the Swedes regained their harbours without any considerable loss.

No sooner had the Swedes reentered their own ports, and made a successful attempt to arrest the further progress of their opponents, than the duke of Nassau, admiral of the Cronstadt division, advanced towards the Swedish shores in order of battle.— A battle,' said sir Sidney, equally offered by one party and accepted by the other, contrary to all the rules of war, was fought, as it commenced rather in the spirit of chivalry, than according to any rules of naval tactics.'-It terminated, however, in a complete victory on the part of the Swedes.

Upon this happy result, the king ordered all the officers to be introduced to him one by one. Gustavus took each of them by the hand, and dismissed him with the words-Sir, you are a brave man.' -When at length he addressed sir Sidney Smith:- Sir,' said he, you are an Englishman!' This victory being soon after followed by a peace sir Sidney returned from his foreign service.

For his conduct during this war it was that Gustavus conferred on sir Sidney Smith the grand cross of the Swedish order of the Sword. In a letter written by Gustavus to our present sovereign, accompanying the honourable insignia, the Swedish monarch says, 'We have returned your majesty what we had borrowed for our use during the late war, and what, had if been less valuable, we should have endeavoured to have retained. Captain Smith is an officer whom we shall long remember with gratitude.'

Soon after the conclusion of the Swedish war sir Sidney, whose na

tive ardour would not suffer him to remain long without seeking employment, repaired to Constantinople, where, through the Euglish ambassador, he made an offer of his services to the Porte; but finding his overtures rejected, he demanded of his regociator, who was a Turk, the reason assigned for refusing his services. His friend being much pressed by him for satisfaction on this point, at length assured him, after many evasive replies, that the Porte had no other objection to employ him, but that he was suspected to be a Jew; some of the French officers, it afterwards appeared, with that cunning and intrigue for which their nation has ever been conspicuous, had circulated a report that sir Sidney Smith was the son of Jewish parents, and secretly an adherent to that religion. He was therefore about to return to England had not one of the Turkish admirals, less credulous, and perhaps less superstitious than his superiors, given him an employment in his division, in which he continued to act till he was recalled home by his majesty's proclamation on the commencement of the war with France after the death of the king.

Sir Sidney, therefore, repairing immediately from Smyrna to the fleet under lord Hood before Tonlon, towards the conclusion of the siege of that city, exerted his great abilities and distinguished courage in the service of his own country. He harassed the enemy with numerous attacks on their ships and smaller vessels; and on the 18th of March 1796 he forced an entrauce into the bay of Herqui, destroyed the batteries on the land, and burned the ships in the harbour. He at this time command

ed the Diamond, a ship of 38 guns, to which he was appointed in 1794. Very soon after, however, while eagerly exerting his ardent courage to the annoyance of the enemy, he had the misfortune (on the 18th of April 1796) to fall into their hands. Being at this time stationed off Havre de Grace, he observed one of the enemy's lugger privateers, which had been driven by the strong setting of the tide into the harbour, above the forts. He captured the privateer, remain ing in the situation just described during the night. But at daylight the French discovering their lugger in tow of several English boats, an alarm was given, and several gun boats and other armed vessels attacked the lugger and the boats, while another lugger of superior force was warped out against the lugger that had been taken. All resistance soon became unavailing, and sir Sidney Smith with about nineteen of his valiant comrades were compelled to surrender themselves prisoners of war. This accident was rendered the more mortifying by the circumstance that the Diamond, though all this while in perfect safety, was prevented by a dead calin from affording any assistance to her gallant commander.

[To be continued.]

ANECDOTE

OF THE LATE

MR. GARRICK.

