliged to make the signal to the Admiral of not being able to take her in tow, as our braces, preventer braces, and bowlines, were mostly shot away, and the sails and running rigging were again very much cut. The French fired red hot shot, and what they call Langrage shot: they fired very high, and aimed chiefly at the masts and rigging. We had only one man killed in the action; two died soon afterwards of their wounds. The Tigre had three hundred men killed and wounded; the others suffered in proportion. The remainder of the enemy's fleet made their escape into l'Orient. On the 14th of July our prizes, the Tigre, Formidable, and Alexander, arrived at Flymouth. The Alexander received considerable damage; both her stern and sides are full of holes. Sir J. B. Warren's squadron of three line of-battle-ships and one frigate, were put into the order of battle by Lord Bridport, on his receiving intelligence of the force of the enemy, but could not come up until the action was entirely over. On the day after the action, Mr. Keith Stewart, a midshipman on board the Queen Charlotte, being induced by fatal curiosity to go over the ship's side to the carpenters, who were employed in stopping the shot holes, lost his hold and fell overboard. Every assistance was immediately given, but without success. He was the eldest son of the late Vice-Admiral, the Honourable Keith Stewart; a very promising young man, sincerely regretted by every one."

k

An action more to the credit of the noble Admiral who conducted it, or of those officers, who fought under him, never was

The Tigre, 80 guns, is at present commanded by Captain Hallowell. The Formidable is now the Belleisle. The Alexander, formerly taken from us by a French squadron in November 1794, was in the action off the Nile, commanded by Captain A. J. Ball, &c.

achieved; and, accordingly, this glorious victory is highly estimated by professional men. It certainly merits its due share of glory amid the victories of the present period, whose lustre can alone be abated by the injudicious comparisons of the ignorant, or those improper suggestions, which have in view to elevate a part above the rest. The column, that records the naval renown of the present war, should publish to all the world, the continued series of success we have experienced under the blessing of God, and should establish what is alone the truth-that all in their consequences, and at the different periods in which they were gained, have equal claims upon this country: the accomplishment of each, in its order, has put the nation in a condition to attain the victory in succession.'

So near the coast was the British fleet during the above action, that the pilot on board the Royal George absolutely refused to proceed; when the gallant Lord Bridport, whose skill is alone equalled by his intrepidity, took charge of the ship himself. They who know the peculiar dangers of the French coast, will best appreciate such an act of valour. Five of the French captains were broke for not taking the Queen Charlotte.

On the 13th of June 1796, his Lordship was made a peer of Great Britain, by the title of LORD BRIDPORT, of Bridport com. Dorset.

When Lord Howe finally resigned the command in the Channel, in 1797, he long continued to hold it with great credit to himself and his country.

On June 10th, 1801, his Lordship was elevated to a Viscounty, by the title of VISCOUNT BRIDPORT.

His Lordship married, first, Mary, daughter of the Reverend Dr. Richard West, prebendary of Durham, sister of Gilbert West, the poet, and of Admiral West; but by her, who died September 12th, 1786, had no issue.

He married, secondly, June 26th, 1788, Mary Sophia, only surviving daughter and heir of Thomas Bray, of Edmonton in Middlesex, Esq. but has no issue by her.

1 Naval Chron. No. II. p. 157. Lord Bridport had fourteen sail of the line opposed to twelve, and two razées of 56 guns each. Five English frigates to eleven of the French.

m On the 15th of March 1796, Lord Bridport succeeded Earl Howe in the civil office of Vice-Admiral of Great Britain; and on the 1st of June, in the same year, was advanced to be Admiral of the White

Titles. Alexander Hood, K. B. Viscount and Baron Bridport, of Bridport in Dorsetshire; also Baron Bridport, of Ireland.

Creations. Viscount Bridport, June 10th, 1801; Baron Bridport, of Bridport in Dorsetshire, June 13th, 1796; also Baron Bridport, of Ireland, with a collateral remainder to the second and other successive younger sons of his nephew Henry Baron Hood; and in default, to the issue male of the body of his uncle Alexander Hood, of Mosterton; viz. the late Captain Alexander Hood, R. N.; and Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, Bart. and K. B.

