I began to descend the quarter-deck. The companies of the two guns nearest the hatchway wanted wadding; but not having it immediately, they cut off the breasts of their jackets, and rammed them into their guns instead. At this time, the Queen Charlotte had received several shots between wind and water. All the time of the battle, not one seaman lamented the dreadful continuation of the fight; but, on the contrary, the longer it lasted, the more cheerfulness and pleasure was amongst them, notwithstanding the firing was most tremendous on our side, particularly from the Queen Charlotte, which never slackened nor ceased, though his lordship several times desired it, to make his observations. At eleven o'clook, p. m. his lordship having observed the destruction of the whole Algerine navy, and the strongest part of their batteries, with the city, made signal to the fleet, to move out of the line of the batteries; and, with a favourable breeze, we cut our cables, with the rest of the fleet, and made sail, when our firing ceased, at about half-past eleven. When I met his lordship on the poop, his voice was quite hoarse, and he had two slight wounds, one in the cheek, the other in the leg; and it was astonishing to see the coat of his lordship, how it was all cut up by musket-ball, and grape; it was, indeed, as if a person had taken a pair of scissors, and cut it all to pieces. The gunner of the Queen Charlotte, an old man of seventy, said, 'that in his life, he had been in more than twenty actions, but that he never knew or heard of any action, that had consumed so great a quantity of powder.""

The consequences of this attack were, a public apology, from the dey, to the British consul; the recovery of three hundred and eighty-two thousand dollars, for Naples and Sardinia; and the liberation from slavery of four hundred and seventy-one Neapolitans, two hundred and thirty-six Sicilians, one hundred and seventy-three Romans, six Tuscans, one

hundred and sixty-one Spaniards, one Portuguese seven Greeks, and twenty-eight Dutch.

On his return to England, Lord Exmouth was raised to the dignity of a viscount, and received the thanks of both houses of parliament, as well as a sword from the city of London, and a splendid piece of plate from the officers who had served under him in the expedition. In the autumn of 1817, he was appointed to the chief command at Plymouth; where he continued, with his flag in the Impregnable, of one hundred and four guns, until February, 1821. At the close of the war, he was serving in the Mediterranean; and, on his retiring from command, the flagofficers and captains on that station presented him with a piece of plate worth five hundred guineas. In addition to his other honours, he has obtained a grand cross of the Bath, and a diploma of L.L. D. By his wife, Susan, daughter of James Frowd, Esq., he has several children.

Lord Exmouth is, in every respect, an honour to the British navy. Such a union of lofty heroism, consummate skill, and active benevolence, as he has displayed, is almost without a parallel. He was a

most excellent seaman, even while a captain; and took care never to order a man to do what he himself would not. By way of showing a good example, therefore, he was accustomed, at times, when the main-sail was handed, to assume the post of honour himself, standing at the weather earing, while Mr. Larcom, his first lieutenant, was stationed at the leeward one."

He is said to be so unskilful an equestrian, that, not daring to cross a horse, he once rode a donkey while reviewing a body of marines. On this occasion, it is added, he was attended by a favourite negro boy, named after his master, Edward, who, having been made acquainted with the vulgar appellation of the animal on which Lord Exmouth was mounted, innocently observed, as he walked by the side of the

gallant admiral and his asinine charger, "Here be three Neddy, now, massa!"

JOHN COPLEY, LORD LYNDHURST.

