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THE LATE REAR-ADMIRAL GEORGE SAYER, C.B.: 221

Sir William Johnstone Hope, married secondly, October the 30th, 1821, Maria, daughter of Sir John Eden, and widow of Frederick William, seventh Earl of Athlone, who survives him.

Sir William Johnstone Hope had been for some months in a declining state of health, and upon the recommendation of the faculty proceeded to Bath for his recovery, at which place he died May the 2nd, 1831, sincerely regretted by all who knew his worth: his remains were interred on the 21st of May, in the family vault in Johnstone Church; Dumfries.

THE SERVICES OF THE LATE REAR-ADMIRAL
GEORGE SAYER, C. B.

REAR-ADMIRAL SAYER was a native of Deal, where he was born in 1773. At an early age he commenced his career as a midshipman on board the Phoenix frigate, Capt. G. A. Byron, in which he proceeded to the East Indies with the ships under the orders of Commodore the Hon. William Cornwallis, and was employed with a detachment of seamen and marines at the reduction of Tippoo Saib's forts, &c. on the coast of Malabar. Mr. Sayer returned home in the Phoenix in July 1793, and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, into the Carysfort, Capt. (now Admiral Sir Francis) Laforey, and was present at the capture of the Castor, on the 29th May 1794, formerly an English frigate, but which had been taken by a division of the French fleet on the 10th of the same month, while convoying a fleet of merchant ships to Newfoundland; the Castor being then commanded by Capt. Thomas Troubridge.

The action between the Carysfort and the Castor continued one hour and fifteen minutes, and many were killed and wounded on both sides. The latter ship was commanded by M. L'Huillier.

Lieut. Sayer subsequently served as first lieutenant, with Capt. Laforey, in the Beaulieu frigate, and the Ganges, 74, until his promotion from the latter to the rank of master and commander, in March 1796, by Admiral Sir John Laforey, and to command the Lacedæmonian sloop-of-war on the Leeward island station; and was present at the capture of St. Lucia. He then was appointed to the Albacore sloop, where he remained but a short time. His next command was to the Xenophon, on the North Sea station, and in 1799 he brought from Hamburgh to England in that vessel, Napper Tandy, the Irish rebel, and his companions, as state prisoners. Capt. Sayer was afterwards appointed to the Inspector, of 16 guns, from which he was removed, upon being promoted to the rank of post-captain, February 14th, 1801. Capt. Sayer remained upon half-pay until 1804, when he was appointed to the Proselyte of 28 guns, and sailed in the following year with a convoy under his orders to the West Indies, safely eluding a French squadron of five sail of the line and some frigates, which had sailed from Rochfort, to intercept him.

In July 1805, Capt. Sayer was appointed to command the Galatea. frigate, and was present at the surrender of the Danish Islands of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix, and several merchant vessels, in

December 1807; and the boats of the Galatea boarded and captured the French corvette le Lynx, of 18 guns, off the Coast of Caraccas, after having been twice repulsed in their attempt. The Galatea returned home in 1809, and upon examination was found so defective, and in want of such extensive repairs, as to cause her being put out of commission; and in November following, Capt. Sayer was appointed to the Leda, a new frigate of 42 guns. In the following year, the Leda conveyed some transports, with troops on board, to Cadiz, and returned from thence with Vice-Admiral Purvis, who had been relieved in the command by Admiral Sir Charles Cotton. The Leda subsequently convoyed a fleet of Indiamen to Bengal, and joined ViceAdmiral W. O'Brien Drury, at Madras, in January 1811; from whence he was sent with some ships, having troops on board, to pave the way for the reduction of Java; and the services rendered by Capt. Sayer at this place were of the utmost benefit. After its surrender, Capt. Sayer remained as senior officer of the ships employed there, and in June 1812 the Government of India forwarded to him their " particular acknowledgments" of the very high sense entertained of his services since the capture of the island.

Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood having arrived in India, in January 1813, dispatched Capt. Sayer on an expedition to Borneo, and, in conjunction with some troops under the orders of Colonel James Watson, succeeded in subduing the whole province of Sambas. Sir Samuel Hood dying at Madras, December 24th, 1814, after a short illness, the command of the ships devolved on Capt. Sayer, and he hoisted his broad pendant as such on board the Leda. On the death of Sir Samuel Hood being known in England, Rear-Admiral Sir George Burlton was appointed to the command, and he arrived at Madras in June following, and dispatched the Leda to the straits of Sunda, and the China sea. On Capt. Sayer's return from the latter, he experienced a very severe Ty-foong, in which the Leda received great damage and was nearly lost, by which event he did not enter the Straits of Malacca until the 19th of November 1815, when he received the intelligence of the death of Sir George Burlton at Madras 21st of September, when he again hoisted a broad pendant, and became a second time commodore on that station.

In November 1816, Rear-Admiral Sir Richard King arrived at Madras as Commander-in-Chief, and Capt. Sayer relinquished the command and returned home in the Leda. For his services in India, Capt. Sayer was honoured with a gold medal, and was nominated a Companion of the Bath in 1815. At the promotion of flag-officers which took place 22nd of July 1830, on his present Majesty's accession to the throne, Capt. Sayer was promoted to the rank of RearAdmiral of the Blue.

The extensive and arduous services Admiral Sayer had been employed on in the East and West Indies had made great inroads upon his health, and after an illness of a few weeks, he died in Craven-street, Strand, 29th of April 1831, aged 58 years. He was unmarried, and has left two brothers to lament his loss, as also an extensive circle of friends, to whom he had endeared himself by his amiable disposition.

LITHUANIA.

FORMING THE CENTRE OF THE REVOLUTIONARY DISTRICTS.

SAMOGITIA, called by the natives Szamais, and in the Polish language Smuids, is a duchy which has long formed part of Lithuania. It has been governed in common with that Grand Duchy, and has from time to time had its own Dukes. The country, although covered with forests, is remarkable for the fertility of its soil; is rich in corn, flax, hemp, and honey; affords game in abundance, and is noted for its fine breed of horses. Samogitia, which at present belongs to the Russian Government of Wilna, abounds in lakes and marshes, that render the communications extremely difficult. To the south is the Niemen, which separates it from Prussia, and into which fall the Wilia, the Neweja, the Dubira, and the Joura. The northern part of the country is watered by the Moucha and the Weta, or Windau, the first of which, under the name of Aa, falls into the Dwina near Riga; whilst the latter runs into the sea, a little below Windau.

Samogitia is inhabited by two distinct races of men; the first of lofty stature, and descended from the Weudes, who in remote ages occupied the country; the latter, diminutive, but hardy and robust, like the Lettonians. The fertility of the soil might suffice to render the inhabitants rich, but for their inactivity, and their slavish subjection to ancient prejudices; many of the farmers, for instance, obstinately make use of a plough entirely composed of wood, under the idea that one furnished with the smallest particle of iron is unlucky; consequently it often happens, that the total failure of their harvest compels them to subsist on radishes and turnips, which in this country grow to an enormous size. Their sowing season seldom commences till about three weeks after Whitsuntide, but the excessive heat of their summers usually ripens the grain in six or seven weeks.

In point of civilization, the inhabitants of Samogitia, are, perhaps, less advanced than any other people of Europe. Though converted to Christianity in 1413, they still retain many of their ancient Pagan superstitions, believing implicitly in sorcerers, demons, and spirits. The village curates are their oracles, and possess incalculable influence over the lower classes of the populace.

When Samogitia was under the dominion of the Poles, the capital of the country was the little town of Rosienne, at present the capital of a district situate on the Dobisza, forty-three leagues north-west of Wilna. This town, which is now the residence of the Catholic bishops of Samogitia, is built of wood, and contains two churches and a college of Piarists. Keidamy, in the district of Rosienne, belongs to the Radziwill family, and is the capital of their immense possessions in Lithuania. It contains a Carmelite monastery, two Protestant churches, a Russian church, and a gymnasium.