SOME time before the marriage of Mr. Garrick an old gentlewoman waited on him and told him

that if he were disengaged he might obtain the hand of a young lady of great beauty and fortune, who had fallen in love with him on seeing him perform some interesting character. Garrick, willing to discover more of the matter, gave an encouraging answer, but heard nothing farther. Some time after he met the old gentlewoman, whom he addressed, but who affected not to know him. Garrick, however, was resolved to persevere, and at length the gentlewoman informed him that the young lady had seen him afterwards in Abel Drugger, in which he appeared to be such a mean despicable fellow, that she was effectually cured of the passion which he had excited in the nobler character. This event made such an impression on Mr. Garrick that he took care, during his courtship of Miss Violetti, af terwards Mrs. Garrick, who was patronized by lord and lady Burlington, with whom she resided, that the Burlington family should never be accommodated at the theatre when he performed a low part lest a similar effect should follow.

Te the EDITOR of the LADY'S MAGAZINE.

SIR,

I SHOULD esteem it a favour if any of your numerous correspondents will inform me in what Book the following lines are con❤ tained:

He who fights and runs away May live to fight another day; But he who is in battle slain Will never rise to fight again."

HARRIET VERNON;

OR,

CHARACTERS FROM REAL LIFE. A NOVEL.

In a Series of Letters.

BY A LADY.

(Continued from p. 694, vol. xxxviii.)

LETTER XLIII.

Miss H. Vernon to Miss West.

I AM terrified and distracted, my dear friend. This morning I read the following article in the news-paper: A few days since a duel was fought between a young clergyman and J. Johnson, esq. a gentleman in Oxfordshire. The cause of the quarrel is not known, but we are sorry to learn that the latter received a wound in his right arm which it is thought will endanger his life; the clergyman set off immediately; it is supposed for the continent, and has not been heard of since.

Mr. Wilson has written to Mr. Johnson for the truth of this shocking account. I am half distracted. What an unfortunate creature am I! Oh, fatal day that brought me to this house! Should Mr. Johnson die I shall never enjoy a moment's peace. The enclosed letter Maria received yesterday from Mrs. Ambrose, but the contents, however acceptable they would have been at another time, are now unthought of by your distressed friend,

LETTER XLIV.

Mrs. Ambrose to Miss Vernon. [Enclosed in the foregoing.] Windsor.

His

THE contents of my dear miss Vernon's last letter afflicted more than surprised me. I have seen so much of the world, and experienced so many of its disappointments, that I have long since ceased to wonder. Your account of Mr. Beaumont did not, from the very first, altogether please me. I thought his conduct respecting miss Jones unjustifiable. views in addressing her were mercenary; but the continuance of those addresses after he was resolved not to marry her was dishonourable in a high degree; and a person who can be guilty of one, dishonourable action will not scruple to commit more. I was willing to lay the blame on the mother; and finding your sister was really attached to him, was loth to give an opinion to his disadvantage, which possibly might be ill founded. I confided, too, in the good sense and penetration of my young friend; but I might have known that the good sense and penetration not derived from a knowledge of the world would be insufficient to counteract the designs of a villain. What a laudable part has Mr. Johnson taken! My brother has had an opportu nity of hearing his character. He lives on an estate lately left him by an uncle in Oxfordshire, is much respected by the neighbouring gentry, and what is better, he is beloved by the poor. He was a few years since very gay and dissipated, but not vicious: it

B

was in these days of folly, I suppose, that he became acquainted with Beaumont; but his heart was too good to countenance the faults even of his friend. By your account he has a good understanding, improved by education, as had Beaumont; but of what value are wit and fine parts when not employed aright! This reminds me of a fine sentiment of Dr. Young Talents angel bright, if wanting worth are shining instru ments, in false ambition's hand, to finish faults illustrious, and give to infamy renown.'

