minister to put in execution a plan pro-
posed by Admiral Valdez, to make an
attack on the enemy's works, with the
ships of his Britannic Majesty. Our
officer replied, that the risk of their de-
struction was too great to allow him to
acquiesce, the effect of the hot shot
lately experienced, independent of what
he had seen on other occasions, being
sufficient to deter him from the trial;
but nevertheless, if the Regency placed
so much dependance on the success of
the enterprize, and would direct as
many of their ships to be placed at his
disposal, he would man them and hold
himself responsible for their being ren-
dered as effective on the service re-
quired as if they had been British ships.
On the very day Sir Charles Cotton ar-
rived at Cadiz, the Vice-Admiral re-
ceived another application respecting
the employment of the vessels under
his orders against the batteries, which he
submitted to the Commander-in Chief,
who desired him to say he was clearly
of opinion that an attack on the well-
constructed field works of Trocadero,
by the ships, could not have the effect
which Admiral Valdez had stated in his
plan, whilst the ships must necessarily
be exposed to almost certain destruc-
tion. Soon after the termination of this
correspondence, the Vice-Admiral re-
turned to England, after serving four
years on the Cadiz station, the principal
part of which time he was employed,
first in blockading, and afterwards in
contributing to the defence of that im-
portant place. He became a full ad-
miral, August 12, 1819.

Admiral Purvis was twice married;
first, about March 1790, at Widley,
near Portsmouth, to a daughter of Dan.
Garrett, Esq. of that town, by whom
he had a son, who was promoted to the
rank of post-captain in 1809: she died
at his father's, July, 1, 1798.
He was
united secondly, at Titchfield, August
2, 1804, to Elizabeth, daughter of the
late Admiral Sir Arch. Dixon, first
baronet of Hardingham, Norfolk, (and
only child by his first wife Elizabeth,)
and relict of her cousin, Capt. William
Dickson, of 22d foot, who died at St.
Domingo in 1795. — Marshall's Royal
Naval Biography.

R

RUSSELL, William, Esq. Advo-
cate; at Edinburgh; on 5th Nov. 1824.

The name of Mr. William Russell
was, and had for many years been,
known and honoured in the literary
circles of Scotland; but his conduct
had been so modest, his modes of life
so unobtrusive, that, in so far as we
know, his reputation had scarcely tra-
velled beyond his own country, when
he was thus cut off in the very prime
and vigour of an intellect which could
not have been exerted, as he always did
exert it, much longer, without attracting
an abundant share of notice and dis-
tinction.

-

As it is if his friends should be
induced, (as we hope they may be), to
present the world with some collection
of Mr. Russell's Essays from the peri-
odical works to which he had contri-
buted, there can be no doubt that his
name must assume and retain a dis-
tinguished place in the political litera-
ture of this age. The largeness and
comprehension of his views, the sound,
solid sense of his reasoning, the vigour
of his argument, and the massive energy
of his eloquence, would have rendered
him a most powerful auxiliary in any
cause; and he never exerted these great
talents but for the cause which was and
ought to have been dear to him, as a
gentleman, a patriot, and a Christian.
During the tumult and agitation of the
last war, he, then young and friendless,
stood forth almost alone in Edinburgh-
we might, perhaps, say in Scotland
the bold and determined friend and de-
fender of those principleswhich have even-
tually led to the salvation of this country
and her constitution in church and state.
He began to write, when all the poli..
tical writing that anybody heard of in
Scotland, was Whig- and nobody had
more temptations, if anything could
have tempted him, to join that active
and then clever party, than he. He
understood their views, he feared not
their powers, and he laid the found-
ation of the literary opposition, which
has since utterly ruined and annihilated
the influence of those who, at that never-
to-be-forgotten period, possessed the
almost absolute sway of the political
press of Scotland, and who exercised
that authority for purposes well worthy
of the impudence which alone could
have led to its assumption.

