398 
fon of a clergymain now living, and nephew to 
an ofacer of the fame name, who fell when 
commanding the Bideford frigate, in an en- 
gagement off the coaft of Portugal. Capt. 
Skinner, the fubjeét of this fketch, entered 
early in life, into the fea-fervice. In the 
year 1790 he was appointed lieutenant of the 
Cygnet floop, then ferving in the weit In- 
dies. On the commencement of hoftilities 
his zeal prompted him to feek for active fer- 
vice. In November, 1794, he was appoint- 
ed by Sir John Jervis, to the command of the 
“Experiment, on the Leeward Ifland ftation. 
Admiral Caldwell, afterwards removed Capt. 
Skynner into the Zebrafloop. Inthe month 
of March, the Zebra was ordered to the pro- 
teétion of the ifland of St. Wincent, which 
was at that tinte in the moft imminent dan- 
-ger, from the fuccefsful irruption of the 
Charaibs. On his arrival off that ifland, 
Capt. Skynner found the enemy in poffeffion 
of the ftrong po on Dorfetfhire hill, which 
was almof within gun-fhot of the principal 
town. Undaunted, however, by any con- 
fiderations of perfonal- fafety, alive only to 
the-claims of his country and a fenfe of his 
own honour, Capt. Skynner nobly volunteer- 
ed his fervices to Governor Seton upon this 
occafion. The offer was accepted; and the 
Captain proceeded at midnight with the prin- 
cipal part of the crew of the Zebra, accom-’ 
panied by the militia of the ifland and a few 
regular troops. After an anxious march of 
two hours, through the moft dificuit and 
broken parts of the hill, Capt. Skynner and 
his little troop reached the enemy’s camp. 
The Charaibs were furprifed. 
fli@ enfued, which lafted near an hour. 
‘The chief and a great proportion of his follow. 
ers fell inthe action. The reft were totally 
routed and difperfed. It is well known by 
thofe in any degree conneéted with the ifland 
that to the fuccefs of this exploit the colony _ 
is at the prefent moment indepted for its ex- 
iftence. The Legiflature of the iland had 
recently voted him a fward; and it was their 
intention to have interceded with the go- 
vernment of this country te grant him, asa 
more fubftantial recompence for his fervices, 
aconfiderable tra€tof the forfeited Charaib 
lands. Before the intention could be carried 
into execution, death fnatched him from his 
honours, his country and his friends. Inthe 
month of April, 1799, Earl Spencer appoint- 
ed Capt.»Skynner to command La Lutine, a 
q2-gun frigate, completely manned and e- 
quipped. The only material fervice in which 
he was engaged in this fhip was under Ad- 
miral Mitchell in the Zuider Zea, the Lu- 
tine forming a partof that Britifh force which 
awed the Dutch fleet into a furrender. In 
Otober following, the Lutine was ordered 
to carry fpecie, to a large amount, for the 
relief of the Hamburgh merchants. She 
Marriages and Deaths in and near London. 
A fevere con- . 
[May 1, 
failed on the morning of the oth of that 
month from Yarmovthy and (as was related 
by the only furvivor of “her crew) was, on 
the evening of the fame day, completely 
wrecked on a fhoal near the Fly paflage on 
the coaft of Holland. Thus fatally termi- 
nated the career of aman, of whom itis but 
reafonable to predi€t that, had he lived, he 
would have become one of the brighteft or- 
naments of the naval fervice. . 
Additional Particulars relatiwe to the late 
Dr.. Warton, whofe death was mentioned 
in the Wiltfrire news in our laff, page 309- 
—The Rev. Dr. Jofeph Warton, re€tor of 
Wickham in Hampfhire, and prebendary of ~ 
Winchefter, was, during a long courfe of 
years, fucceflively under and upper-mafter of 
Winchefter college. His publications aré 
few: a {mall colle&tion of poems, without a 
name, was the firft of them, and contained 
the Ode to Fancy, which has been fo much 
and fo defervedly admired. They wereall of 
them afterwards printed in Dodfley’s collec- 
tion. He was aifo, a confiderable “contribu- 
tor to the Adwenturer, publithed by Dr, 
Hawkefworth ; and all the papers which con- 
tain criticifms on Shakefpedre, were written 
by him and his brother, Dr. Tho. Warton, a 
name dear to the literature of our country. 
The firft volume of his Effay on the Life and 
Writings. of Pope was publifhed, and had 
pafied through feveral editions: an interval 
of between twenty and thirty years had 
elapfed, before he gave a fecond volume of 
that elegant and inftructive work to the 
world. He had not only meditated, but had 
colle@ted materials for a literary hiftory of the 
age of Leo tne Tenth 5 and propofals were 
aGtually in civeulation for a work of that 
kind; but it is probable, that the duties of 
his ftation did not leave him the neceffary 
eifure for an undertaking which required 
years of -feclufion and independence. His 
laft and late work,, which he undertook for 
the bookfellers ata very advanced age, was 
an edition of Pope’s Works, that has not al- 
together fatisfied the public expeCtation. He 
was cheatful in his temper, convivial in his 
difpofition, of an elegant tafte and lively im- 
agination, with a Jarge portion of fcholarfhip, 
and a very general knowledge of the Belles 
Lettres of Europe; it may be prefumed, that 
Dr. Warton pofleffed, beyond moft men, the 
power of enlivening Claffical Society. He 
was the intimate friend of Dr. Johnfon; was 
feen at the parties of Mrs. Montague, as well 
as at the table of Str Jofhua Reynolds, and 
was ap original member of the Literary Club. 
He poflefled a liberal mind, a generous difpo- 
fition, and a benevolent heart. He was not 
only admired for his talents and his know- 
ledge, but was beloved for thofe qualities 
which are the beft gifts of this imperfeét 
{tate. tae 
PROVINCIAL | 
