OF THE LATE JOHN CLERK, ESQ. OF ELDIN. 129 



tion, he would often break out in praise of the Naval Tactics, 

 exclaiming with great earnestness, " John Clerk of Eldin for 

 " ever. 



Generosity and candour seemed to have been such consti- 

 tuent elements in the mind of this gallant Admiral, that they 

 were among the parts which longest resisted the influence of 

 decay. 



Soon after the victory obtained by Lord Rodney, the Ame- 

 rican war was brought to a conclusion, and the world enjoyed 

 some years of repose. The French Revolution disturbed the 

 tranquillity of Europe ; Britain was quickly involved in a war 

 more formidable than that in which the principles of Mr 

 Clerk's system was first essayed ; one where it was yet to be 

 more severely tried, and was yet to render more important 

 services to the country. 



We have seen, that Lord Rodney had been so convinced by 

 the first explanation he received of Mr Clerk's system, that 

 he declared, that should he meet the French fleet " he would 

 " try his way." — On Lord Howe, the effect of the first per- 

 usal of the same work was quite different, though the result in 

 the end was entirely the same. A copy of the first edition of 

 the Naval Tactics was sent to his Lordship, who, after read- 

 ing it, expressed himself as highly pleased with the ingenuity 

 of the book, and as greatly struck with the circumstance of the 

 author being a landsman ; but he nevertheless desired General 

 Clerk to inform his ingenious kinsman, that he would adhere 

 to the old system if ever he had an opportunity of engaging 

 the French fleet. To this Mr Clerk replied, through the 

 same channel, that if his Lordship did so he would infallibly 

 be beaten. His Lordship, however, when it came to the trial, 

 did not adhere to the old system, but, concentrating his force, 

 directed it against one point, precisely On the principles of the 



vol. ix. p. i. r Naval 