-as

In his more mature years, Mr. Russell
continued to be one of the firmest and
most effectual friends of the cause which
in Scotland had owed so much to the
zeal of his youth; and among other

ceeding 800 acres: it furnished a model
of careful and successful management.
As a proof of her ability in this under-
taking, she was frequently compli
mented with premiums from different
agricultural societies. It is somewhat
singular, that with predilections so
strong for a rural life, her Grace was
one of the highest ornaments of the
English court; no one ever exhibited
so much of graceful dignity, joined
to manners of the highest polish, and a
condescension that fascinated every one
who came within the sphere of its magic
influence. As a wife, a mother, a be-
nefactress, she was most exemplary;
her loss is, indeed, an irreparable one,
and will long be mourned with an af
fliction that admits of no consolation by
her bereaved family. — Lincoln Mer-
cury.

S.

SAUNDERS, Morley, Esq., after
a short, but severe illness, at his seat,
Saunders Grove, county of Wicklow.
He was eminently distinguished through
life for his benevolent disposition, affable
and accomplished manners, and faithful
discharge of every relative duty; the af-
fliction of his family, the heartfelt sor-
row of his friends, and the unfeigned
regret of his tenantry and domestics, all
evince the severity of the loss which they
have sustained-a loss which his native
country, to which he was ardently at-
tached, but more particularly the neigh-
bourhood in which he constantly resided,
must long sensibly feel and sincerely
lament. Equally estimable in his pub-
lic, as in his private character, both as
a resident landed proprietor, and an
original member of the Farming Society
of Ireland, he incessantly laboured to
promote its best interests and prosperity.
As an uprightand intelligent magistrate,
an active and a humane commanding
officer of yeomanry, he had the gratifi-
cation always successfully to enforce,
throughout an extensive district, even
during the most critical, and eventful
period in the history of this country
due submission, and obedience to the
laws, thereby protecting at once the
persons as well as the properties of the
peaceable and the loyal-repressing
and checking the efforts of the turbu-
bulent and the disaffected—and thus
essentially contributing to the mainten-
ance and support of public confidence,

VOL. X.

a

private security, and general tranquillity;
while, at the same time, his benevolent
though unostentatious exertions to ame-
liorate the condition of the poor -to
increase their comforts -to alleviate
their wants- and to impart happiness
to all around him, were equally merito-
rious and unceasing; leaving, in these
respects, an example deserving of imit-
ation by many landed proprietors in
Ireland; to each of whom it might be
safely said, - "Go thou, and do like-
wise." New Monthly Magazine.

SEARLE, John Clarke, Esq., Rear
Admiral of the White; December 19,
1824, at Fairwater-house, near Taun-
ton. Admiral Searle entered the naval
service in 1774; and early in the fol-
lowing year received a wound in the
hand in an action with the Americans.
During the Spanish and Russian arma-
ments, he commanded, as a lieutenant,
the Liberty, of 16 guns; and whilst in
that vessel, at the commencement of the
war with revolutionary France, drew the
attention of the French frigate San Cu-
lotte from several merchantmen, then
under his convoy, bound to Guernsey,
and had nearly succeeded in decoying
the enemy on shore on the Casket rocks,
after having experienced a very heavy
fire from her for more than an hour and
a half, during which the Liberty sus-
tained considerable damage in her hull,
sails, and rigging.
About the year

1795, he was advanced to the rank of
Commander in the Pelican sloop of war,
and in that vessel captured several of the
enemy's privateers. He was also pre-
sent at the reduction of St. Lucia, St.
Vincent, and Grenada, in the spring of
1796. His post commission was dated
July 13th following.

Previous to his quitting the Pelican,
Captain Searle fought a very gallant ac-
tion with the Médée, French frigate;
and notwithstanding the absence of 23
of his crew, succeeded in beating her
off. The following account of an affair
which reflects so much credit on all
concerned in it, we extract from James's
Naval History.

"At day-break on September 23,
1796, the island of Deseada, bearing
S. E. by S. six or seven leagues, the
British 18-gun brig Pelican (mounting
sixteen 32-pounder carronades, and two
long 6's), Captain John Clarke Searle,
found herself close on the lee-beam of
an enemy's frigate. Not over-desirous
of engaging, where the odds were so
decidedly against him, Captain Searle

Н Н

made sail to the N. W., and was fol-
lowed by the frigate; who, having the
weather-gage, and sailing remarkably
fast in the prevailing fresh breeze, ra-
pidly approached the Pelican. The brig,
at this time, had on board only 97 officers
and men of her complement; and some
of the latter seemed to hesitate about
engaging a ship of such evident supe-
riority of force. But Captain Searle
calling to their recollection the frequent
occasions on which they had distinguish-
ed themselves while under his command,
and expressing a hope that they would
not now sully their well-earned reputa-
tion, nor place less confidence in him
than they had been accustomed to do,
the fine fellows immediately gave three
cheers, and declared their resolution,
rather to sink with their commander than
forfeit his good opinion.

