in a gale of wind to save a poor fellow's life!" The honest tar recollected the following noble trait of his lordship's humanity :

The ship had encountered a severe gale of wind off Cape Bon, that carried away her main-topmast, in a heavy, deep, high rolling sea. One man stationed at the mast-head fell with the mast, and, holding by one of the ropes, floated about 20 fathoms from the ship's stern. He was hailed to hold fast, and the boat would be sent out to him; the vessel, however, was nearly unmanageable, and the boat difficult to hoist out, being covered with part of the wreck of the topmast. The man got weak, and at last called out that he could hold on no longer, but must let go and submit. Every exertion to get out the boat seemed fruitless, when Lord Byron stripped, and, taking a small rope in his hand, dashed into the waves, then running very high. Just as the poor fellow was sinking, he caught him by the hair of the head, and fastened the small rope round his arms; he was then hauled on board, and his life saved. His lordship, being an excellent swimmer, by help of the rope which the rescued man had hold of, made shift to get alongside, and was taken on board quite exhausted. The exertion threw him into a high fever, and he was confined to his bed for a week in a doubtful state. The poor fellow, whose life he had saved, stood centinel at his cabin door, wishing he had been drowned rather than any thing should have happened to his preserver; and the vessel exhibited the extraordinary spectacle of a dejected British crew. Not a word was to be heard but in whispers; and every one offered up prayers for Lord Byron's recovery. When he became so well as to re-appear upon deck, they hailed it as a day of jubilee, and expressed their joy by three hearty cheers. The captain ordered them grog to drink his lordship's health; and never did

the can go merrier round. Every heart was filled with joy; and, at the evening's dance, the preserved mariner presided, as master of the ceremonies, with grateful delight sparkling in his eyes.

The heart of Lord Byron was peculiarly tender. When at Genoa he was in the practice of going on board the Blossom sloop of war, without ceremony, at all hours; one day he climbed up the side unnoticed, and on the opposite side the crew were all arranged, and Captain Stewart directing the punishment of an offender against discipline. No sooner did the poor fellow's cries, and the sound of the lash, reach his lordship's ears, than he tottered to a gun for support, and was seized with a violent sickness. The lash was suspended, and the officers crowded round, anxious to know the cause. When a little recovered, he inquired if the man's crime was theft, mutiny, or lying. "Drunkenness!" was the reply. "Then let me beg of you to pardon him this time." Captain Stewart read the man a lecture, and complied with his lordship's request, who privately sent him some money, and a message, enjoining him sobriety in future. He was several days affected with this painful circumstance, and said he would not have heard the punishment for a thousand pounds.

On the Manners of British Sailors.

The character of a naval officer is finely formed: it comprises a high sense of honour and courage, with a friendliness of nature, and generosity of mind, that is conspicuous even to an enemy. Our common seamen are rough, hardy and honest; regular in the points of their duty, disdaining all fatigue and danger when the service requires it. The bad part of a ship's company are only a few who may be found among what are called waisters, or the after-guard, and who may

have

been worthless characters on shore. Perhaps the manners of the naval officer may have become more refined of late years, but it has not injured his spirit or bravery. We recollect, with pleasure, Lieutenant Bowling in Roderick Random, drawn from life; and naval men still speak of Jack Cooling, a real charaeter, who, some years ago, commanded the Ruby. Jack being appointed, went to Deptford to his ship, and ascended her side with a leg of mutton in his right hand, calling at the same time for the boatswain and the cook; the first he ordered to hoist the pendant, and the next to boil the leg of mutton. The boatswain, however, who was as rough as the commander, only replied, "Hoist the pendant for you, and be d--d to ye! Who the devil are you?" Jack only made a sour face at the boatswain, and, unbuttoning his great coat, his uniform was discovered, and his commands instantly obeyed, with many apologies for the mistake.

It was not long before the ship was manned, and ready for sea, for every seaman liked Jack Cooling. Jack having heard that it was usual to make a speech to the ship's company, had all hands piped, and, being a very little man, mounted an arm chest for the purpose. Every tar was silent; Jack began, "Harkee! my name's Jack Cooling; and if you don't do your duty, d-n me if I don't cool ye." The tars gave three cheers, and, one and all, declared, that they never had heard a finer speech in all their lives. It is not easy to suppress the feeling of esteem for the bluntness and hardihood of this honest seaman.

But, if the manners of the officers are more refined than they used to be, they have lost nothing of their original character; and a gallant seaman of the present day, an accomplished gentleman, proves how easily the characters may be united. Some years since, a person who had to see this officer, (afterwards

created a knight) found him preparing for the drawing-room, and was struck with the elegance of his address and manners; but, having occasion to wait upon him a few days afterwards, was told he was to be found upon the Exchange, where he was treating with the master of a merchantman to go out to Sweden. The gentleman repaired to the proper walk on the Exchange, but could see nobody like Captain S ; at last, he observed a man in a blue great coat, with a silk handkerchief round his neck; but was perfectly astonished when he heard the stranger, on being asked if he knew Captain S, of the navy, answer, Yes, I am Captain S

"You! what Captain S-, whom I saw the other day going to court?" "Yes, sir." Nothing could equal the astonishment of the gentleman, who declared that the captain was the most amphibious animal that he had ever seen, and that he could live just as well

on shore as at sea.

