SIR JOHN LOCKHART ROSS, BART. To honour the memory of worth is the peculiar province, and that not the leaft important or grateful, of a periodical publication. Though, as the brief chronicle of the times," much that is temporary and fleeting muft neceffarily engage our attention and occupy our pen, yet the page confecrated by heroifm, or facred to departed worth, fhall outlive the buftle of the day, and claim the applauding tribute of pofterity. To us the future hiftorian fhall appeal for the just conception of character, or the accurate delineation of fact; and, in the luminous page of the Naval Hiftory of Britain, the name of Sir John Lockhart Rofs will be entitled to no fecondary place.. Immaterial as it is to mankind in general in what particular fpot a man who has rendered eminent public fer. vices to his country firit drew the vital air, it is with the million the first object of enquiry. Sir John Lockhart Rofs, then, was a native of Scotland, de. fcended from a very antient and honourable family in Lanarkshire, he being the fifth fon of Sir James Lockhart, Bart. of Carstairs. He was born on the 11th of November 1721. From his earliest years he difcovered a predilection for a fea life, and in confequence, in the year 1735, he embarked as a Midshipman in the Navy. In this capacity he evinced qualities which particularly fitted him for the active and enterprifing duties of a Naval Of ficer, and gave dawnings of that diftinction which he afterwards attained. As First Lieutenant to Sir Peter Warren and Lord Anfon, having fhewed proofs of uncommon ability, diligence, and valour, he was, in the year 1747, appointed to the command of the Vulcan re-hip. In October of the fame year he ferved in the fleet under Admiral Hawke, who, cruifing off Cape Finifterre with 16 fhips, captured fix ships of the French line. In 1755, upon the appearance of a rupture with France, Captain Lockhart was appointed to the command of the Savage floop of war, and cruifed under the Admirals Hawke, Byng, and Weft, for the purpose of making reprifals upon the enemy, in which fervice he was ever fingularly zealous and fuccessful. In March 1756 he was made Poft into the Tartar frigate of 28 guns (24 nine pounders and 4 four-pounders) and 200 men, The eminent fervices which he performed in this little thip are still proverbial in the Navy. His name was the terror of every French frigate or privateer that iflued from their ports, he having in a very short fpace of time captured no less than nine veffels of force, carrying collec. tively 2048 men and 224 guns. Of thefe the laft, called the Melampe, fitted out at Bayonne for the exprefs purpofe of taking the Tartar, gave him the opportunity of achieving a victory that, for comparative brilliancy, was fcarcely furpaffed during a war fatal to the naval power of our enemies. The Melampe was of a force very fuperior to the Tartar, mounting 36 guns, twelve-pounders, and having on board 320 chofen men. They foon met; for when two hoftile Commanders are actuated by the fame defire, to meet even on the wide expanfe of ocean is no very difficult point. A very hot and obitinate engagement immediately enfued; but the enemy's colours were at length itruck to the fuperior courage and difcipline of the British Commander and his gallant crew. The perfidious Frenchman, ftung with the difgraceful event of a conteft fo unéqual on the part of the British fhip, after having hailed the Tartar, acknowledged his furrender, and fubmiffively fued for quarter, made a defperate attempt to surprise and overpower her crew, whom he vainly fuppofed to be thrown off their guard, elated with victory. He boarded the Tartars but in penetration, vigilance, and courage, he was more than over-matched by the British Commander. The Frenchmen were vigorously repulfed, and more than fifty of them were killed or drowned in their unwarrantable effort. So active was Captain Lockhart in the protection of our own trade, and fuccefsful in the annoyance and deftruction of that of the enemy, that the Merchants of London and Bristol, fenfible of the important benefits more immediately derived to them from his fervices, prefented him with valuable pieces of plate, in token of their private gratitude and public esteem. In November 1758 he was appointed to the Chatham of 50 guns, under the orders of Admiral Hawke, who, with 22 fail of the line, in October 1759, then off Quiberon Bay, fell in with 24 fail of French line of battle fhips, which he engaged, and of which two were funk, two driven on thore and burnt, and one taken. In