18671 THE NAVAL HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN, COMMENCING WITH THE EARLIEST PERIOD OF HISTORY, AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE ADMIRALS AND OTHER NAVAL OFFICERS ILLUSTRATED WITH PORTRAITS, MAPS, PLANS OF IMPORTANT Dedicated, by Permission, to His Royal Highness the IN EIGHT VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: PRINTED FOR BALDWYN AND CO. BIGG, BOHTE, BUMPUS, ΤΟ HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE REGENT. SIR, THE Patronage which your RoYAL HIGHNESS has deigned to grant the proprietor of this Work, and of which he could have no other expectations than what resulted from your ROYAL HIGHNESS's beneficence, demands that he should distinctly explain the grounds upon which he has ventured to solicit the Public Support, under the sanction of your ROYAL HIGHNESS's Name, to a new and much enlarged edition of Dr. Campbell's Naval History and Lives of the British Admirals. It is generally allowed that our safety as a people depends chiefly, if not entirely, on the Navy, which principle may be admitted without derogating, in the smallest degree, from the high reputation acquired by the Army, in all its gradations, from the General Officer down to the ranks, Almost every Prince who has swayed the sceptre of these realms, and who has been called to resist the aggressions of a foreign power, has regarded it as a prime duty not only to provide for the defence of his crown and country, by an adequate Navy, but to encourage such a spirit in the people as will induce, at all times, a sufficient portion or them to devote their lives to Naval Duties, Dr. Campbell's Work, it is asserted upon the most unquestionable authority, has been eminently useful in exciting an ardent spirit in our British Youth, to distinguish themselves by deeds of valour, as protectors of their coun |