Telch or Telcha, and Chawle, formerly two inconsiderable towns, are at present raised to the importance of capitals of districts. The latter was once a commandery of the knights of the Teutonic order, and was afterwards governed by the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. But Jourberg, or Georgenbourg, in the Polish dialect Jurbok, must now be considered the most important town of Samogitia. It is a bustling commercial town belonging to the district of Rosienne, and built on the Niemen; it possesses a good harbour, and a custom-house established by the Russians. The remainder of the Russian Government of Wilna is situate to the east and the south of Samogitia, extending to the south as far as the Niemen and the Meranganka. The soil, though marshy, is in general fertile, and is well adapted for the breeding of cattle, particularly sheep. The inhabitants devote themselves with much success to agriculture, and to the rearing of bees. Their commerce is carried on with Prussia, Riga, and Libau. The population of the place is composed of Lithuanians, (who form the majority,) of Russians, Poles, and Jews; also of 1300 Tartars who have forgotten their native dialect. The number of the inhabitants of the government of Wilna, Samogitia included, may be estimated at one million of souls.

Wilna, the capital, is built upon a number of little eminences at the con

fluence of the Wilia and the Wilika. Its foundation is ascribed to Gedimin, Grand-Duke of Lithuania in 1305. Previously to its union with Russia, it was the capital of the Grand-Duchy, and gave name to a Palatinate. The ancient ducal chateau, which is now in a ruinous state, is remarkable for its arsenal, the hall of its former tribunal; and opposite, the handsome church built in 1386. In the latter, treasure to a large amount is deposited: it also contains the marble chapel of St. Casimir, whose shrine of solid silver is said to weigh upwards of 3300 pounds. In the town, which is extensive, and to which have been added two suburbs named Autokolla and Roudaiaszka, there are several convents, and more than forty buildings devoted to public worship, including a Lutheran, a Reformed, and a Greek church; a Tartar mosque, and a Jewish synagogue. The remaining churches are Polish. Wilna also contains some handsome squares, adorned with houses built of stone.

The Catholic bishoprick of Wilna was founded in 1387. The university founded by Bishop Valerien Szuskovski in 1570, and confirmed by King Stephen, holds its sittings in the ancient college of Jesuits. The Emperor Alexander conferred a new organization on this establishment, of which Prince Adam Czartoryski, now President of the National Government of Warsaw, was for many years the principal Director. Wilna also possesses a college of Piarists, a Greek school for speculative theology, a Catholic seminary, a gymnasium, and five printing establishments. It is celebrated as birth-place of the Polish bard Casimir Sarbiewski, whose poetry Hugo Grotius compared to that of Horace. The population of the town is estimated at 25,000 inhabitants; the number of houses at upwards of 3000.

Troki, founded in 1321 by Gedimin, is another town belonging to the government of Wilna, and situate five leagues to the west, on a lake named Bressale, which communicates by means of a canal with the Wilia. In 1390, it was consumed by fire, and having been rebuilt, was in 1655 destroyed by the Russians. It was formerly the residence of the Grand-Dukes of Lithuania, who subsequently removed their seat to Wilna. It is sometimes, for the sake of distinction, called New Troki, as at the distance of a short league is a village named Old Troki, in which may be seen a Benedictine abbey. In Troki there are two chateaux, one of which is built on an island of the lake Bressale. The town, all the houses of which are built of wood, is of considerable size, and has three parishes; in the largest is a miraculous image of the Virgin, to which a number of Pilgrims from all parts are accustomed to pay their devotions. In the district to which the town belongs, is a large glass manufactory, which supplies a considerable portion of Lithuania with bottles. Amongst the rivers of European Russia, one of the most useful is the Niemen, called in German, the Memel. This river, the greater part of whose course is through Lithuania, takes its rise south of the Russian government of Minsk, whence it enters the districts of Wilna and Grodus, and afterwards, passing the Russian frontier, enters Prussia, and flows through several channels into the gulph of the Baltic called Curisch-Haff. It greatly facilitates the trade of Lithuania, and even of a part of Volhynia. By means of the canal of Oginsky, a communication is established between the Ukraine, Little Russia, the Black Sea, and the Baltic. This canal established between the rivers Chara and Yatsolda, for the purpose of uniting the Dniper and the Niemen, was commenced by Count Oginsky, Marshal of Lithuania, and called after his name: the undertaking was afterwards interrupted, but was resumed under the Russian Government in 1798, and terminated in 1812. The utility of this channel of communication will be still further increased on the termination of another, which has recently been projected, and by which it has been proposed to unite the Niemen with the Dwina. More than six hundred barges annually descend the Niemen with the productions of Lithuania and Poland, and return laden with foreign merchandize. The navigation, however, is at times rendered dangerous by shoals, of which, during the reign of the last King of Poland, a fruitless attempt was made to clear the current of the river. Should a more favourable destiny await the hitherto ill-fated Poles, the undertaking, recommenced under happier auspices, may, it is hoped, be crowned with success.

