LORD HOWE.

THE herd of mankind, for the most part, decide ac cording to events. No allowance is made for unexpected difficulties, for intervening misfortunes, for the misconduct of superiors and subordinates, and above all, for the uncontrolable force of fortune. The discerning few, from whom alone praise becomes desirable, form their judgment on a very different basis. They collect evidence, weigh and compare actions, examine conduct, and deem it sufficient to merit, without being always able to obtain success. In respect to military men more especially, the history of the times ought to be taken into consideration, and the cause in which they embark to be canvassed, while the character of the administration, under whose directions they act, should not be overlooked. On recurring to the annals even of our own country, we shall find the reputation of both admirals and generals sacrificed to intrigue, and more than one attempt made to transfer the odium of rash and impracticable schemes, from a minister who presumes to direct, to a commander who is fated to obey. It is the business, as well as the duty, however, of history to dispel the mist of prejudice, and do justice to injured merit.

The family of Howe, which has produced several able commanders both by sea and land, may be traced up to a remote period; certain it is, that they possessed a considerable estate in the county of Somerset in the time of Elizabeth, and afterwards obtained by marriage the manor of Langar, in the county of Nottingham.

Nottingham. In 1650 we find one of them sheriff of Gloucestershire; in 1660 another was created a baronet; and Sir John Howe was ennobled during the reign of William III. by whose favour he became both a baron and viscount.

Scrope, Viscount Howe, in 1719 married Charlotte, eldest daughter to Baron Kilmansegge, master of the horse to George I.as elector of Hanover. The mother of this lady was successively created Countess of Leinster in Ireland, Baroness of Brentford and Countess of Darlington in England; and as the family enjoyed high credit in the English court, this union led to new honours and employments. Nor did it prove unfortunate, for one son (the late Earl Howe), sealed a life of glory, as a British admiral, by a memorable victory over the enemies of his country; while another (Brigadier-general George Augustus Viscount Howe) perished during an expedition against Ticonderago, in an action with the French.

William, of whom we now propose to treat, was the third brother, and at an early age resolved to follow the career of the family, all of whom had betaken themselves to the profession of arms. Accordingly, after being educated at Eton, he became an ensign of foot, and rose by degrees to the highest rank in the army. He had no sooner attained the station of a field officer, than an excellent opportunity offered to distinguish himself, for at this period a great and illus trious commoner wielding the energies of the empire with a giant's arm, carried on a general and suc

* William Pitt, afterwards Earl of Chatham.

cessful war against the enemies of England, in every quarter of the globe. It was he who, scorning natural distinctions, first called forth the hardy Highlander to defend the cause of England, and armed men recently in rebellion, in behalf of the interests of their country. Descending from masses to individuals, it was he also who, with a discriminative eye, selected genius to aid his illustrious labours, and conferred employments not on birth but merit.

No sooner was General Wolfe nominated to command the expedition against the city of Quebec, than young Howe, together with a multitude of officers of the best families in England, prepared to accompany a man whose precocious talents already afforded the prospect of the most complete success. The first opportunity afforded of signalising himself, proved to be that on which this celebrated and much lamented chief perished. Lieutenant-colonel Howe commanded the brigade of light infantry, at the action which proved decisive of the fate of the capital of Canada, and thus enjoyed the happiness of distinguishing himself, among the heroes who fell, and who survived that day.

Having obtained the rank of colonel in the army, he now returned to England, and found, that by the parental care of his mother, he was entitled to a seat in the house of commons for the town of Nottingham, which had been represented by his eldest brother. This circumstance, however, flattering

*

Lady Howe, afterwards lady of the bedchamber to the Princess Dowager of Wales, on this occasion published the following

energetic

as it was, did not detain him long in his native land, for we find him in the course of the succeeding year preparing for an expedition then meditated against the coast of France.

It constituted part of the system of that day, to direct the naval power and military force of England, so as to annoy the enemy unceasingly, and thus oblige them to detach large bodies of troops from Germany, for the purpose of opposing armaments, the precise object and destination of which could never be exactly ascertained. It was for this purpose that General Hodson was detached with a considerable force against Belleisle, an important station on the enemy's shore, and Colonel Howe, who now served with the rank of brigadier-general, was present both at the siege and surrender.

The services performed, and talents displayed by him, on this and former occasions, were not overlooked, for he was soon after pointed out as a proper person to accompany the Earl of Albemarle, in the important and confidential capacity of adju

energetic address to the gentlemen, clergy, and burgesses of Nottingham.

"As Lord Howe is now absent upon the public service, and Lieutenant-Colonel Howe is with his regiment at Louisbourg, it rests with me to beg the favour of your votes and interest, that Lieutenant-colonel Howe may supply the place of his late brother as your representative in parliament.

"Permit me, therefore, to implore the protection of every one of you, as the mother of him whose life has been lost in the service of his country. CHARLOTTE HOWE."

tant

tant-general. After the conquest of the Havannah, the last memorable exploit during the most successful ̧ war ever waged by Great Britain, he obtained the forty-sixth regiment of foot, as a remuneration for his good conduct, and being considered as an officer of talents, his friends hoped that, on the commencement of a new war, he would occupy no unimportant

station.

But France, notwithstanding the moderation displayed in the treaty of 1763, was so completely humbled during during a seven years contest, that peace seemed to be protracted to a very remote and distant period; and certain it is, that had we evinced a due degree of policy towards our colonies, Great Britain might have enjoyed a degree of prosperity which falls but seldom to the lot of nations, and have become at once the wonder, and even the envy of Europe and the universe. Unluckily for the people, the statesmen who succeeded the Earl of Chatham, neither possessed his talents, his discernment, nor his patriotism, and the nation was doomed alike to suffer, by his disgrace, and their triumph.

It is difficult to fix the odium of the American contest* in a manner equally precise and indelible;

* The idea of taxing America, as will be seen from the annexed quotation, was not novel, having been broached during the preceding reign; we have to lament, however, that the same wisdom was not displayed in the cabinet of Geo. III. as in that of his grandfather.

"The great principle on which Walpole conducted himself, seems to have been his favourite motto, quieta nen movere, not to

disturb