130 FRAGMENT OF AN INTENDED ACCOUNT 



Naval Tactics. His change of opinion may have arisen from 

 the practical commentary by which Lord Rodnev had illustra- 

 ted the principles of that work ; and perhaps, too, a second 

 perusal of the book itself had materially contributed to this 

 effect. That Lord Howe really consulted it a second time, 

 there is good reason to believe. When he commanded the 

 Channel fleet in 1793, Mr James Clerk, the youngest son of 

 the author of the Naval Tactics, a young man of great pro- 

 mise, who, had he lived, would have done honour to the pro- 

 fession on which his father had bestowed so valuable a gift, 

 served as a midshipman on board the Admiral's ship the 

 Queen Charlotte. He possessed a copy of the second edition 

 of his father's book, which was borrowed by Captain Chri- 

 stian, no doubt for the Admiral's use. Thus much is certain, 

 that the action of the 1st of June 1794, was, in its manage- 

 ment, quite conformable to Mr Clerk's system, and its suc- 

 cess entirely owing to the manoeuvre of breaking the line. 



Lord Howe was also the first who introduced into the sig- 

 nal book signals directed to the object of cutting off the rear, 



of bringing the whole force to bear on one point, — break- 



\x\<y the line, &c. Indeed, if his Lordship's conduct had been 

 contrary to the principles of the Naval Tactics, the words of 

 his declaration, that he would still adhere to the old method, 

 is a decided testimony in favour of one of the points which I 

 think it most material to establish. About the utility of the 

 method, after Lord Rodney's action, no doubt could be enter- 

 tained. As to its novelty, and its originality, if any difference 

 of opinion could arise, it is completely answered by Lord 

 Howe's message delivered to General Clerk, as it is a proof 

 that an officer of his Lordship's great skill and experience, 

 considered this manoeuvre as new, as opposed to the ordinary 

 practice, and as a thing hitherto unknown. The novelty of 



the 