I rejoice to find that Harriet bears her disappointment with a fortitude answerable to the idea I had entertained of her good sense. A little, indeed much, will I allow for the despondence of a young woman under such circumstances; but nothing for giving herself up to despair. I have known young women declare on the loss of an unfaithful lover, that they should not survive it that this world had no charms for them with more such romantic stuff, which I considered as less the effect of sensibility than passion. Be thankful, my dear Har riet, for your escape, I say; and instead of complimenting him. with a declaration never to marry another, show him, by a more prudent choice, that your happiness depends not on the caprice of a base heart. I will allow, (I say it from experience) that sometimes a disappointment of this sort can not be overcome so far as to suffer the party to marry another. A woman may never see but one man she can love; but no sensible woman will make a parade of it, and declare to all the world that she is dying for Mr, such-a-que,

who has just left her, and married her neighbour. I shudder for the dreadful situation Harriet would have found herself in if the base wretch had succeeded in his vile intentions! Let her but reflect what would then have been her prospects, and she will, I am persuaded, feel no emotion but joy for her happy escape.

I will now come to the main purport of this letter, and am going, with the hearty concurrence of my brother, to make a proposal I have for some time wished to intimate-It is that your sister would reside with me, if she thinks in that situation she can be happy. I was on the point of making this proposal when Mr. Beaumont stepped in and prevented me. Your brother's brutal behaviour has thrown you both on the world. You tell me that Mrs. Wilson provides for you: I hope you will find yourself coinfortable, and that she will reform her untoward temper. If Harriet will accept of my protection she will much oblige me; and I flatter myself will not regret the exehange of Mrs, Wilson's for our house. If she approves of this proposal I beg she will lose no time, but come immediately. My brother is now in London, transacting some business. He is quite gay, and visits town fre quently for my own part I never wish to see it again; this is a delightful spot, and the residence of the royal family makes it gay enough for me. Let me hear from you by the first post.

Your sincere friend,

LUCY AMBROSE,

Dear Susan,

AFTER suffering a week of anxious suspense we are relieved from our fears on Mr. Johnson's account. Mr. Wilson this morn ing received the enclosed letter from bin. I am once more at ease, and preparing to accept the delightful proposal of Mrs. Ambrose. I set off for Windsor tomorrow, and, as you may suppose, feel no regret but that of parting with my dear Maria. Mrs. Wilson has bad another jealous fit, but not so violent as the last. I believe she is heartily glad to get rid of me; so we are both pleased. I hope she will spare poor Maria in my absence. You will be much pleased with Mr. Johnson's letter. He is a valuable character; and I cannot be too thankful that such a one is not on my account lost to the world.

The vile Beaumont is gone no one knows whither. Mr. Wilson has a letter from his wife to inquire after him. She says she has not seen him more than six times since they have been married. She begins to suspect he married her for her money. She makes no mention of me and I dare say has no suspicion of the affair. Mrs. Beaumont's mother is with her. Mr. Wilson thought it best to acquaint her with the duel, but not the cause, as she most likely would hear it by chance. I pity her very much; she is now severely punished for her pride and ill temper. I will write to you again when at Windsor; in the mean Yours, &c.

time am

H. VERNON.

Dear Sir,.

I HOLD myself much obliged for your kind inquiries, both to your self and the ladies. This is the first day I have been well enough to write, or your favour had not been a week unanswered. I am nowy my surgeons say, in a good way for recovery, though my life was despaired of at the first. The wound is in my shoulder, but the ball is extracted. It was much against my wishes that I engaged in this duel; for duelling is a custom I have ever abhorred, and hold as derogatory to the honour thereby professed. Mr. Beaumont had sent me a direct challenge; on the supposition that I was the mean of frustrating his designs on miss Vernon; I did not in my answer deny the charge, but expressed my wishes to decline the duel. The day after I had dispatched my answer, and expected that the return of post would bring another letter from him, I was surprised to see him enter my house with a countenance strongly expressive of anger and revenge.→→

I am come,' said he, to demand the satisfaction you have refused by letter-at the same time drawing a brace of pistols from his pocket. I have no time to waste in altercation; if you are a man of honour attend me instantly to some retired spot, and we will there determine the victory.'-I told him if that was to be the test by which my honour was to be tried, I would yield the title to himself; for my own part I was resolved not to fight: he might say if he pleased that I feared to