THIS eminent lawyer was born at Boston, in America, in 1770. His father, whose name is well known as connected with the arts, was one of the American loyalists, who was compelled to fly to England, where young Copley received the most important part of his education. After having passed about six years at a private seminary, he was, in 1789, sent to Trinity College; where, in 1794, he graduated B. A.; and, in the same year, evinced the industry with which he had applied himself to his studies, by becoming second wrangler. He obtained also other university honours of minor distinction, which were succeeded by a fellowship, a situation he was, in due time, compelled to resign, in consequence of his declining to follow the profession of divinity. Whilst at college he became acquainted with several eminent literary and scientific characters, from one of whom, Professor Farish, he imbibed a love of mechanics and practical chymistry; which, it is said, is still such a favourite amusement with him, that he not unfrequently diverts the tedium of a rainy day, or a vacation, by making the model of some house or church, or by repairing such articles (to which his instruments are applicable) as his servants or children may have demolished. Having chosen the law as a profession, he entered himself a student of the Temple, and was called to the bar in the early part of the year 1800. He first practised as a special pleader; but although intending to become a common law advocate, he also devoted a portion of his time to the study of equity and conveyancing, and in all respects prepared himself to fulfil the duties of his calling. At the close of the courts at Westminster, he went the midland cir

cuit for his assize and sessions practice; where, it is said, he distanced all his immediate competitors, and ultimately stepped into the practice of Mr. (afterwards Serjeant) Rough. Having at length obtained a large portion of business, and expecting but little aid or countenance from the government, he resolved to assume the coif in 1813; upon which occasion, he appropriately took for his motto on the gift-rings"Studiis vigilare severis."

It was not, however, until 1817, that Serjeant Copley had an opportunity of distinguishing himself in any prominent case. In that year the riots took place which led to the execution of the sailor Cashman, and to the trial of two men, named Hooper and Preston, for treason, who employed, as their counsel, Sir Charles (then Mr.) Wetherell, and the subject of our memoir. The former gave great offence to government by his vehement denunciations; but the address of Mr. Copley was so judiciously managed, as at the same time to do justice to his clients, and to impress their prosecutors with a favourable idea of his own talents. In proof of this, he was shortly afterwards appointed solicitor-general, and received the honour of knighthood; and, in the same year, (1818,) married the widow of Colonel Thomas, a lady of great beauty and accomplishments. His first official employment of importance was as counsel, with Sir Robert Gifford, for the crown, in the conduct of the proceedings against Queen Caroline; after the unsuccessful termination of which he was appointed attorney-general on the removal of Gifford from that

post.

In 1826, Sir John Copley was elected member of parliament for the University of Cambridge, and, in a few months afterwards, he succeeded to the office of master of the Rolls. He some time afterwards made his memorable speech in opposition to the catholic claims; and, on the formation of a ministry by Mr. Canning, Sir John Copley succeeded Lord Eldon, as

lord high chancellor of England, with the title of Baron Lyndhurst. He continued to hold the seals on the accession to power of the Duke of Wellington. Government having determined on acceding to the catholic claims, Lord Lyndhurst, notwithstanding he had so recently expressed opposite sentiments, gave the measure his support; and his conduct having made him unpopular with some of the public journals, he was charged with improper distribution of his official patronage. A particular accusation was, that he had accepted from Sir Edward Sugden, the then solicitor-general, a large sum of money for having procured his advancement to that post; but this the chancellor fully repelled, by prosecuting his accusers in the court of King's Bench, where he completely vindicated his character.

Lord Lyndhurst has risen to the most exalted office in the state, less by the force of his abilities than by his power of so accommodating himself under all circumstances to the tide of affairs as to render their flow, in some measure, subservient to his own cautious but sure views. It was always his policy to avoid giving offence to any party, and yet to aid, to the utmost of his power, that to which he could most reasonably look for promotion. At the bar, he was distinguished less for oratory and learning than for tact and urbanity, which, added to a moderate share of natural talent and legal knowledge, have been the qualities to which his rise may be attributed.

As chancellor, he filled the office with dignity, and his judgments, for the most part, gave satisfaction to the suitors. Towards counsel his air is dignified, but by no means cold or imperious; his judgments are delivered in a clear and logical style, which is also the characteristic of his speeches in parliament. In private he bears an amiable character, and possesses the manners of a perfect gentleman. He has a partiality for living well, and even luxuriously, though, while engaged in the duties of his profession, or in