the action between the British and French fleets in July 1778, he commanded the Shrewsbury, of 74 guns. In 1779 he was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral of the Blue, and having hoifted his flag on board the Royal George, he failed under the orders of Admiral Rodney, whofe fleet, confifting of 22 fhips of the line, with tranfports and ftores for the relief of Gibraltar, fell in with 11 Spanish fhips of the line, which having chafed and engaged, they took the Sparifh Admiral and fix of his fhips, befides one blown up in the action. In March 1781 he again failed in the Royal George, under the command of Admirals Darby and Digby, with 26 fail of the line, frigates, and tranfports, containing stores and provifions, for the relief of the garrifon of Gibraltar. On the 12th of April the fleet came off the Bay, when Sir John Lockhart Rofs received orders to fhift his flag to the Alexander of 74 guns, and proceed with her and five two-decked fhips of his divifion, the frigates, and 60 fail of ftore-hips, into the Bay, and fuperin tend and direct the unloading the ftores, which he accomplished in fix days, having landed 7000 tons of pro. vifions and 2000 barrels of gunpowder in the midst of the heaviest cannonade ever known; not lefs, at a moderate computation, than 200 fhot and fhells having been thrown every hour whilst the fhips remained at anchor in the Bay. Upon the 20th Admiral Rofs with his fquadron regained the fleet, when he received the thanks of the Commander in Chief, and having refhifted his flag to the Royal George, he returned with the fleet to England. In April 1782 he was appointed to the command of a fquadron, confifting of eight fhips of the line and five frigates, to be employed in the North Seas, and cruised off the Texel, in which he had blocked up 15 fail of Dutch men of war, until the end of June, when most of the officers and men of his fquadron were seized with a very prevalent diforder at that time, known by the name of the Influenza. The Admiral himself was not exempted from the contagion, and in this fickly ftate he thought it advifeable to return with his fleet to the Downs. In the December following, his health being perfectly re-established, he made a tender of his fervices to the Admiralty Board, but the conclusion of hoftilities in the beginning of 1783, rendered his re-appointment unnecellary. In eftimating the character of Sir John Lockhart Rofs as an officer, when we take into the account his zeal, his activity, his uncommon ardour in the profecution of all the fevere and unremitting duties of his hazardous profeffion, with the very great benefits which the Commercial interest reaped from his exertions, it will be found that he is entitled to rank with the firft Naval Characters of Britain. In coolnefs and intrepidity in the hour of battle, he could not be furpaffed. In the courfe of a long and active war, to fight and to conquer became alike habitual to him. He was reckoned a difciplinarian, but in the exercife of his authority he never was cruel or tyrannical. To the difcipline of the British Navy is wholly owing its boafted fuperiority over that of every other State. The free, turbulent, and intrepid spirit of the Britifh feamen, when unawed by authority, defeats its own power by diversity and exuberance; but brought under con troul troul by well regulated difcipline, it confolidates and forms a bulwark which no human force is equal to fubdue. Sir John Lockhart Rofs was refpected and beloved by all the officers and men who ever ferved under him, for he combined the manners of a Gentleman with the feelings, of a man, In his temper he was chearful and convivial; in his difpofitions benevolent and humane. By fome, and in particular by a certain writer, he has been cenfured for his attention to economy. That writer inconfiderately and imprudently advanced, that it even threw a fhade upon his merits as an officer. On the abfurdity of this pofition it is unne, cellary to comment. A juft attention to œconomy is a requifite in every great character, and will invariably be found in every good one. We have at prefent too many, living inftances, that without it the most brilliant-ta, lents degenerate into infamy, and are unable to shield their profligate pof fefors from contempt and diigrace. Upon fucceeding to the estate of General Rois, he added to the firname of Lockhart that of Rois. To this eftate, called Balnagowan, most beauti, fully fituated upon the Bay of Cro, martie, in Rofs-fhire, he retired after the conclufion of the former war in 