The Sun.
London, England, 1830-06-28 00:00:00

DEVOTION TO THE NAVY.

Early as was the period of his departure to sea, there
were much earlier indications of his preparation for the
enterprising and perilous service. Aware of the subordi-
nate rank and laborious station he was first to assume, an,
,n which he was to continue the full period allotted t,
other midshipmen, he was, notwithstanding, eager for the
commencement, and reconciled to the continuance of hi,
trduous undertaking.
The first vessel in which he sailed was the Prince
George, a ninety-eight gun ship, recently built and names.
in honour of his Royal Brother, the late King. He wa.
then just fourteen years of age, and well fitted by consti-
tution, both of mind and body, for a service to which
the progress of the war with America gave unusual im-
portance. In this ship, under the command of Admiral,
Digby, his Royal Highness bore a part in the great naval
engagement between the English and Spanish fleets, com-
manded by Admiral Rodney and Don Juan de Laugara.
Before he left the Prince George, he was also present at
the capture of a French man-of-war, and three smallet
vessels, forming part of a considerable convoy. In neither
of these instances, however, was the action very severe,
or the -victory doubtful or difficult; his Royal Highnete
did his duty, but no opportunity was furnished to him of
his brave associates for any signal effort of bravery or skill.
The wit/ of the day were rather merry at the expense of
the Admiral under whom he served on the occasion of a
Spanish man-of-war being captured, which in compliment
to the King's son was named " the Prince William." If,
writing home, the Admiral, mentioning that circumstance,
described this resolution to have been adopted in conse-
quence of the Spaniard having had '• the honour to In
taken" in the presence of his Royal Highness. Such an'
honour was certainly out of the common way, and might,
justify Falataff's exclatnation, " What', honour ?"

The action was deemed one of considerable importance,
at the time. The Spaniards fought bravely. In one of
the poems written to commemorate the victory it was
stated...

Though Laugara bore avral
He did not run to shun the ftay,
But sell the battle dear;
The English flew on wings of fame,
. Yet his retreat produced n 3 shame,
He bravely fought his rear.
We do not know whether it was in reference to this
battle that the following stanza, in honour of his Royal,
Highness, was added to the song " When in war on the
ocean, by Mr. Cobb—
Happy nation to boast in defence of thy rights,
A Prince whom the man and the 12 _To unites ;
A friend to the wretched, the boast of the brave,
Who lives but to conquer, and conquers to save.
HUMANE INTERFERENCE

Two acts of generous humanity, performed soon afterl
this period, are recorded to the honour of the Prince. The
first, which occurred just before the conclusion of thei
war, is described by a Midshipman of the Torbay, in the,
following letter to his friends :
" Pott Royal Harbour, April 1793.
" The last time Lord Hood's fleet was here, a Court-
martial was held on Mr. Benjamin Lee, midshipman, for
disrespect to a superior officer, at which Lord Hood sat as
President. The determination of the Court was fatal to

the prisoner, and be was condemned to death. Deeply
affected as the whole body of midshipmen were. at the
dreadful sentence, they knew not how to obtain a mitiga•
tion of it, since Mr. Lee was ordered lbr execution ; while,
they had not time to make their appeal to the Admiralty,l
and despaired of success in a petition to Admiral Rowley..
However, his Royal Highness generously stepped forth,
drew up a petition, to which he was the first to set his
name, and solicited the rest of the midshipmen in port to
follow his example. He then himself carried the petition
to Admiral Rowley, and in the most pressing and urgent
manner begged the life of our unhappy brother ; in which
he succeeded, and Mr. Lee is reprieved. We all acknow-
ledge our warmest and grateful thanks to our humane, our
brave, and worthy Prince, who so nobly exerted himself
in preserving the life of his brother sailor."
The war ceased before the period of the Prince's naval
apprenticeship expired, and in the year 1783, then a fine
midshipman of 18, he visited Cape Francois and the Ha-
vannah. It was during this visit that a second instance
of his exemplary humanity occurred. Some of his coun-
trymen having broken their parole of honour and oath of
fidelity to the Spanish Government, they were in danger
of suffering under a sentence of death; when the Governor
of Louisiana, Don Galvez, offered, at the intercession of
the Prince, to spare and liberate them. The following
letter, which his Royal Highness addressed to the Gover-
nor, soon after, from Jamaica, sufficiently shows the de-
light with which he acquired for his countrymen so wel-
come a boon :

" SIR,—I want wards to express to your Excellency
my just sense of your polite letter, of the delicate manner
in which you caused it to be delivered, and your generous
conduct towards the unfortunate in your power. Their
pardon, which you have been pleased to grant on my ac-
count, is the most agreeable present you could have offered,
me, and is strongly characteristic of the bravery and gal•
'entry of the Spanish nation. This imtance increases, if
possible, my opinion of your Excellency's humanity,
which has appeared on so many occasions in the course of
the late war. Admiral Rowley is to despatch a vessel to
Louisiana, for the prisoners. lam convinced they will
ever think of your Excellency's clemency with gratitude ;
and I have sent a copy of your letter to the King, my fa-
ther, who will be fully sensible of your Excellency's atten-
tion to me. I request my compliments to Madame Galvec,
and that you will be assured that actions so noble as those
of your Excellency will ever be remembered by
" Your's sincerely, " WILLIAM P."