There is a noble and true independence in the character of a seaman, that frequently raises him above the ordinary difficulties of life. He can sleep in any place, because he can sling his hammock any where; and, provided he has his grog, he considers eating as only necessary to satisfy hunger. He has very little to do with care, because his honestly stubborn breast seldom yields to its attacks, excepting when they come with an appeal to his humanity.

Circumstances that would totally overcome a landsman's mind, the sailor frequently masters. Sometime ago, a sailor, at Portsmouth, was involved in debt with a Jew agent, to a considerable amount; even after the receipt by the Jew of the sailor's pay, under the power of attorney, the former still brought him in a debtor. Jack grumbled, pleaded his inability and want of means, in vain: the Jew was inflexible, and, at last, with great harsh

ness, told Jack, that, as he was discharged from the service, unless he was immediately paid, he would send him to prison. Jack looked grave, turned the quid two or three times in his mouth, and, staring the usurer full in the face, made his exit; but returned in half an hour afterwards, with a bundle in his hand, to the great joy of the Jew, who thought he had brought the money, ar some clothes as a pledge. Jack stood still, looking at the Jew, who asked him what he wanted? "Want! why I am waiting for sailing orders to be sure. You said as how I was to go to limbo, and here I am, ready to get under way as soon as you please." The astonished Israelite had not a syllable to reply, but found it was no use to talk of sending Jack to prison. Thus, what would have been a serious misfortune to a landsman, to Jack was only the inconvenience of an hour.

These are the minds opposed to an enemy, who must ever be unsuccessful against the valour and intrepidity of men whose fortitude rises in proportion to the dangers they

encounter.

The late Princess Charlotte. In the autumn of 1815, her Royal Highness visited Weymouth for the benefit of her health; and the Zephyr sloop of war, commanded by Captain Creke, was appointed to attend her for the short cruizes she might wish to make. As the sloop always carried the royal standard, every other ship was obliged to bring to. One day her Royal Highness being at sea, the Leviathan, of 74 guns, then carrying the late Mr. Canning to Lisbon, brought to, and fired a salute. Soon after, Captain Bligh and Mr. Canning rowed on board the yacht, to pay their respects to the Princess: she received them on deck, and said, "Captain Bligh, your's seems a fine ship of war, I should much like to go on board of her." The Bishop of Salisbury, her

aged preceptor, standing by, asked whether she thought her illustrious father might not object to her passing through a rough sea in an open boat, she replied, "Queen Elizabeth took delight in her navy, and was not afraid to go on board a man-of-war in an open boat; then why should I? Pray, Capt. Bligh, have the goodness to receive me into your barge, and let me be rowed on board the Leviathan, for I am not only desirous, but determined, to inspect her." The neces sary preparations were made, and her Royal Highness passed down into Captain Bligh's barge, followed by her two ladies in attendance, Lady llchester and Lady Augusta Greville, together with the Bishop of Salisbury, General Garth, and Dr. Short; and, coming alongside the Leviathan, the yards were instantly manned, and a chair of state let down. The Princess desired it to be rehoisted, saying, .. I prefer going up in the manner that a seaman does; you, Captain Bligh, will kindly follow me, taking care of my clothes, and when I am on deck, the chair may be let down for the other ladies and the bishop." Her Royal Highness ascended with a facility that astonished and delighted the whole crew. Her example was followed by all those who attended, and who declined the chair accommodation.

The royal suite being on deck, the ship's officers were severally introduced. Her Royal Highness expressed great surprise at the space and strength of the ship, and remarked, that "such noble structures might well be called the wooden walls of Old England." She now told Captain Bligh she should not be satisfied with an introduction to his state cabin, as she was anxious to see every part of his ship between decks, and even below. Accordingly, he accompanied her Royal Highness down, when she inspected every birth, cock-pit, powder magazine, store

hold, &c. Upon her return to the deck, she gave her thanks to Captain Bligh and attendant officers in the most gracious terms, assuring them, that they had afforded an exhibition of more interest to her mind than any thing she had ever beheld. The Princess having presented a purse to Captain Bligh, desiring him to apply it to the use of the crew, as a token of her respect for them, descended down the ship's side without the chair, as before, under a royal salute, and the more gratifying cheers of the loyal and hearty crew of a British man-of

war.

The Cross of the South.