1763, where he gave full fcope to his benevolence and patriotifm, in the encouragement of Industry, and the promotion of the Agricultural Arts. To ufe the words of the celebrated Mr. Pennant, he fuccefsfully converted his fword into a plough-thare." Under his aufpices the peafantry laboured, were remunerated, and were happy. The face of the country, as well as the human face, affumed, a,different afpect Bare mountains became clothed with trees, and barren heaths with verdure; and while he thus gratified his bene volence and natural activity of mind, he very confiderably improved his fortune, He married in 1761 Miss Elizabeth Baillie, heiress of Lamington, eldest daughter of Robert Dundas, Efq. of Arnifton, Lord Prefident of the Court of Seffion in Scotland, by whom he left two fons and five daughters. In 1768 he was returned, to Parliament for Lanark. In 1780 he became a Baronet of Scotland, by the death of his elder brother, from whom he likewife in herited the paternal eftate of Carstairs, He was fucceeded in his title, and eftates by, his eldest fon, Sir Charles Rofs,, Major of the 37th regiment of foot, and. Member of Parliament for Kirkwall, &c. His fecond fon was in the Navy. Sir John Lockhart Rofs died on the 9th June 1790, in the 69th year of his age, at his feat of Balnagowan, where he had been refident with his family for fome months. His conftitution, which had fuffered by a life of hardfhip and activity, had for fome years become infirm, and he en yed, in the endearments of domeftic fociety, and honourable retirement, all that can fweeten and render placid the evening of life. By a numerous circle of friends, the remembrance, of his private virtues will long be cherished with affection; while, from his country, his fervices entitle him to the most diftinguished tribute of public grati、 tude and elteem. ON THE AUTHENTICITY OF OSSIAN'S POEMS, TH paflages in the poems of that bard Any poetical genius, who had spent the early days of his life in this Glen, mult Sleeps the fweet voice of Cona in the midst of his ruling hall? Sleeps Offian in his hall, and his friends without their fame ?-Conlath and Cutbona. The Chiefs gathered from all their hills, and heard their lovely found. They praifed the voice of Cona, the first among a thoufand bards. But age is now on my tongue, and my foul has failed.--The Songs of Selma. So fhall they fearch in vain for the voice of Cona, after it has fuled in the field. The hunter fhall c, me forth in the morning, and the voice of my harp fall not be heard. muft have had the fame or fimilar ideas, and would have painted them in the fame manner that Offian has done; for he would here fee nothing but grand and fimple imagery-the blue mifts hanging on the hills, the fun peeping through a cloud, the raging of the ftorm, or the fury of the torrent. "This glen was frequently the refort of Fingal and his party. It feems to me wonderful, that any person who has travelled in the Highlands fhould doubt the authenticity of the Celtic poetry, which has been given to the English reader by Macpherfon: fince in almost every glen are to be found perfons who can repeat from tradition feveral of thefe and other Celtic tales of the fame date. I cannot pretend to offer any evidence ftronger than what has been brought forward. I truft, however, that the following extract from a letter which I received from Dr. Mac Intire of Glenorchay, on this subject, will not be uninteresting to the reader. "To the mafs of evidence laid already before the public by perfons of the first refpectability in the nation, I know of little that can be added. Thefe tales we have been accustomed to hear recited from our earliest years, and they have made an indelible impreffion on my memory. In the clofe of the year 1783 and beginning of 1784, I was in London: for fome time pre'vious to that period, I had a correfpondence with Mr. Macpherfon, but not on the fubject of Celtic literature. During two months that I continued in London, I was frequently with him at his own house and elsewhere. We fpoke occafionally about the poems, and the attempt made by Dr. Johnfon to difcredit them. I hinted that though my own belief of their authenticity was unalterably fixed, till my opinion ever was, that he had never found the poem of Fingal in the full and perfect form in which he had published it; 'but that having got the fubftance or greatest part of the interefting tale, he had, from his knowledge of Celtic imagery and allufions, filled up the chaims in the tranflation. He replied, "You are much mistaken in the