who compile what they call " Lives," from such materials as chance may throw in their way. It is true, that the public events in the life of a hero like Lord Nelson, are open to every eye; and these must, of course, be adopted as the basis of every narration that assumes the title of his history. But curiosity is not satisfied with the official accounts of eminent public charac ters: it delights in obtaining information, as to the private and personal deportment of those, by whom its attention has been eited. Hence, though it may gaze with the multitude, yet it is not satisfied with this vague admiration. Though it may know already as much as is known by all the world, still it solicits a more intimate acquaintance; is alive to every report, which assumes the character of authenticity; and to every profession of ability to gratify its inquisitive desires. There is, we must acknowledge, something extremely pleasing, in being able to trace the career of talent from its first glimmering to its meridian day; in watching the gradual irradiations which distinguish and mark its character; and applauding the ultimate splendour of its atchievements. It is a natural tribute to merit, which departed merit especially may demand. We have already communicated to our readers the general outlines of Lord Nelson's professional character; which, of course, form a considerable portion of the work before us. But Mr. Charnock's volume is further recommended by including a number of his Lordship letters, written on various occasions; from which we learn many of the confidential sentiments and opinions, and much of the personal history, of this deservedly celebrated officer. These letters were addressed to his friend Captain Locker, Lieutenant-Governor of Greenwich Hospital: and are dated from 1777, to 1799. The public expect a work of great interest in that collection of his Lordship's papers, which is proposed by his family, as a monument to his memory: and if prudence may permit the publication of some which we might name, that expectation will be amply gratified. We have a specimen of the noble writer's perspicuity and candour, in the account of his taking two Spanish ships of the line, in the action off Cape St. Vincent, February 14, 1797, given by Mr. Charnock, in p. 75. This we would willingly quote; but we confess that the history of the same event as told by a British tar, is, in our estimation, a still greater curiosity. The style of this literary journalist is as firm as heart of oak itself. Not an unnecessary sentence degrades the "Log-book of his Majesty's ship, Captain, Commodore Nelson. We are not unwilling that this narration should be placed by the side of certain foreign compositions; and let the world judge of their merits! "Passing "Passing between the Diadem and Excellent, the Captain was immediately engaged by the Santissima Trinidada, a four decked ship, and two other three-deckers, and several two-deckers; so that at one time we were engaged by nine line of battle ships, in which we were most nobly supported by Captain Troubridge, of the Culloden. The Spanish admiral desisted from his attempt of joining his other division, and hauled to the wind on the larboard tack. About two P. M. the Culloden having got between us and the enemy, we ceased firing about 10 minutes, till we got a-head of her, and became engaged as before. Employed the interval in replenishing our shot and repairing our rigging. About half past two, our sails and rigging being almost cut to pieces, the Blenheim passed between us and the enemy. Employed as before, while our fire ceased; at three we came to engage several of the enemy's line, particularly the San Josef and San Nicholas. Saw a Spanish two-decker strike to the Excellent. Soon after we shot away the mizen-mast of the San Josef, which caused her to fall on board the San Nicholas to wind-ward. At half past three the Excellent passed us to wind-ward, engaging the San Josef within pistol shot as she passed by; on which she and the San Nicholas fell on board of each other. The San Josef having lost her mizen-mast, the Captain, whose fore-top-mast was at this time shot away, immediately luffed along-side, prepared for boarding, and, having engaged very sharply for a few minutes, in which we had fifteen men killed and wounded, the Commodore ordered the ship to be laid on board; when himself, Lieutenants Berry, Noble, and Pearson, and Messrs. Samwell, Withers, and Williams, midshipmen, at the head of the boarders and troops, entered on board the San Nicholas, on the larboard quarter, and from her boarded the San Josef, and hauled down the colours at five minutes before four o'clock. The latter mounting one hundred and twelve guns, Rear-admiral Winthuysen, and the former of eighty-four guns, Commodore Gerraldelino. They were both mortally wounded, and died soon after the action ceased. pp. 80-82. The Letters are comprized in an Appendix. They contain an amusing account, by Captain Nelson, of