sional pamphlets; one entitled, "A Method of preventing or diminishing Pain in several Operations of Surgery;" and another, which he has called "An Essay on the Process of Nature in filling up Cavities and restoring Parts which have been destroyed in the human Body," for which he obtained the prize medal given by the Lyceum Medicum Londinense, for the year 1789. 3. Graham, entered early into the navy as a midshipman; was a lieutenant in 1790, and, in due time, became first master and commander, and then postcaptain. On board the Melampus, of only thirty-six guns, he engaged with, and took the Ambuscade of forty, October 12th, 1798, being one of the squadron destined to invade Ireland. 4. Francis is in the Secretary of State's department, and acted formerly as private secretary to the late Duke of Leeds, when he held a high official situation. And 5. Charles, entered the honourable society of Lincoln's Inn, as a student of law, a few years since, and has been lately called to the bar. He is a promising young man. To the honour of Dr. Moore, he has always shewn himself a declared foe to that disgrace of human nature-the slavery that prevails in our colonies. His enmity is calm, but marked; dignified, but sincere. He has been at the pains to enumerate and to overturn the arguments (if arguments they may be termed!) which are usually recurred to, in order to justify cruelty; and when he wishes to render one of his characters most odious and most horrible, he pour trays trays him inflicting torture on Hanno, a faithful Afriwho had incurred his displeasure, in consequence of an involuntary burst of compassion. can, Thou rather, with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt, "Than the soft myrtle! O, but man! proud man! "Most ignorant of what is most assured, "His glassy essence-like an angry ape, "Plays such fantastic tricks before high Heaven, SHAKESPEARE. COL. EDWARD-MARCUS DESPARD. THE times in which we live are so extremely ticklish, that it would be highly blameable to attach either unqualified censure or applause to any public character. Yet surely it will not be considered either unjust or indelicate to remark, that the subject of this memoir has met with very harsh treatment, and been exposed to rigours which no other gentleman has experienced anterior to conviction since the memorable period of the Revolution. A long and cruel imprisonment has cut him off from all intercourse with the community; his health has been materially injured; his life has been endangered; and his fortune cannot but have suffered in so unequal a struggle. Let it also be recollected, that the humane spirit of our laws has taught us to consider every man as innocent until he is declared guilty by the judgment of his peers. Edward-Marcus Despard is a native of Ireland, and at an early age betook himself to a military life, thus following the custom of the generality of his countrymen, who possess a martial spirit, and are ever eager to distinguish themselves in the service, although they but too often experience contumely and reproach, on account of a trifling incident, that must be acknowledged to be involuntary on their part-the place of their nativity! 66 Long from a nation ever hardly us❜d, "Have Britons drawn their sport, with partial view CHURCHILL. This gentleman is descended from a very ancient and respectable family in the Queen's county of the now UNITED KINGDOM, and is the youngest of six brothers, all of whom have served either in the army or navy except the eldest, who possesses the family estate. When only sixteen years of age Mr. Despard went into the army as an Ensign in the 50th regiment; he afterwards joined the 79th as a Lieutenant; and * Ireland. † See a very interesting narrative by Mr. James Bannantine, his secretary, when King's superintendant at Honduras, &c. published by Ridgway. It is singular enough, that not only five brothers have followed the profession of arms, but that the sixth should also be actuated by the same disposition, for we are assured from good authority, that he has lately raised a corps for the internal defence of Ireland. at at length obtained a company in it. The brevet of Major is, we believe, the highest rank to which he rose in the line; he however appears to have distinguished himself, and to have received the thanks of General Calcraft in the public orders of his regiment on account of his services; he was also noticed by General Sir William Meadows and his Grace the Duke of Northumberland. Captain Despard having been a soldier from his early youth, had imbibed all the military ardour incident to his profession; but his views were more particularly directed to a branch of tactics which require great skill, capacity, and application—that of an Engineer. He was induced to this particular pursuit, no less perhaps from his own desire, than from the consideration, that in this line, and perhaps in this line alone, he could rise by his merit, without parliamentary interest. We accordingly find that he was henceforth detached from any particular regiment, and has acted for many years in the capacity alluded to above. Towards the latter end of the American war it was determined to undertake an expedition against the Spanish main. Two remarkable men, one of whom has since become eminent on account of his victories, the other in consequence of his persecution, were employed in this adventure: the first was Captain, now Admiral Lord Nelson, who at that time commanded the Hinchinbroke; the other Mr. Despard, who acted on this occasion as chief Engi The latter of these gentlemen was well known to the governor of Jamaica, General Sir John Dalling, having been employed by him in constructing public works at Jamaica, and in strengthening the fortifications, so as to resist any attack on the part of the enemy, who about this period meditated, and soon after took the most effectual steps to effect, an invasion. As Mr. Despard had distinguished himself by his skill and intrepidity during the descent on the Spanish main, as well as by his zeal and professional exertions on a former occasion, Governor Dalling was pleased, in 1781, to appoint him Commandant of * Captain Polson states, "that there was scarcely a gun fired but what was pointed by Captain Nelson of the Hinchinbroke, or Lieutenant Despard, chief Engineer." "House of Assembly, 18th December 1783. "Resolved, That it be recommended to the House to send a message to his Excellency the Governor, with a copy of this Resolution, requesting that, in consideration of the eminent services rendered to this island in the years 1779 and 1782 by Captain Edward-Marcus Despard, who voluntarily stood forth, and with out the least view of retribution of any kind, distinguished himself in the engineering line by constructing various works for our defence; and also of his gallant and judicious conduct in 1782, when, with a small, undisciplined, and inferior force, he attacked and took the Spanish garrison at Black River, on the Mosquito Shore, made between seven and eight hundred of the enemy prisoners, and rescued hundreds of our fellow subjects from captivity, and restored them to their possessions: his Excellency will be pleased to recommend the said Captain Despard to his Majesty for such army rank, or other mark of his royal approbation, as he may be graciously pleased to confer on him." Rattan, |