Perhaps there is no circumstance which more forcibly reminds a European traveller, when in the southern hemisphere, that he is at an immense distance from his native country, than the extraordinary alteration which he finds in the appearance of the heavens, as surveyed upon a starlight night. Above him, are constellations of unparalleled beauty and brilliancy; but they are not those which he has been accustomed to contemplate. He can no longer observe the bright and glittering groups, which every country of the north designates by some familiar name, the stars, which may be termed their own; they have all passed away, and in their stead are others perhaps more bright. and more brilliant, but not those with which the eye of a European has been familiar, and therefore not so welcome to his sight. I remember, during the course of my voyage, when I first crossed the Equator, I used nightly to watch the stars, which, from my own home, I had been accustomed to survey; I considered them as friends I had learnt to designate them in my childhood, and those friends I had left behind could even then observe them as well as myself. I looked upon them as links, which in a manner connected me with home.

They gradually sank near to the horizon-night by night I saw them less and less, until at length I looked for them in vain. They had disappeared, and then not only the air, but even the firmament of heaven convinced me, that an immense distance separated me from the country of my birth. The southern celestial hemisphere is extremely dissimilar to the northern, not only in the grouping of the stars, but in its whole character. With us there is scarcely a portion of the firmament that is not studied thickly with stars, but in the southern hemisphere, there are large tracts or spaces of extreme blackness, in which no star appears. These black, unlighted spaces, give a very peculiar and novel appearance to the brilliant constellations, whose effect is aided by the darkness. Amongst the southern constellations, no one is more beautiful than that called the Cross of the South, known to all the readers of St. Pierre's Paul and Virginia. When I first saw it, we were in about latitude 13; the weather had been cloudy for several nights, but just before sunset, the sky brightened, and the full beauty of the firmament was visible all night. When the Cross is first seen, it is strongly inverted, but it gradually rises in the firmament, until it becomes quite erect. Two stars of extreme brilliancy form the top and bottom of the Cross, and these having the same right ascension, the Cross is vertical when it passes the meridian; so that the time of night may always be told by noticing whether it inclines or not. The natives of the south frequently refer to it for this purpose, and amongst the Catholics, its holy form renders it an object of peculiar veneration. Most of our crew had seen it in former voyages, and it was a curious, and by no means unpleasant sight, to witness the joy with which they hailed its re-appearance, as if it were indeed an old friend. One man who had been

bred a Catholic, immediately fell upon his knees, and muttered an ejaculation, at the same time devoutly crossing himself; and several others imitated his example, not indeed from religion, but rather it appeared to me as if their stubborn

hearts were overcome by the 80lemn stillness and beauty of the scene around them, and the pure feeling which such sights and such a recognition were calculated to inspire.-National Magazine.

ADMIRAL RODNEY. - George Bridges, Lord Rodney, was the second son of Henry Rodney, Esq. who commanded the yacht in which the king, attended by the Duke of Chandos, used to embark when visiting Hanover, and who, in consequence, obtained permission to name his son George Bridges. Our hero was born in December, 1718. He entered the navy at a very early age; and having passed, with much honour to himself, his probationary years of service, embarked for the Mediterranean in the Namur, as one of the lieutenants, to Admiral Mathews, early in the year 1742. On the 9th of November in the same year, he was promoted by him to be captain of the Plymouth of sixty guns, which commission was confirmed by the Admiralty. On returning home soon afterwards, Captain Rodney removed into the Sheerness, a frigate of twenty guns; and in 1744, was appointed to the command of the Ludlow Castle, of forty-four guns. In 1746, he commanded the Eagle of sixty guns, then employed as a cruiser on the Irish station. In the month of October in the same year, he captured two large privateers, one of them a French ship, called the Shoreham, which had formerly been a frigate in our navy. He also made prizes of forty-eight sail of French merchantmen, part of one hundred and seventy sail, under the convoy of Monsieur Bois de la Motte, with four ships of the line. The war being soon terminated by a treaty of peace, signed at Aix-la-Cha

pelle, on the 17th October, 1748, Captain Rodney continued to be employed, and in March, 1749, was appointed to the Rainbow, a fourth-rate. On the 9th of May, he was appointed governor and commander-in-chief of the island of Newfoundland. His continuance on this dreary, but important station, terminated with the usual time of recal. In 1755, he was promoted to the command of the Prince George of ninety guns, at Portsmouth; and in 1757, he served under Sir Edward Hawke, in the unsuccessful expedition against Rochefort. In 1759, he was advanced to rear-admiral of the blue. This year was glorious to Great Britain, in every point of view; nor was our gallant hero excluded from enjoying his share in the important successes of that memorable period. Having been stationed for some time in the Channel, with a considerable force, to watch the ports of Normandy; he was ordered to hombard Havre-de-Grace, from whence the enemy had proposed to transport an army for the purpose of invading this country, in flat bottom boats of a particular construction, called prames. In the beginning of July, Rear-admiral Rodney cast anchor in the road of Havre, and the bombs being placed in the narrow part of the Channel leading to the Harfleur, the next morning they began to throw their shells, and continued the bombardment, without intermission, for fifty-two hours. The town was several times set on fire, and the magazine of stores,