excuse himself from complying with the orders issued, and begged if expense was the only object in view, and his reasons for refusing to pay off the ships should be deemed insufficient, they might all be considered as retained in the service at his personal charge. The propriety and importance of this conduct was soon evinced, for on the night of the 19th of June, a Scotch pirate, named Captain Fleming, brought intelligence that the Spanish fleet had entered the channel. The first land they approached was the Lizard Point, which they confounded with the Ram's Head, near Plymouth, and in consequence stood off again to sea until the following morning, when the hostile flags again appeared in sight.

Adverse winds had already scattered and reduced the Spanish fleet, and so widely asunder were the English ships extended in squadrons of observation, that the utmost exertions could only collect a sail of 50 vessels to meet the Spaniards, who came nobly steering up the Channel in the shape of a half-moon, with their wings spread out to an extent of seven miles. Howard suffered them to pass him without molestation, and they were vain enough to accept of the advantage; but as soon as he found him. self in the rear, and had acquired the aid he desired from the wind, he immediately pursued and attacked them. This movement was projected with great skill, and performed with appropriate courage. The battle, which took place off the Eddystone, in consequence of the inadequateness of his force, was irregular and indecisive; but one great object was attained in the damage done to almost every vessel he contended with, and the promise of still greater benefits was held forth by the confusion which was perceptible before the night concluded the firing. Meanwhile a Spanish galleon, with an admiral's flag, sprung her foremast in consequence of the injuries she received during the day, and floated disabled on the squadron commanded by Sir Francis Drake, who now came up to support the High Admiral. She proved laden with specie, which was intended to pay the Spanish sailors, and supply their fleet; but which was immediately distributed as a prize to encourage the English crew, while the capture itself was sent into Dartmouth, as an earnest of nobler advantages.

The next engagement ensued on the 23d, and the prospective

triumph of the English became still more apparent. The larger vessels of the enemy, which formed so prominent a source of pride, now proved singularly inefficient, for, in consequence of their bulky elevation above the water, every shot from them flew over the heads of the English; while not a bullet from the latter passed without effect; and the execution committed, in consequence of the crowded equipments of the Spanish men-of-war, was terribly conspicuous.

The 24th was a day of rest, in consequence of the want of ammunition among the English, and it is singular to observe how palpably the forbearance of the enemy established the greatness of their fears, and ultimately tended to their final discomfiture. Had they reversed the order of their movements, the consequence had, in all probability, been signally different also; but while vainly awaiting for a junction with the Duke of Parma, who never approached them, they neglected a series of favourable opportunities, which, judiciously availed, must have produced results the most disastrous to the safety of the British nation. To expose such errors is now uninteresting, and it is only left to state the succession of assaults by which the destination of this mighty Armada was utterly defeated. On the 25th, the English Admiral was fully supplied with ammunition, and also reinforced by the arrival of all the squadrons destined to support his ineasures. His strength was now swelled to the number of 140 sail, and he made the final arrangements for a signal attack. For this purpose he parted his fleet into four divisions, of the first of which he retained the command in person; while he entrusted the second to Sir Francis Drake, the third to Sir John Hawkins, and the fourth to Captain Forbisher. A calm, however, ensued, and obviated the fulfilment of the plan, when it was thought prudent to suspend any farther operations until the enemy should enter the Straits of Dover, where Lord Henry Seymour was stationed to repel the Duke of Parma, and oppose their progress.

This event did not occur until the 27th of July, when the Spaniards, who had been greatly harassed during the interval, anchored before Calais, but prudently arranged their large ships in protecting their lines, so that no attempt could be made to attack them without involving almost certain ruin to the ag

