on Naval Tactics, 165 



performed by any directions received from Mr Clerk, or his 

 writings. 



This proposition is, we think, made out incontrovertibly by 

 the reasoning of Sir Howard Douglas, on documents, lx)th pub- 

 lic and private, in a manner as satisfactory and conclusive as 

 could be desired. 



That the late Mr Clerk was a man of talents and ingenuity 

 cannot be doubted, and that his Essay on Naval Tactics is a 

 remarkable production for a landsman, who had never been at 

 sea to witness nautical manoeuvres, is also true ; but that it is 

 dangerous, from the errors it contains, must, in like manner, be 

 admitted ; and that his method of breaking the line from the 

 leeward is one of those which ought instantly to be corrected, 

 since it has been recently so much applauded by unskilful tac- 

 ticians. The family of Clerk has been distinguished for the ta- 

 lents which many of its members possessed. They reckoned 

 among their personal friends such men as the late Professor 

 Playfair, the Advocate who wrote the last paper in the Edin- 

 burgh Review in favour of Clerk's claims, &c., and these men 

 would not, knowingly, we presume, deprive an officer of distin- 

 guished talents of the honours due to his merit ; but that they 

 have been mistaken, we, from a perusal of the Naval Evolutions 

 of our author, must unhesitatingly admit. But, -whMe justice is 

 done to the family of Clerk, irijustice to that of Douglas must 

 not be permitted. This name has been long associated with the 

 chivalrous deeds of our countrymen, and to rival the fame of 

 their ancestors is an honourable ambition in those still bearing it 

 in the present age. Sir Howard Douglas has every motive to 

 vindicate the claims of his father, — filial affection, a consciousness 

 of the justice of his cause, and a desire to clear from all doubt 

 or suspicion the fame his late father had acquired, and to vindi- 

 cate a title to the honours which his father formerly received, 

 and are now inherited by himself. This has, undoubtedly, in 

 our opinion, been done most triumphantly. Sir Howard Dou- 

 glas has not contented himself with merely vindicating his fa- 

 ther's claims to the grand manoeuvre which crowned with suc- 

 cess the glorious 12th of April, — he has done more, — he has 

 shown that Clerk has not even the merit of first suggesting the 

 manoeuvre of breaking the line, — that it had been actually put 



