-

Paris. The following is an extract of a despatch from Lieut.General Sir Charles Colville, commanding the 4th division of that army: "I feel much obliged to Colonel Sir Neil Campbell (Major of the 54th Regiment), for his conduct in closing in the town of Cambray with the light companies of Major-General Johnstone's brigade, and in leading one of the columns of attack. The one which he commanded escaladed at the angle formed at our right side, by the Valenciennes gateway and the curtain of the body of the place. The Valenciennes gate was broken open by Sir Neil Campbell, and drawbridges let down in about half an hour," &c.

Sir Neil was soon after appointed, by the Duke of Wellington, to command the contingent of troops furnished by the Free Hanseatic cities of Hamburg, Lubec, and Bremen, which were called the Hanseatic Legion, and consisted of 3000 men, cavalry, infantry, and artillery.

Sir Neil Campbell was sent to the fatal shores of Sierra Leone, in the summer of 1826, on the death of Major-General Sir Charles Turner. It is impossible not to lament the additional sacrifice of Sir Neil Campbell to the horrible service, nor is any consolation afforded by the reflection that the British army could not boast a soldier more intrepid, or more devoted to honour and to duty; nor society a gentleman whose heart was more generous, affectionate, and true.

His death took place on the 14th of August, 1827, before the first year of his residence had been completed.

364

No. XXVIII.

SIR WILLIAM DOMETT,

ADMIRAL OF THE WHITE; KNIGHT GRAND CROSS OF THE MOST HONOURABLE MILITARY ORDER OF THE BATH.

SIR WILLIAM DOMETT was descended from a respectable Devonshire family, and was born in the year 1754. In 1769, he entered the naval service, as a midshipman, under the patronage of the late Lord Bridport, on board the Quebec frigate, commanded by Lord Ducie; and served in that ship upwards of three years, on the West India station.

The Quebec being paid off, on her return to England, Mr. Domett was received by Captain Elphinstone (the late Viscount Keith) on board the Scorpion sloop, in which vessel he remained until the spring of the year 1775, when he joined the Marlborough, of 74 guns, commanded by the late Viscount Hood, and from that ship went to the Surprise frigate, Capt. (afterwards Admiral) Robert Linzee, stationed at Newfoundland.

In the spring of 1777, we find the Surprise assisting in the defence of Quebec, and annoying the American army in its retreat from before that important place, which it had besieged for about five months. Soon after this event, Mr. Domett was appointed acting Lieutenant of the Romney, a 50-gun ship, bearing the flag of Admiral John Montagu, Commanderin-Chief at Newfoundland, with whom he returned to England in the fall of the year; and, on his arrival, was commissioned to the Robust, of 74 guns, in which ship he was present in the action between Keppel and d'Orvilliers, July 27. 1778; and the battle which took place off Cape Henry, March 16. 1781. In the latter affair, the Robust sustained a greater loss in

killed and wounded than any other ship in the British squadron; and by having at one time three of the enemy's vessels to contend with, her masts, sails, rigging, and boats, were cut to pieces. The following complimentary letter, addressed by Vice-Admiral Arbuthnot to Captain Cosby, is a sufficient proof of the high estimation in which the conduct of her officers and crew was held by the Commander-in-Chief on that

occasion.

"Royal Oak, off Cape Charles, March, 1781.

"DEAR SIR, -You have, since the time that we left Gardiner's Bay, conducted yourself like an experienced, diligent officer, particularly on the 16th inst., in which you have approved yourself a gallant Naval Commander, that has done honour to yourself and country; and both yourself, officers, and ship's company, have my warmest thanks for your spirited conduct.

In the ensuing autumn, Lieutenant Domett was removed to the Invincible, of 74 guns, commanded by the late Sir Charles Saxton, Bart., and was on board that ship in Rear-Admiral Graves's action with the French fleet, off the Chesapeake, on the 5th of September, in the same year. Soon after this, he was taken into the Barfleur, and had the honour of serving as signal officer to Sir Samuel Hood, during the memorable and masterly manœuvres of that distinguished Admiral at St. Kitts, and the several battles which took place with the French fleet under De Grasse. He also participated in the glorious victory of April 12. 1782, when, on the Ville de Paris striking to the Barfleur, and the first Lieutenant being sent to take possession of that ship, Mr. Domett was appointed to succeed him in that situation.

