hundred pieces of cannon. An attempt was also made upon St. Maloes, but it was found too strong to be taken by assault, and a large French force appearing in the neighbourhood, the English army re-embarked, though not without a considerable loss (September 5th).

"On this trying occasion," says his biographer, " the conduct of Howe was eminently conspicuous. The grenadiers had nothing left for it but to escape with all speed to the boats, or remain to be killed; they were ordered, therefore, to make to the shore as quickly as possible." A battery thrown up on the hill shattered several of the boats to pieces. As some of these approached the shore, many of the seamen were killed or wounded, which so intimidated the rowers that they hesitated to proceed, and lay upon their oars. Howe, observing this backwardness, and suspecting its cause, sprang into his barge, rowed into the midst of the fire of shot and shelis, and, standing upright in the boat, waved the seamen to follow him. His example animated their depressed spirits; no one now thought of shrinking, but all strove eagerly who could pick up the greatest number of poor fellows, some swimming, others wading into the sea. One of the historians of the war, the Reverend John Entick, compares the gallant behaviour of Howe, appropriately enough, to Achilles staying the flying Greeks.

"So when the Grecians to their navy fled,
High o'er the brunt Achilles rear'd his head.
Greece, for one glance of that tremendous eye,
Straight took new courage, and disdain'd to fly;
They saw aghast the living lightning's play,

And turn'd their eyeballs from the flashing ray."

In the following year (1758) Commodore Howe, who had attained the age of thirty-three, was married to Mary Hartop, of

ŞIR J. BARROW, Life of Earl Howe, p. 52,

Welby, in Leicestershire. Two or three months later, by the death of his elder brother, he succeeded to the title and estate of the family as Viscount Howe of Langar. In June Lord Howe hoisted his flag on board his favourite ship, the Magnanime, and joined the fleet under Sir Edward Hawke, then employed off Brest. Thus he came to be engaged in the action of the 20th of November, in which the French, under M. de Conflans, were worsted. His share in the fight was considerable. According to Walpole, "Lord Howe, who attacked the Formidable, bore down on her with such violence that her prow forced in his lower tier of guns." He had 13 killed and 66 wounded, out of a total of 39 killed and 202 wounded. His reputation was now firmly established; and the nation had learned to recognise in him an able and energetic officer, who might always be trusted to maintain the honour of the flag; not a man of genius, but a man of character and capacity, of clear judgment and firm resolution. Though a strict disciplinarian, he was a great favourite with the seamen, who knew that he fully sympathized with them, understood their wants and wishes, and at proper times was disposed to concede any reasonable indulgence. After an action he would go below, converse with every wounded man, and sit by the side of their "cradles;" he constantly ordered his live-stock and wines to be applied to their use, at the surgeon's discretion, and always for the sick on board.

The Duke of York, when raised to the rank of Rear-Admiral of the Blue, was appointed to the command of the Princess Amelia, an 80-gun ship. He immediately requested that Lord Howe might become his flag-captain, and accordingly Lord Howe removed from the Magnanime. While on board the Princess Amelia, an incident occurred which brought out strongly his composure in circumstances of danger. He was asleep in his cabin, when the lieutenant of the watch sud

denly appeared at his bedside in a state of great agitation, exclaiming

"My lord, the ship is on fire close to the magazine; but don't be frightened, my lord, it will soon be got under."

"Frightened, sir! what do you mean by that? I never was frightened in my life." And looking his lieutenant full in the face, he said to him coolly

"Pray, sir, how does a man feel when he is frightened? I need not ask how he looks. I will be with you immediately; but take care that his Royal Highness is not disturbed.”*

In 1763 Howe accepted a seat at the Admiralty, and continued to occupy it until 1765, when he was removed to the important and lucrative office of Treasurer of the Navy. In 1770 he was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral, and in 1775 to that of Vice-Admiral of the Blue. The following year witnessed his appointment as commander-in-chief on the North American station; and he received a joint commission with his brother, General Sir William Howe, to treat with the American colonists, then engaged in their War of Independence, and to take measures for the restoration of peace. He soon discovered, on arriving at the scene of action, that the Americans were in no mood to listen to pacific overtures, Congress having already issued their famous declaration, "that the United Colonies of America are, and of right ought to be, Free and Independent States, and that they are absolved from all

His biographer records another illustration of his presence of mind. When captain of the Magnanime, and serving off the coast of France, a gale of wind on a lee shore induced him to cast anchor. In the course of the night the wind raged violently, but Howe, having made all snug with two anchors ahead, went off deck to his cabin, where he took up a book. Presently, however, the lieutenant of the watch rushed down to him, and with woeful face said, "I am sorry to inform you, my lord, that the anchors are coming home." "They are much in the right," was the curt reply; "I don't know who would stay abroad such a night as