his journey in France, in 1783, and we smile at an instance of his truly British Spirit, which breaks out in one, written from St. Omer's. "Here are two Navy Captains at this place, but we do not visit; they are very fine gentlemen with epaulets: you may suppose I hold them a little cheap for putting on any part of a Frenchman's uniform." With a different kind of smile we peruse our Hero's account of his deficiency-in horsemanship. We rejoice in his providential escape: and so may his country; to which his uncommon merit and services must have been unknown, had the "thousand to one" taken place. "I was riding a blackguard horse that ran away with me at Common, carried me round all the works into Portsmouth, by the London gates, through the town out at the gate that leads to Common, where there was a waggon in the road, which is so very narrow that a horse could barely pass. To save my legs, and perhaps my life, I was obliged to throw throw myself from the horse, which I did with great agility: but uns luckily upon the hard stones, which has hurt my back and my leg, but done no other mischief. It was a thousand to one that I had not been killed. To crown all, a young girl was with me; her horse ran away as well as mine; but most fortunately a gallant young man seized the horse's bridle a moment before I dismounted, and saved her from the destruction she could not have avoided." Appendix, p. 24. The part taken by Captain Nelson, in enforcing the principles of the navigation act, sets his character, for decision and correctness of judgement, in a very conspicuous point of view. As the subject is not wholly irrelevant to the present situation of our country, we shall extract his own account of these affairs, dated March 5, 1786, off Martinico. "It was near the hurricane months when I arrived in this country, consequently nothing could be done till they were over in November, when the squadron arrived at Barbadoes, and the ships were to be sent to the different islands, with orders only to examine the anchorages, and whether there was wood and water. This did not appear to me the intent of placing men of war in peaceable times, therefore I asked Collingwood to go with me (for his sentiments and mine were exactly similar) to- ; I then asked him if we were not to attend to the commerce of our country, and to take care that the British trade was kept in those channels that the navigation laws pointed out. He answered, he had no orders, nor had the Admiralty sent him any Acts of Parliament. I told him it was very odd, for every captain of a man of war was furnished with the statutes of the Admiralty, in which the Navigation Act was included, which act was directed to admirals, captains, &c. to see it carried into execution. He said he had never seen the book; but having produced and read the laws to him, he seemed convinced that men of war were sent abroad for some other purpose, than to be made a show of. (The rebel Americans at this time filled our ports.) then gave orders to all the squadron to see the Navigation Act carried into execution. When I went to my station at St. Kitts, I turned away all the rebels, not choosing to seize them at that time, as it would have appeared a trap laid for them. In December, to my astonishment, down comes an order from him, telling us he had received good advice, and requiring us not to prevent the Americans from coming in, and having free egress and regress, if the Governor chose to allow them; he enclosed at the same time a copy of the orders he sent to the governors and presidents of the islands.and others began by sending letters not far distant from orders, that they should admit them in such and such situations, &c. telling me had left it to them, but they thought it right to let me know it. Mr. I soon trimmed up and silenced. -'s was a more delicate business; I must either disobey my orders, or disobey acts of parliament which —was disobeying. I determined upon the former, trusting to the uprightness of my intention, and believing that my country would not allow me to be ruined; for protecting her commerce. I sent toexpatiated on the navigation laws to the best of my ability; told him I was certain some person had given him advice, which he would be sorry for having taken, against the positive directions of acts of parlia ment ment; and I was certain he had too much regard for the commerce of Great Britain, to suffer our worst enemy to take it from us; and that too at a time when Great Britain was straining every nerve to suppress illegal trade at home, which only affected her revenue; that I hoped we should not be singular in allowing a much more ruinous traffic to be carried on under the king's flag; I added, in short, that I should decline obeying his orders, till I had an opportunity of seeing and talking to him, at the same time making him an apology. At first he was going to send a captain to supersede me; but having mentioned the matter to his captain, the latter