Some days after this event, Sir Samuel Hood having been detached in pursuit of the fugitives, came up with and captured two 64-gun ships, one frigate, and a sloop of war, to the com

mand of which latter vessel, the Ceres of 16 guns, Lieutenant Domett was promoted by Sir George Rodney, with whose despatches relative to this first success, he returned to England.

On the 9th of September, in the same year, our officer was advanced to the rank of Post-Captain, and was selected by his friend Rear-Admiral Sir Alexander Hood, to command his flag-ship, the Queen, of 98 guns, in which vessel he accompanied the fleet under Earl Howe, to the relief of Gibraltar, and was present in the skirmish which took place off Cape Spartel, on the 20th of October. The Queen, on that occasion, had one man killed and four wounded.

Captain Domett's next appointment was early in 1785, to the Champion, of 24 guns; and from that period until the month of October, 1787, he was employed as senior officer on the Leith station. In the spring of 1788, he obtained the command of the Pomona frigate, and was ordered to the coast of Africa, and the West Indies, from whence he returned at the commencement of the year 1789, and was then removed to the Salisbury, bearing the flag of the late Admiral Milbanke, Commander-in-Chief at Newfoundland.

Our officer continued in the Salisbury until the month of June, 1790, when, in consequence of the dispute with Spain, relative to Nootka Sound, he was selected to command the London, of 98 guns. This appointment proceeded from the influence, and was made at the express desire, of Sir Alexander Hood, who had chosen that ship for the reception of his flag. The London proceeded to Torbay, where a fleet was assembled under the command of Earl Howe; but the misunderstanding with the Court of Madrid having been accommodated, it was dismantled at the end of the same year; and Captain Domett immediately appointed to the Pegasus, in which frigate he again served on the Newfoundland station; and soon after his return from thence, proceeded to the Mediterranean as Flag-Captain to the late Admiral Goodall, in the Romney, of 50 guns, where he continued until the commencement of the war with France, in 1793, at which period

he was again applied for by his old friend and patron, to be his Captain in the Royal George, a first-rate, attached to the Channel fleet under Earl Howe.*

During the partial action of May 29. 1794, and the decisive battle of June 1st, in the same year, the Royal George was exposed to an incessant and fierce cannonade, by which her foremast, with the fore and main topmasts, were shot away, 20 of her men killed, and 72 wounded. On the return of the victorious fleet to port, Admiral Hood was created an Irish Peer, by the title of Lord Bridport; and, some time after, succeeded Earl Howe as Commander-in-Chief.

At the dawn of day, on the 22d of June, 1795, his Lordship's look-out frigates made the signal for an enemy's squadron, consisting of twelve ships of the line, two of 56 guns, eleven frigates, and two corvettes, attended by some smaller vessels. His Lordship soon perceived that it was not the intention of the enemy to meet him in battle; consequently, he made the signal for four of the best sailing ships, and soon afterwards for the whole of the British fleet, to chase, which continued all that day and during the night, with very little wind. Early on the morning of the 23d, six of the English ships had neared the enemy so considerably, as to be able to bring them to an engagement about six o'clock. The battle continued nearly three hours, and then ceased, in consequence of the greater part of the French squadron having worked close in with port l'Orient, leaving three of their line-of-battle ships in the hands of the British, as a substantial reward for their brave and determined perseverance. +

* Captain Cooke, of the Bellerophon, who fell at Trafalgar, was first Lieutenant of the Royal George, under Captain Domett.

+ The fleet under Lord Bridport consisted of fourteen sail of the line, six frigates, and three smaller vessels; in addition to which, three other British line-of-battle ships were in sight, and joined in the chase, but were at too great a distance to share in the action, which only ceased when under the fire of the French batteries. The total loss sustained on our side was 31 killed, and 115 wounded. The captured ships were le Tigre, le Formidable, and l'Alexandre (formerly British), which had been taken by a French squadron at the commencement of the war.