When I was born, the shipping of the United Kingdom was not greater than that of London at the present day. Now, we have near 30,000 ships, with a tonnage of over 3,000,000, and giving employment to upwards of 180,000 men.

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CHAPTER XIV.

GREAT NAMES-PAST AND PRESENT.

THE closing years of the past century introduced us to several names to which a great reputation belongs, and the present one has been still more prolific in that respect. Their partial recital is interesting, since it shows that on the battle-field, as in that peaceful progress which delights to encourage the influence of learning, genius, and philanthropy, Scotchmen are ably represented. The list is not presented for the sake of vain display. Although the two countries are indissolubly united in the bonds of close and warm sympathy, it is natural that we should retain in some degree a feeling of distinct nationality, which, if evidenced in the pride with which we survey the successful career of our compatriots, infers neither danger nor harm. But for the Union, most of them would not have had the opportunity; and in the prosecution of their efforts all

have been animated by a desire to occupy places side by side with those illustrious men who swell the long role of English worthies. The history of each is a useful study. It teaches that if fame is to be reached, no means must be neglected, and no obstacle deemed too formidable. High natural gifts, if not assiduously cultivated, leave few impressions behind. Respectable mediocrity and laborious application rarely fail. Genius and perseverance combined command success. What is eloquence, without copious information to discourse upon ? and bold assertion, if carefully prepared proofs are wanting? Dashing officers do not mean great generals, and our most brilliant artists take years to culminate their fame.

Admiral Duncan destroyed the fleet of the Dutch, then a formidable rival on the sea, and made prisoner its brave chief, De Winter. He was created Viscount Duncan, and his son, become Earl of Camperdown, keeps alive the remembrance of the battle which his gallant father won. Admiral Elphinstone, for his services in command of the squadron which assisted at the capture of the Cape of Good Hope, was made a peer by the title of Viscount Keith. We have an admiral living among us who has experienced the vicissitudes of fortune in a remarkable manner. has been fined and imprisoned, sentenced to the

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degradation of the pillory, was deprived of the decoration of the Bath and his professional rank, and expelled from the House of Commons. The injustice inflicted on the Earl of Dundonald by those harsh proceedings and their consequences has long ago been exposed, but no reparation could atone for the years which made him the victim of cruel and base imputations. It redounds to the honour of Earl Grey, that on his accession to office in 1830, he reinstated him in the service. Since the days of Nelson we have had no such gallant and scientific commander. The episodes of his life are all brilliant, and whether in the naval employment of our own crown, or of other states which solicited the aid of his genius, he has achieved great ends and noble enterprizes with scanty means at his disposal. "Charlie" Napier, as everybody calls Sir Charles, was born in one of our southern counties, and early sent to sea, where his pluck and self-reliance have stood him good service. The Napiers are all clever. His ancestor was John Napier of Merchiston, celebrated for his invention of logarithms two centuries and more ago; and several of his cousins-german fill distinguished positions in contemporary military history. Being without active employment at the time in his own profession, he joined our land forces in the Peninsula as a volunteer, and helped to kill

Frenchmen at the battle of Busaco. Subsequently, in command of the Thames,' he effectually prevented the French from forming a fleet in the Mediterranean. He signalized himself on the Potomac during the second war with America. At great odds he engaged and dispersed the fleet of Dom Miguel, and terminated the civil war in Portugal. When the Sultan and Mehemet Ali fell out, Napier was sent to Beyrout, and profiting by his military experience, organized a land force, with which he stormed Sidon and defeated the army of Ibrahim Pasha on the heights of Mount Lebanon. Perhaps we like him best for the part he took in the capture of the stronghold of Acre, even although his laurels were gained by a disregard of the orders of his superior officer! He has since become a legislator and a financial and administrative reformer; but if his fame is to be posthumous, it will be among naval commanders that posterity must look for him, and not in lists of British statesmen and parliamentary orators. George Eliott, who conducted the defence of Gibraltar-one of the most extraordinary on record

was created Lord Heathfield at the peace of Versailles. Sir Ralph Abercromby drove the French out of Egypt, and died on the field which his victory covered with glory. Sir John Moore was equally renowned for his bravery as a soldier, and the battle