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Kay's Originals Vol. 1

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362 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. ately rejoined by the rest of his fleet ; and, after cruising for four months, he left a small squadron of observation, and set sail for Yarmouth Roads. He had scarcely reached the Roads, however, when he received intelligence that the enemy were at sea, He instantly gave signal for a general chas‘e, and soon came up with them between Camperdowii and Egmont, where the well-known and decisive naval combat of the 11th October 1797 ensued, in which De Winter and two other Dutch Admirals were taken prisonerfi, and the Dutch fleet annihilated. Admiral Duncan’s address, previous to the engagement with Admiral de Winter, was both laconic and humorous : “ Gentlemen, you see a severe Winter approaching; I have only to advise you to keep up a good $re.” No. CXLVI. ADMIRAL DUNCAN ON THE QUARTER-DECK. THE “hero of Camperdown” is here represented on the quarter-deck of the Yenerable, in the act, it may be supposed, of issuing orders to the fleet ; while a partial view of the contending ships is given in the distance. Immediately after the victory, Admiral Duncan was created a peer, by the title of Viscount Duncan of Camperdown and Baron Duncan of Lundie ; and a pension of 53000 a-year was granted during his own life and that of the two next succeeding heirs to the peerage. He was presented with the freedom of the city of London, together with a sword of two hundred guineas’ value, from the corporation. Gold medals, in commemoration of the victory, were also given to all the Admirals and Captains of the fleet, while the public testified their respect by wearing certain articles of apparel named after the engagement.‘ On this occasion the inhabitants of Edinburgh were not to be satisfied with any cold or formal expression of esteem; they resolved upon a public and special demonstration in honour of their gallant countryman. The animating scene is thus described by the Edinburgh journals of the period :- “The tribute of gratitude and respect universally due by every Briton to the gallant Lord nuncan was yesterday (7th February 1798) paid by his fellow-townsnien, the inhabitants of Edinburgh. The whole brigade of volunteers were called out in honour of the day ; and the muster was a very full one, between two and three thousand. The different corps, having assembled in Hope Park and other places of rendezvous about two o’clock, aoon after entered George’s Square, by the The cloth worn on this occasion waa a species of tartan, of a large pattern, intended as emblematical of the species of tactics pursued by the British Admiral.
Volume 8 Page 506
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