Philadelphia, the capture of Lord Cornwallis at York town, and every subsequent event antecedently to the peace, tend to prove, that such an enemy, fight-1 ing in such a cause, were and must always prove

victorious.

The attachment of the troops to their old general was evinced in the most public manner, previously to his departure, by a circumstance equally honourable both to him and themselves; but the mode taken to exhibit their affection was productive of the severest criticism. Some young officers whose heads happened to be filled with romantic ideas, and whose imaginations were warmed with the tales of chivalry, proposed a festival, in which all the pomp of the ancient tournaments should be displayed. A grand spectacle accordingly took place, denominated a Meschienza, in which an equal portion of taste and gratitude were assuredly displayed, but it cannot be denied, that it was productive of just animadversions both in America and England.

On his return home, General Howe was assailed on all sides, but more especially by those who having always possessed an utter contempt for the enemy, of course considered every officer as criminal who did not reduce them to that humiliating state which, in the language of the day, was denominated" unconditional submission." This officer, however, conscious of his own merits, and fully satisfied with his conduct, instead of flinching from, boldly demanded an inquiry, and the unsuspected testimonies of such

men as Lord (now Marquis) Cornwallis, and Sir Charles (now Lord) Grey, served to rescue his character from calumny and misrepresentation.

Since that period, the services of this officer have not been called into immediate action, except as the commander of a district during the late war. It has already been mentioned that he went to America as a major-general, and since that period he has attained the rank of lieutenant-general,* and general in succession. He also received a regiment of dragoons (the 19th) in 1796, which he still holds, and was nominated Governor of Berwick some time after. In addition to these appointments, he has held the honourable and lucrative situation of Lieu tenant-general of the Ordnance, under several mastergenerals, and he is now, in point of seniority, the eighth on the list of Knights of the Bath.

On the demise of his brother Earl Howe, August 5, 1799, Sir William succeeded to the Irish honours as Viscount Howe, Baron of Clonawley in the county of Fermanagh, at which period the English earldom became extinct, while the Barony of Howe of Langar, in the county of Nottingham, devolved on his niece, Charlotte Howe Curzon and her issue male.

carly period of life, he married Miss Frances Conolly, sister to the Countess Dowager of Buckinghamshire.

The character of Lord Howe, like that of his whole family, is distinguished by resolution and personal bravery. He has been regularly educated in the

*August 29, 1777:

+ October 12, 1793.

school

school of war, and proved always victorious, even on that continent where no English general has obtained complete success since 1763. All his plans were formed with judgment, and his operations conducted with ability. No one is better acquainted with the proper disposition of troops, and while as a military man his talents remain unquestioned, it ought not to be forgotten, that in private life he has distinguished himself by the sincerity and warmth of his friendships.*

* Since this work went to the press, a Life of General Washington, drawn up by Chief-justice Marshall, has appeared, which in every point of view establishes what has been said in the above article relative to the courage and conduct of Gen. Lord Howe. The following extract concerning the action at Breed's or Bunker's-hill, is taken from vol. II. page 292, and serves at once to authenticate and confirm what has been already related on this subject:

The provincials permitted the enemy to approach unmolested within less than one hundred yards of their works, when they poured in upon them so deadly a fire of small arms, that the British line was totally broken, and fell back with precipitation towards the landing-place. By the very great exertions of their officers they were rallied, and brought up to the charge; but were again driven back in confusion by the heavy and incessant fire from the works. General Howe is said to have been left at one time almost alone, and it is certain that very few officers about his person escaped unhurt.

"The impression to be made by victory or defeat in this early stage of the war was deemed of the utmost consequence, and therefore very extraordinary exertions were made once more to rally the English. With great difficulty they were a third time led up to the works. The redoubt was now attacked on three sides at once, while some pieces of artillery, which had been brought to bear on the breast-work, raked it from end to end. The cross fire too from the ships and floating batteries not only annoyed the works on Breed's-hill, but deterred any considerable reinforcements from

MRS. COSWAY.

THE dispute has long been agitated whether the talents of man and woman be of equal capability? Much acrimony, as well as good argument, have been advanced on both sides, for, like the Spartans of old, men are jealous of their slaves; and those slaves, in spite of the disadvantages of neglect and ill-habit, feeling the divinity that stirs within them, determine to assert the prerogative of nature, and think with freedom, even at the moment their limbs are in fetters.

While man busies himself in the depths of science, woman loses herself amidst the ethereal regions of fancy. She roves from steep to steep, plucking wild flowers from every side. Myrtles press forward with the green laurel to shade her head; violets spring beneath her feet, and unnumbered sweets steep her senses in fragrance. Alps rise on Alps, and yet the lovely pilgrim is not checked in her course. She crosses dreadful precipices; she ascends fearful heights; Love beckons her from one point, and Fame hails her from another beyond it. Forward she flies: the affections yoke the doves to her car, and after many a perilous

passing into the peninsula, and coming to their assistance. The ammunition of the Americans was now so nearly exhausted, that they were no longer able to keep up the same incessant fire which had twice repulsed the enemy; and on his third attempt, the redoubt, the walls of which the English mounted with ease, was carried at the point of the bayonet. Yet the Americans, many of whom were without bayonets, are said to have maintained the contest with clubbed muskets, till the redoubt was half filled with the King's troops."

flight,

flight, they lay her on a bed of amaranth within the arms of glory!

Mrs. Cosway, the subject of these memoirs, is a striking example of this assertion. Her father, Mr. Hadfield, was the proprietor of an auberge in Leghorn, which was frequented by all the English who visited that city. He was an amiable and a good man, and married a woman possessed of every charming endowment both of mind and body. It is related that this lady became the mother of a numerous offspring, not one of which survived their infancy. Mrs. Hadfield was nearly inconsolable for the loss of her several children; and while she was pregnant with the present (Mrs. Cosway), her grief at the probable deprivation of her expected infant was so violent, that her life was despaired of. The nurse who had attended her labour with her former children seeing her in this extremity, threw herself on her knees before her, and said, " O! Madam, if you will make a vow not to bring up the child you now carry in the religion of the heretics, but will dedicate it to our holy church, I will pray to the Virgin to grant it life.”

Mrs. Hadfield, in a tremendous paroxysm of maternal anguish, took the oath required, and the child was born. The fateful period passed away, and the infant advanced in strength and beauty. The grateful mother loaded the nurse with benefits and blessings; and the innocent babe was brought up on the knee of the murderess of its brothers and sisters; for it was afterwards confessed by the mistaken old woman on her death-bed, that horror-struck at the existence of

SO