Arms. Azure, a frett Argent, on a chief, Sable, three crescents, Argent, with a crescent for difference.

Crest. On a wreath a Cornish chough, Sable.

Supporters. On the dexter side a merman proper, with crown and trident, or; on the sinister a mermaid, proper. Motto. Ventis secundis.

Chief Seat. Crickett, near Chard, Somersetshire.

WILLIAM DUNCAN, of Lundie, in the county of Angus, in Scotland, was great great grandfather of the late Admiral Viscount Duncan, and was settled originally at Sea-Side, in the Carse of Gourie, which the family still possess.

His son, ALEXANDER Duncan, Esq. married Anne, daughter of ...... Drummond, of Meggins, Esq. and had issue several children; of these two daughters married and had issue. Their only surviving son was,

ALEXANDER Duncan, Esq. who married Isabella, daughter of Sir Peter Murray, of Aughterlyne, Bart. by whom he had twe

sons.

First, Alexander, of whom presently.

Second, Sir William Duncan, an eminent physician in London, who was created a Baronet by letters patent, bearing date August 14th, 1764, 4 Geo. III. He was appointed physician in ordinary to his Majesty in November 1760, and was a member of the College of Physicians in London. He married on September 10, 1763, Lady Mary, eldest daughter of Sackville Tufton, Earl of Thanet, (grandfather of the present Earl) by Lady Mary, youngest daughter and coheir of William Saville, Marquis of Halifax. Sir William died without issue by her, who survived him many years, and died July 15th, 1806.

ALEXANDER Duncan, eldest son, married Helen, daughter of Haldune, of Gleneagles in Perthshire, and had several daughters; and also two sons.

First, ALEXANDER, who was formerly Lieut.-Col. of General Gansel's regiment in Dublin, about 1771; but died before his

brother, without issue; on which the family estate of Lundie descended to the Admiral.

Second, ADAM, FIRST VISCOUNT DUNCAN, of whom I shall abridge the memoir (as I have done in the two former articles) from the Naval Chronicle, vol. iv. p. 81.

"The family of Lundie," says that work, "from whence the noble and gallant subject of the present memoir is sprung, and of which he became at length the representative, is of very high antiquity it was originally styled Duncan of Sea-side; and there is a well-authenticated heraldic tradition relative to it, which accounts particularly for its crest, a dismasted ship, now borne over the arms of Camperdown. A person belonging to the family, who lived about two hundred years since, being supercargo on board a vessel bound from Norway to his native place, Dundee, was overtaken by a tremendous storm, in which the ship was reduced almost to a complete wreck, and the crew experienced, in consequence of that misfortune, the greatest extremity of hardship and distress. Contrary, however, to all human expectation, the crew were providentially enabled to navigate their crazy crippled vessel safe into port, and the parents of the fortunately rescued son (who, having considered him as lost to them, were in the most disconsolate desponding state) immediately adopted the crest alluded to, in commemoration of the dangers which their heir had escaped from, as well as in grateful acknowledgment to that Providence which had preserved him.

On the establishment of the Presbyterian form of worship in Scotland, the family of Lundie immediately attached themselves to it, and have ever since that time uniformly adhered to the same principles; nor have they shewn less steadiness in their political conduct than in their religion. During the rebellion which broke out in the year 1745, the late Lundie (as the head of the family, according to the custom of Scotland, was always called) and his lady distinguished themselves exceedingly, by their loyalty and attachment to the house of Hanover. Although their possessions could not be considered more extensive than in proportion to the rank of a private gentleman, yet the liberality with which they on every occasion entertained the officers of the royal army, and all other adherents to the cause which they espoused, appeared better suited to the affluence of a noble, than the more narrowed income of a person inferior in rank and apparent consequence. As this conduct was the mere efflux of private virtue and honest