and a Hawke; while of late years a whole galaxy has been spread above the nautical horizon, which will sparkle for ages with the names of a Duncan, a Hood, a Howe, a St. Vincent, and a Nelson.

George Keith Elphinstone, Baron Keith of Stonehaven-Marischal in the county of Kincardin, North Britain, was born about the year 1747 or 1748. The Elphinstones, like the Gordons, the Frasers, the Sinclairs, and a number of other great northern families, are supposed to have come originally from the continent. The ancestor of this nobleman was a German of the name of Elvington, who having repaired to Scotland during the reign of Robert I. resolved to settle in that country. He accordingly married Margaret, daughter of Sir Christopher Seton; a lady who was related to the royal family, and appears either to have been an heiress, or to have obtained crown lands by way of dower, in the fertile shire of Lothian, which her husband called after his own name. From this chief, usually considered as the founder of the family, descended Alexander, who in the 33d year of David II.† exchanged his estate of Kinchibar with Alexander, the son of Adam More, for the lands of Arthberg, in the county of Stirling, which were called Elphinston, and became the residence of his descendants.

Sir Alexander, one of these, was created a baron in 1509, and the title has descended in regular succession during many generations. Charles, the tenth

*Now changed into the appellation of Elringston. + 1362.

Lord

Lord Elphinstone,married Clementina, only daughter of John Earl of Wigton, by whom he had a numerous family. George Keith, the subject of this memoir, was the fifth son; and as the profession of arms is the appanage, and not unfrequently the only one, which the younger male branches of the Caledonian nobility can claim, it was determined, as his eldest brother was to have the land, that he should seek for fortune and employment from the sea.

The Scots have always been considered as a military nation; and their reputation in this point of view had long been established in the armies of the continental princes, before a generous policy, first pointed out by the late Earl of Chatham, gave a new direction to their youth both at home and abroad. But although they were allowed to excel in the land service, they seldom applied themselves to naval affairs; for until of late the commerce of that part of the island was înconsiderable, and none of their sovereigns had ever maintained any establishment in the shape of a navy. It is not a little remarkable however, that the family of which we now treat, for upwards of half a century has devoted itself to the sea service, and produced a

number of most excellent officers.

* Lord Keith's great uncle, Marischal Keith, was one of the favourite generals of Frederick II. king of Prussia. This cele brated officer was descended from one of the most illustrious families in Scotland, to whose honour it ought to be recorded, that, with a degree of munificence befitting a sovereign house, they founded the college of New Aberdeen,, which is still called by their name, in 1539.

It was to this profession that Mr. Keith Elphinstone was destined. Notwithstanding the melancholy fate of an elder brother, George, who was lost in the Prince George in 1758, he was stationed on board a king's ship, and taught at an early age to contend with the three boisterous elements, fire, air, and

water.

The quarter-deck of a man of war may justly be considered as a national school for the instruction of a numerous portion of our youth; there it is that they acquire a habit of discipline, and become instructed in all the interesting minutiae of the service. Punctuality, cleanliness, diligence, and dispatch, are regularly inculcated, and such a habit of sobriety and even of self-denial acquired, that cannot fail to prove highly useful. By learning to obey, they are also taught betimes how to command; and it becomes daily more necessary indeed, that a lad who, like many others, may hereafter attain the rank of post-captain in the service before he is three-and-twenty years of age perhaps, should either be endowed with, or en abled at least to acquire, some small degree of discretion. By the regulations of our naval code, a most extraordinary latitude in respect to power and responsibility are attached to the command of a ship; for no less than five or six hundred of his fellow-men are placed under the absolute superintendence, control, and disposal of a single officer. It were to be wished therefore, as most of these enter the service while mere boys, and before their education has been completed, that attention were paid not only to their

morals

morals and discipline, but also to their attainments while afloat. A schoolmaster is allowed in all ships of a certain rate, but we are sorry to observe that the pay is far from being commensurate to the labours of any inan of merit : a reasonable increase, in respect to remuneration, therefore, is here earnestly suggested to those who have the good of the service at heart. Indeed, notwithstanding this evident discouragement to the undertaking, several of our commanders have paid attention to 30 necessary a regulation; and the author of this article could mention the names of two admirals, who, much to their honour, while captains, made it their daily study to inquire into the progress of the young gentlemen placed on their quarter-deck.

After serving his due time, Mr. Elphinstone found the little patch of white on his collar and cuffs encrease wonderfully in size; for at the expiration of the usual period he was appointed a lieutenant, an event which forms a remarkable epoch in the life of a young sailor, and entitles him to lapels and an epaulet.

In 1773 we find him serving as a master and commander in the Mediterranean, under Rear Admiral Sir Peter Dennis; on which occasion he was promoted into the Scorpion of fourteen guns, and two years after he deemed himself fortunate by being nominated post captain.

;

He now aspired to distinctions of another kind; for at the general election in 1774, Captain Elphinstone stood as candidate for the county of Dumbarin which his family possessed considerable pro

ton,

perty

perty and influence: and on his rival's being returned knight of the shire, he presented a petition to the House of Commons; from a committee of which, according to the most excellent provisions in Mr. Grenville's bill, he demanded and obtained justice. In 1780 he again represented that county; and was one of the independent members who net at the St. Alban's tavern with a view of reconciling Mr. Pitt, then minister, with Mr. Fox and the Duke of Portland, the latter being at that period in opposition, and by an union of parties forming what was termed at that day a "broad bottomed administration." It is almost unnecessary to add, that their labours proved unsuccessful.

At the general election in 1786 he was chosen for Stirlingshire, so that he sat during a large portion of three following parliaments.

Previously to this he married a country woman of his own; Jane, daughter and sole heiress of William Mercer, of Aldie in the county of Perth, Esq. who died in 1789: and by which lady he has a daughter, the Honourable Margaret Mercer Elphinstone, on whom his English and Irish baronies are entailed, and who also possesses a very large fortune in right of her mother.

During the colonial war, Captain Elphinstone served in America, and was present at the attack of Mudisland and Charlestown. Vice Admiral Arbuthnot, having shifted his flag from the Europa of sixty-four guns to the Roebuck of forty-four, proceeded from.

* April 9, 1787.