mát, ter-I had occafion to do lefs of that than you fuppofe-and at any time that you are at leifure, and wish to fee the originals, tell me, and we will con cert a day for going to my houfe on Putney-heath, where thefe papers lie, and you will then be fatisfied." This converfation paffed in prefence of Dr. Shaw, a Scots physician, to whom he introduced me. "I fully intended to avail myself of this offer, but have to regret that from various avocations, and leaving London fooner than I thought I could, I was prevented from a fight and perusal of the original of these poems. "Calling the day before I left London on the late General Mac Nab, a gentleman well verfed in Celtic literature, and of unimpeached veracity and honour, who had long lived in habits of intimacy with Mr. Macpherfon, I mentioned this circumftance to him and my regret. He faid he was forry I had not feen the poems; that to him Mr. Macpherfon had often recited parts of Fingal in the Gaelic, with various other tales, which brought to his remembrance what had-given him fo much gratification when a boy. "Thus, my dear Sir, I have given you a diffufe but a true detail of a circumftance that can add little to the credibility of a fact, authenticated by men, whom no confideration could induce to avow a falfehood. The Highland Society, who intend to publish the original of Fingal, have applied to me for an account of the preceding converfation with Mr. Macpherfon, which I have hitherto been prevented from communicating: you are therefore at full liberty to make what ufe of it your please. "At the time I was a student of theology, I was prefent at the delivery of a ferinon by a worthy but eccentric preacher on the refurrection of the dead. He concluded his fubject with words that I can never forget: "Thus have I endeavoured to fet before you this great truth of God-and I trifft that you believe it: but believe it who will, I believe it my felf." So fay I, in heard. "Where is the fon of car-borne Fingal ?" The tear will be on his cheek. Then come thou, O Malvina! with all thy mufick, come; lay Offian in the plain of Lurha; let his tomb rife in the lovely field.-Barathon. "Why bends the bard of Cona," faid Fingal, "over his fecret stream? Is this 1à time for forrow, father of low-laid Ofcar?—Temora. all QUID SIT PULCHRUM, QUID TURPE, QUID UTILE, QUID NON. The Periplus of the Erythrean Sea, Part the Firft, containing an Account of the Navigation of the Ancients from the Sea of Suez to the Coaft of Zanquebar, with Differtations, by William Vincent, D. D. 4to. Cadell and Davies. 1800. TH HIS learned and truly curious work may be properly confidered as a regular continuation of the indefatigable refearches of the author into remote antiquity, to trace the origin of a branch of Navigation which has for ages proceeded in a progreffive courfe of improvement, being made a fubject of national concern by all the maritime Powers of Europe, and which has at length, in our own time, and in our native country, attained that degree of perfection, which may be ftyled its meridian glory; and we may justly apply to the prefent state of the British navigation to, commerce with, and fettlements in India, what our author obferves, in the elegant Dedication of this work to his Majefty, refpecting the different voyages that have been performed under his immediate patronage and direction-" they are advanced to that boundary which Nature has fixed as a barrier to the enterprise of man." If we could find words to express the defign of the work with greater precifion, we fhould not be under the neceffity to borrow another pailage from the Dedication; but the perfpicuity and concifeness of his own explanation difcourages the attempt. "In the profecution," fays Dr. Vincent," of thofe great defigns, if we have feen fcience advancing to perfection, it is still an object of interefting curiofity to turn our view back from the refult to the origin, to trace navigation to its fource, and difcovery to its commencement." Such is the design of the prefent work, to which his firit publication led the way; and therefore we refer our readers to the review of it; convinced that they will find great fatisfaction in its connection with the fubject now under confideration. It The Voyage of Nearchus from the Indus to the Euphrates, collected from the original Journal preferved by Arrian, and illuftrated by Authorities ancient and modern, containing an Account of the first Navigation attempted by Europeans in the Indian Ocean. See Vol. XXXI. of our Magazine, p. 169, March 1797. may |