MEN OF THE DAY. No. 151.

ADMIRAL SIR HASTINGS REGINALD YELVERTON, G.C.B.

BORN a short nine-and-sixty years ago, Sir Hastings Yelverton went to sea in an unattached way on board a man-of-war at thirteen, and so distinguished himself at Cintra in a mysterious adventure of disappearance, in which the name of a Princess was mentioned, that he was deemed worthy to be made a sailor at once. To that profession he soon showed himself to be admirably suited. By sheer good conduct, readiness, and activity, and above all by extreme obstinacy and coolness in moments of danger, he won his steps in promotion until he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Squadron, and subsequently to the potential post in the Admiralty at Whitehall where he is now installed.

A splendid officer, brave as his sword, ready to take any amount of responsibility, careful and wary in coming to a decision, but absolutely incapable of being turned from it when once taken, he showed all his qualities in a pre-eminent manner in the affair of the Spanish ironclads, which he brought out with an inferior force from under the guns of the strongest fortress in Spain, after having given twenty-four hours' notice of his intention to do so, and absolutely careless as it seemed of the result. Yet it was shown by the event that he had acted on a calculation which was amply justified, and that his apparent foolhardiness was a proof of very sound judgment. He has had many adventures, and not a few narrow escapes, all of which he has happily survived to be the great favourite he is among not only all the men but all the women of London. His manners are wonderfully gentle and refined, his conversation is full of charm and embellished with anecdotes which no living man has so great a power of telling to advantage, and withal he has the highest and most delicate sense of honour, and the true chivalric bearing of the most knightly gentleman.