FORMATION OF A NAVAL AND MILITARY MUSEUM.

WHILST other professions have establishments in which their members may prosecute the studies which their particular objects require, and find facilities for the acquisition of general knowledge and useful information, according to the actual state and progress of science, the improvements of art, and the changes or modifications which are continually taking place in the practice of all professions, the NAVAL AND MILITARY SERVICES, though affording peculiar facilities for the formation of such an establishment, and greatly susceptible of being benefited by it, have provided no institution in which their members, when not actively employed, may improve, through their own exertions, the special, elementary education which they may have originally received,

For want of such an Institution, the Officers of the Army and Navy have, in general, neglected to avail themselves of the opportunities which their services in every quarter of the world afford, for collecting and recording much valuable information; whilst others who, with great ability, skill, and industry, have improved those opportunities, find no means of rendering their researches, their collections, and their studies accessible to the Services at large, and consequently useful, in the most appropriate manner, to the nation.

To remedy this, it is proposed to establish, in London, a NAVAL AND MILITARY MUSEUM, for the use and benefit of the United Service, to contain Models, Plans, and Memoirs connected with the Naval and Military Services, interesting Trophies, the Arms and Armour of all ages and countries, specimens of Natural History from all quarters of the Globe, and whatever else may be instructive and curious, or in any way contribute to the improvement of the mind, furnish it with matter for rational pursuit in retirement, or augment professional resources when actively employed.

It is also intended to collect a LIBRARY of History, Science, Tactics, and especially of books of professional reference. To this important branch of the Institution, there is no doubt that large donations will be made by the members, and that all works connected with Naval or Military matters will be cheerfully presented by their authors.

It will be a subject for future consideration, whether Officers may not be invited to give LECTURES on specific points of Naval and Military science, whereby much practical knowledge may be most beneficially preserved and communicated, and from which an identity of general views and principles may be happily diffused through both branches of His Majesty's Service.

The great aim of this Institution will be, to foster the desire of useful information, and to facilitate its acquisition; it is therefore proposed to admit Officers of all ranks belonging to the Army, Navy, and Marines, the Militia, regular and local, and Yeomanry, the East India Company's Land and Sea Forces, and the Civil Functionaries attached to these departments. Since such an Institution was first suggested, its completion has been warmly urged by intelligent members of every department of the United Service, whilst the means of carrying it into effect with the best prospect of fulfilling its objects, have been unceasingly kept in view.

This important undertaking has received the gracious sanction of the King, who has condescended to become its PATRON. His Grace the Duke of Wellington has accepted the office of VICE-PATRON, and the Institution already enrolls amongst its Presidents and Vice-Presidents many of the most distinguished names in both arms of the United Service.

Messrs. Colburn and Bentley have already offered copies of the Naval and Military Works of which they are the Publishers, to the intended Library. U. S. JOURN. No. 31. JUNE 1831.

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