Mr. Warren stood a candidate for the borough of Mar low, and after saveral sharp contests represented that place twice in parliament. But at the commencement of the colonial war, previously to which he had become a baronet,* his ancient passion blazed forth; anew, and he once more resumed the uniform and profession of a naval officer. Before his embarkation on board the Venus, Sir John Warren performed a singular and romantic action, that betokened a munificence truly princely, for he repaired to the Fleet and King's-bench prisons, and actually released. all the officers of the navy detained at both, out of his own private fortune.

By this time Lord Howe, with a powerful squadron, was stationed on the shores of America, partly for the purpose of blockading the ports of the present United States, (then considered, in parliamentary language, as rebellious colonies) and partly in order to intercept any succour that might be sent from France to their assistance. It was under that gallant veteran, to whom he was particularly recommended, that Sir John served during a very critical period, and he was patronized by this able and discerning nobleman throughout the remainder of his life. While on this station he was made a lieutenant, and acted in that capacity on board the Nonsuch, when the Count. D'Estaing, with a powerful and well-appointed squadron, made his appearance in those seas. The French admiral, however, had the good fortune to escape:

May 26, 1775.

+ Veteris vestigia flammæ.

B 4

upon

upon this occasion, a circumstance that tended not a little to the emancipation of the colonies, where two of our most gallant generals were destined to become prisoners in succession; but he himself was fated soon after to expiate his presumption, during an engagement in which the intrepidity of Rodney, and the genius of England, obtained the ascendant.

After a two years spell on the American coast, in which he, for the first time, witnessed what may be termed real service, our young lieutenant returned to Europe upon promotion; and accordingly, at the end of a few months residence on board the Victory, then commanded by Sir Charles Hardy, he was ap pointed master and commander, in which station he was nominated to a sloop of war,* recently taken from the enemy. About twelve months after this he was made post, into the Ariadne, of twenty guns, and he soon obtained L'Aigle, a forty-four gun ship, and the Winchelsea frigate in succession.

Sir John now deemed it a proper time to settle in life, and accordingly married one of the daughters nad co-heiresses of the late General Clavering, K. B. by Lady Diana West, third daughter of the first Earl Delaware. Notwithstanding his union with an ami, able woman, and the prospect of a family, Captain Sir John Borlase Warren, instead of reclining upon the "lap of ease," determined to obtain every possible information of which the peace would allow, and every advantage that this profession was susceptible of. He accordingly accompanied the present Admirał

* The Helena,

Berkley,

Berkley, in a squadron fitted out expressly for the pur poses of evolution, under Vice-admiral Gower. His official station in the household of Prince William Henry, since created Duke of Clarence, in some measure rendered this not only a gratification but a duty, as he accompanied his Royal Highness on board the Valiant, of seventy-four guns.

The events of the French revolution, and the wars arising out of it, in which England took part, called forth all the energies of this country, and brought all the talents of its children into action. During the preceding interval of tranquillity, a number of the brave officers, who distinguished themselves during the contest that sprung out of the independence of America, had dropped off, and talents and ability of every kind were now sought for, and encouraged. Captain Sir J. B. Warren was one of the first employed after the commencement of hostilities, and he accordingly hoisted his pennant on board a frigate of thirty-six guns, clean, fit for service, and just fitted out, so as not only to present the hopes of distinguishing, but also of enriching himself, by means of the spoils won from the enemy.

Notwithstanding these promising appearances, the Flora was occupied during the whole of the year in convoying our own trade, so that her commander had not an opportunity of taking a single prize, or acquiring reputation in any manner whatsoever, until he was appointed to the command of a flying squa dron, consisting of four frigates and a sloop of war,*

The Flora, Crefcent, La Nymph, Druid, and Fury sloop.

with which as commodore he intercepted the trade, annoyed the cruizers, and occasionally engaged the batteries of the enemy, contriving to keep the whole coast in the neighbourhood of Havre de Grace, Granville, Cherburgh, St. Maloes, Arranches, and Doll, in a continual state of alarm. Another grand object was also effected at the same time: this was the encouragement given to the royalists, then exceedingly powerful and numerous, who were occasionally supplied with arms and ammunition by our ships of war. It was the opinion of all the naval men employed upon this occasion, that if the French princes had put themselves at the head of the insurgents, and been powerfully supported by the ministry of that day, something advantageous might have been effected: nor ought it to be omitted; that an army of English, Hessians, and emigrants, was suffered, at this critical period, to remain in the most astonishing state of inactivity during many months in the Isle of Wight, and never called into action until the season for success had elapsed.

Soon after his return (in the beginning of April 1794), Sir John was again detached with a small squadron of five frigates, in which two only of the former division (the Flora, the commodore's own ship, and La Nymphe, Captain G. Murray) were included. While proceeding to his former station, he fell in with four sail of the enemy,* under a commo1. L Engageante, of 34 eighteen pounders four carronades, and 300 men, commanded by Citizen Desgarceaux, chef d'escadre ; 2. La Pomone, 44 guns; 3. La Resolue, 36 eighteen pounders, and 320 men;" 4. La Babet, 22 nine pounders, and 200 men.

dore,

dore, fresh from port, having left Concale bay on the preceding evening. The two squadrons crossed each other on opposite tacks, and the enemy, as usual, began the action at a considerable distance; but as the wind happened luckily to change two points in his favour, the English commander determined to obtain the weather-gage of the enemy, and accordingly threw out a signal for the ships under his command to engage as they came up, on purpose to ensure a close and decisive action. After a contest of upwards of three hours, during which the French commodore was killed, two of the enemy's vessels (La Pomone and La Babet) were captured. In consequence of the damage experienced by the Flora, she was unable to continue the chace; but the other frigates, were sent in pursuit, and Sir Richard Strahan at length found means to take L'Engageante, on board of which was a distinguishing flag, to mark the superior rank of the commander.

Towards the latter end of the same summer, the commodore was dispatched with a stronger* squa dron than heretofore, to his former cruising ground, and drove La Felicité, of forty guns, ashore on the Penmark rocks, while he pursued two corvettes, or sloops of war, under refuge of three batteries near the Gamelle rocks, and fought them in that position, until their masts fell overboard, on which they were abandoned by their respective crews.

4.

The English cabinet, on the representation of one

1. The Flora; 2. the Pomona; 3. the Santa Margaritta; the Diana the Arethusa; and 6. the Artois.

of