"Having made all ready, the Pelican,
to the great suprize, no doubt, of the
Frenchmen in the frigate, shortened
sail; and, at 7 o'clock, the latter having
arrived within gun-shot, opened her fire.
The brig reserved her's till her car-
ronades could reach with effect; and
then a very brisk fire was kept up till
seven minutes before nine; when the
frigate, whose crew appeared to be in
some confusion, hauled on board her
main-tack, and made off to the north-
ward under all possible sail. Nor was
the Pelican in a condition for an im-
mediate pursuit, having had every brace
and bowline, all the after back-stays, the
main-stay, several of the lower shrouds,
the top-sail-tyes, and other parts of her
rigging shot away; the sails very much
torn; and the mainmast, main-top-sail-
yard, and fore-yard, a good deal in
jured. With all this damage, however,
the Pelican fortunately had no person
killed, and only 1 slightly wounded.
Her opponent being left to herself, soon
ran out of sight.

"At 10 o'clock, while the Pelican
was repairing her damages, the man at
the mast-head discovered a large ship
on the lee-beam. At 11, having got her
rigging and sails in tolerable order, the
Pelican gave chase; and at 3, Eng-
lishman's Head, Guadaloupe, bearing
S. S. E. a mile and a half, succeeded,
after firing several shot, in cutting away
the ship's main-top-sail-yard. Upon
this, the latter brought to, and proved
to be the Alcyon, late a British army-
victualler, but then in the possession of
the French 32-gun frigate Médée, who
had captured her on the 9th, about 100

leagues to windward of Barbadoes.
At 4, the Pelican made sail to the south-
ward with the prize in tow; but, at
midnight, owing to a calm and a heavy
westerly swell, in which the Alcyon fell
on board the Pelican three times, the
latter was compelled to cast her off.
At day-break the Alcyon was found to
have drifted very near to the shore at
Anse la Barque; and at about a gun-
shot within her, was seen the Médée
herself, having a light air from the land,
while the Pelican and her prize lay quite
becalmed. The Médée's boats soon
regained possession of the Alcyon; and
Captain Searle knowing that the Thétis
and another French frigate lay at anchor
in Anse la Barque, thought it the most
prudent course to abandon his prize.
Scarcely had the Pelican, taking advan-
tage of the breeze that then sprang up,
set sail from the spot, when one of the
frigates came out and joined the Médée;
but neither frigate evinced any further
disposition to molest the Pelican, and
she proceeded to the Saintes to refit.

"On the day succeeding that of her
arrival at this anchorage, where also was
lying the 74-gun ship Bellona, Captain
George Wilson, an aide-de-camp arrived
with a flag from Victor Hugues, then
Governor of Guadaloupe, expressly to
ascertain whether there was any truth
in the statement made by the captain
of the Médée, that the English vessel
he had engaged on the 23d, was a frigate
with her mizen-mast out. The mistake
was soon cleared up, if not to the satis-
faction, to the confusion of the French
officer; who actually went on board the
Pelican, to be certain that she mounted
only 18 guns. About the same time
arrived an officer of the 60th regiment,
who had been a prisoner on board the
Médée during the action, and got re-
leased on her arrival at Guadaloupe.
He confirmed every statement; adding,
that the Médée mounted 40 guns, with
a complement of nearly 300 men; that
she sustained much damage, and lost
several men in killed and wounded.
At the subsequent capture of the Médée
by the British, she was found to be arm-
ed precisely as the Prudente or Régé-
nérée ; mounting not 40, but 36 guns.'