said he believed all the squadron thought he had sent illegal orders, and therefore did not know how far I was obliged to obey them; this being their sentiments, he could not try me here, and now he finds I am all right, and thanks me for having set him right. I told the custom-house people I should, after such a day, seize all foreigners I should find in our islands, and keep them out to the utmost of my power till that time; they fancied I could not seize without a deputation, and therefore disregarded my threats. In May last I seized the first; I had the governor, the officers of the customs, all the planters upon me; subscriptions were soon filled to prosecute me; and the admiral stood neuter, although his flag was then in the roads. Before the first vessel was tried, I had seized four others, and having ordered the masters on board to examine them, and sent marines on board the vessels, not allowing some of them to go on shore, I had suits taken out against me, and damages laid at the enormous sum of 40,0001. sterling. When the trial came on, I was protected by the judge for the day; but the marshal was desired to arrest me, and the merchants promised to indemnify him for the act; but the judge having declared he would send him to prison if he dared to do it, he desisted. 1 fortunately attached myself to an honest lawyer, and don't let me forget, the president of Nevis offered the court to become my bail for 10,000l. if I chose to suffer the arrest. He told them I had done my duty, and although he suffered more in proportion than any of them, he could not blame me. At last, after a trial of two days, we carried our cause, and the vessels were condemned. I was a close prisoner on board for eight weeks, for had I been taken, I most assuredly should have been cast for the whole sum. I had nothing left but to send a memorial to the king, and he was good enough to order me to be defended at his expense, and sent orders to Mr. Shirley to afford me every assistance in the execution of my duty." Appendix, pp. 32—35. We find this active officer, in the year 1796, employed in the Mediterranean; where he had ample opportunities of observing the conduct of the invading French, and of the unresisting Italians. His sentiments are perfectly just, and highly in character. "ITALY HAS BEEN LOST BY THE FEARS OF ITS PRINCES; HAD THEY EXPENDED HALF THE MONEY TO PRESERVE THEIR TERRITORIES, WHICH THEY HAVE PAID THE FRENCH FOR ENTERING THEM, THEIR COUNTRIES WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY: INSTEAD OF BEING FILLED WITH PRESENT MISERY, AND DIABOLICAL NOTIONS OF GOVERN MENT." Ib. p. 66. VOL. II. P Art. IX. Art. IX. Dr. Holmes's Vetus Testamentum Græcum cum variis Lectionibus, continued from page 90. HAVING given in our preceding Number, a general History of the Greek Version of the Septuagint, and thus supplied what we deem a serious defect in the work before us; we now proceed to take a general view of the Preface, which, though perfectly unsatisfactory as far as the history of this ancient version is concerned, is yet of considerable importance with regard to the present edition. The preface is divided into four chapters; the first of which is subdivided into eleven sections, under the following heads; these we shall give in the Doctor's words, Sect. I. De Textu Versionis Septuagintaviralis circa ortum Christian ismi. Sect. II. De Emendatione Versionis Alexandrinæ, tunc temporis insti tuta. Sect. III. De Utroque Origenis quoad Correctionem Versionis Alexandrinæ instituto. Sect. IV. De Editione Tavo post Thy xo et de textu in iis Græco. Sect. VI. De Obelo Hexaplari, Sect. VII. De Asterisco Hexaplari. Prima, in Tetraplis Origenis. Secunda, in Hexaplis Origenis, Sect. VIII. De Editione Tavo post TY XO Tertia, per Lucianum, et de Exemplari quo usus est Editor. Sect. IX. Quod Lucianus Editionem suam ad Normam Columnæ Hexaplaris conformaverit. Sect. X. De Editione rvb post Tv xov Quarta, per Hesychium. Sect. XI. De fontibus textus Septuagintaviralis in Codicibus Pentateuchi hodiernis.' The first Section, containing general remarks on the state of the Greek text, at the commencement of the Christian Æra, and the sources whence its corruptions originated, is worthy of particular regard; and, did our limits permit, might be extracted as a favourable specimen of the author's Latmity and best manner. The second chapter is employed in describing the MSS. written in uncial characters, which have furnished the most important of the various readings with which this volume is enriched, though they are here cited particularly in reference to the book of Genesis. At the head of these, as the most valuable, because the most ancient and correct, is placed the Codex CoTTONIANUS: which formerly contained the Book of Genesis, but was all consumed, except a few leaves, in 1723, when the Cotton Library was unfortunately set on fire. This loss would have been irreparable, had not an extract of its various readings, made by Gale, 3 |