gressors. In this dilemma, Howard had recourse to an expedient at that period most unusual in naval tactics. He converted eight of the worst vessels he had into fire-ships, and at midnight despatched them, loaded with combustibles, into the thickest of the enemy's fleet, where ere long the blaze of success rose apparent; and as the English Admiral foresaw, the compact order of the enemy was broken up, and every vessel obliged to seek safety for itself in separate flight. On the following morning, the English, as was their custom, gave close chase, and, without a general battle, were able to execute considerable damage. A large galleon foundered upon the sands of Calais, and was there pursued and burnt; while the Spaniards, still cherishing a hope, rendezvoused at Gravelines, and assumed the appearance of decisive efforts. Here they again cast anchor for some time, in hopes the Duke of Parma would heave in sight; but still disappointed of this long delayed succour, and hourly oppressed by the running fire and fight of the English, they at last broke from their moorings, and made one resolute attempt to repass the Straits of Dover. It has been honourably said, that the decision and skill with which this movement was made, would, in all probability have made it successful, had not the wind, fortunately for the English, veered suddenly and with violence round to the north-west, and driven the enemy directly upon the coast of Zealand. Here again, fortunately for the Spaniards, it turned to north-east, and they were enabled, by superior tacking, to avoid the certain wreck that seemed to await them upon the shores. This dilemma passed, a council of war was held by the Duke de Medina Sidonia, and, after some deliberation, it was admitted that hopes there were none for the issue of their hostile views. By a natural consequence it was next resolved, that the only course to be pursued with prudence, was to return home, with as many ships and men as they could possibly save from the adversity of wind, wave, weather, and England.

The determination was no sooner taken, than it was carried into execution; and the fleet made sail for Spain. But its dangers were still far from passed, and its difficulties far from overcome. Unwilling again to face the English squadron, it was determined to double the island, and by this means escape an encounter. Care, however, was taken to deprive them of every

supply either of food or water along the coast, so that, on reaching the shores of Scotland, they were obliged to throw their mules, horses, and heavy arms, overboard; and, for the easier means of escape, separate into two divisions. Twenty-five vessels, under the Duke de Medina Sidonia, bore away directly for the Bay of Biscay, and forty more, under the Vice-Admiral, were obliged to take their chance of watering by steering round Ireland. Even this hope was singularly baffled; for on the 2d of September a storm of unusual violence arose, which the English weathered with comparative success, but the Spaniards were utterly unable to contend with. Scattered asunder in every direction, some ships foundered on the coast, while others, driven backwards into the Channel, fell an easy prey into the hands of their unwearied pursuers. On the rocky shores of Ireland alone no less than thirty sail were lost, while many others were destroyed amidst the Western Isles of Scotland, and the confines of Argyleshire. Thus terminated the mighty project of reducing England to a foreign yoke; and thus short was the space of time necessary to sweep away from the surface of the deep a fleet which it required three years to equip, and treasures uncounted to produce.

For his eminent services upon this occasion, the Lord High Admiral was created Earl of Nottingham, and rewarded with a pension. But even higher honours awaited him; for in 1599, when the state was menaced with revolt at home and invasion from abroad, Elizabeth created Howard Lord Lieutenant-general of all England, and entrusted him with the sole and supreme command of all her forces, both by sea and land. This unprecedented rank of authority he discharged with almost regal powers, until, fortunately for his country, the emergency of danger subsided, and his active talent ceased to be urgently required.

Upon the accession of James the I., Howard succeeded implicitly to the same degree of confidence that he had enjoyed during the administration of the deceased Queen. He was continued in his post of Lord High Admiral, and also officiated as Lord Chamberlain. Soon after an embassy being required to the country of his late enemies, Spain, he was selected for the mission, and performed it under singular circumstances of pomp

and respect; for in his train were numbered six peers and fifty knights.

Being now grown old and infirm, he made this the last public act he performed for his country; and then resigned his political rank and offices. After a retirement spent in quiet and honour, he died - celebrated for a bravery no dangers could daunt, and a perseverance no difficulties could overcome,-on the 14th of December, 1624. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, but there exists no record to commemorate the spot.

JOHN OPIE, R. A.

IN painting, as in poetry, genius often starts almost at a first effort to the fullness of its powers: after that it will sometimes remain on a level with primitive exertion, and in other cases retrograde from it. The first point of this observation is strongly exemplified in the life of John Opie the painter, who was born in 1761, at the obscure village of St. Agnes, Cornwall, and lies buried in the crypt of St. Paul's Cathedral. His father was a carpenter, and he was himself not only apprenticed to that trade, but accustomed to work at it for some years. How far he may

have derived from it some assistance for the early developement of his powers, is a question for the solution of the curious. Strong originality and hardy daring marked the character of his boyish years; so much so, that he had an evening school in his native place at the premature age of twelve, in which he taught reading, writing, and arithmetic to scholars, some of whom were twice as old as himself.

His first attempts at drawing were characterised by similar precocity he began, by tracing with a burnt stick the heads of his family, in sooty outline, on the white washed walls of his paternal cottage, and persevered in this course of disfiguration, not

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