After this brilliant exploit, Captain
Searle was appointed to the Cormorant,
a 20-gun ship. He subsequently com-
manded the Garland frigate, and Tre-
mendous, 74; the latter bearing the flag
of Sir Hugh C. Christian, on the Cape
of Good Hope station, where he con-

tinued until after the demise of that
officer, which took place Jan. 31, 1799.
His next appointment was to the
Ethalion, in which fine frigate he had
the misfortune to be wrecked on the
Saintes rocks, Dec. 24th following. On
the 10th Jan. 1800, Captain Searle was
tried by a Court-martial for the loss of
his ship, and most honorably acquitted.
It appeared that the accident was occa-
sioned by an unusual course of tide, and
but little wind: that every exertion
which skill and zeal could effect, was
made by him and his officers; and the
utmost discipline and subordination ob-
served by the ship's company, so highly
honourable to British seamen in times
of danger.

Soon after this event, Captain Searle
obtained the command of la Determinée,
of 24 guns; and on the 25th July, 1801,
he captured a French corvette of 10 guns,
with specie on board to the amount of
10,000l. sterling. During the Egyptian
campaign he served as Flag-captain to
Lord Keith, in the Foudroyant, and re-
turned to England with that officer on
the 3d July, 1802. In November fol-
lowing, he commissioned the Venerable,
of 74 guns; and on the renewal of hos-
tilities, in May 1803, upon Lord Keith
being appointed Commander-in-Chief
of the North Sea flect, he was selected
to command the Monarch, another third-
rate, bearing his lordship's flag, in which
he continued until the summer of 1806,
when he obtained a seat at the Victual-
ling Board, of which he afterwards be-
came the chairman.

Commissioner Searle was passed over
at the general promotion, August 12,
1819; but on his retirement from the
board, he obtained the rank of rear-ad-
miral (by commission, dated Feb. 8,
1822), with the same advantages he
would have enjoyed had he accepted his
flag at the former period. Marshall's
Royal Naval Biography.

STEPNEY, Sir Thomas, Bart.
eighth Baronet of Prendergast, co.
Pembroke, and Groom of the Bed-
chamber to H. R. H. the Duke of York;
Sept. 12th, aged 65.

He was the younger of the two sons
of Sir Thomas, the sixth Baronet, by
Eleanor, only daughter and heiress of
Thomas Lloyd, Esq. He inherited
the title in Oct. 1811, on the death of
his elder brother Sir John (who was
M. P. for Monmouth, and for many
years Envoy and Minister Plenipoten-
tiary at the Courts of Berlin and Dres-

den, and who died at Vienna); and
married at Edinburgh, June 8th, 1813,
Mrs. Russell Manners. They had no
issue and the title is extinct.

Sir John, the third Baronet, having
married Justina, daughter and heiress
of Sir Anthony Vandyke, the deceased
Sir Thomas was fifth in descent from
that justly-celebrated painter. It has
been generally supposed that Sir Tho-
mas Stepney was the last surviving re-
presentative of Sir Anthony; but that is
far from being the case. The honour-
able distinction devolves on the descend-
ants of his sisters. He had three; the
eldest, Margaretta Eleanora, died un-
married; the second, Elizabetha Brid-
getta, married to Joseph Gulston, Esq.
F.S.A. the unrivalled Collector of Por

traits, and the patron of Granger; and
Mr. Gulston's only daughter is now the
eldest branch of the descendants of Van-
dyke. A third sister of Sir Thomas,
Justina Maria, married first to Francis
Head, Esq., and secondly to General
Cowell, left by her first husband a
daughter, the widow of the Rev. George
Herbert, brother to the Earl of Car-
narvon, and by her second, two sons.

This polished gentleman, of the old
school, was seen in his usual attire,
perambulating St. James's Street, from
club-house to club-house (his daily
practice), so recently as the day before
his death. His dress had been the same
for half a century, namely, a blue coat,
with a broad back and long waist, of
"the Monmouth Street cut," that is,
much too large for his body; and he
commonly wore a remarkably short
spencer; nankeen was his constant wear
in small clothes, and his blue broad
striped silk stockings produced a re-
markable contrast; added to these was
a hat not deeper in the crown than an
inch and a half, but with a rim of greater
proportion, and a black ribbon tied round
it. Sir Thomas, in his 65th year, on
the coldest day of winter, was clad the
same as in the dog days; and was an
amiable character and accomplished gen-
tleman.-His picquet parties on Wed-
nesdays from February to July, were
regularly attended by some of the most
distinguished persons in high life.-
Gentleman's and New Monthly Maga-
zines.