Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v2p2.djvu/488

 peerage. His patent of nobility passed the Great Seal, on the 30th Oct. 1797.

Numberless are the instances of Lord Duncan’s greatness of mind, which shone forth in an uncommon degree during the general mutiny that took place the second year after his appointment to the chief command of the North Sea fleet. At that alarming epoch, being deserted by the rest of his ships, he blockaded the Dutch fleet for many weeks, amidst the most tempestuous weather, with only the Venerable 74, and Adamant of 50 guns, anchoring whenever it was possible in the narrow channel leading out of the Texel; by his firmness and sage advice, prevented the contagion from spreading among their crews; and, by his masterly manoeuvres, deterred Admiral de Winter from sailing to the assistance of the rebellious forces in our sister kingdom. On one occasion, when the enemy shewed a disposition to force the passage, he desired the Master of the Venerable to sound, and let him know what depth of water there was; and on being told, he coolly observed, that “should the ship be sunk, his flag would still be seen flying!” This proves what his resolution was; and it was his conduct at this dread period which caused the peers of Great Britain to pay him the compliment they did, by ordering that all the Lords should be summoned to attend the House on the occasion of returning him thanks: “a distinction,” as stated by the Lord Chancellor when addressing the noble Admiral, “unprecedented, but called for by the. general admiration his conduct had inspired.”

We cannot on the present occasion omit to present our readers with a copy of the speech which Admiral Duncan is said to have made to the Venerable’s crew, June 3d, 1797; bearing, as it does, every mark of authenticity in its unaffected piety, its ardent patriotism, its indignant grief, and its simple yet impressive eloquence, so admirably adapted to the hearts and understandings of its auditors.

“My lads,– I once more call you together, with a sorrowful heart, occasioned by what I have lately seen – the disaffection of the fleets: I call it disaffection, for the crews have no grievances. To be deserted by my fleet, in the face of an enemy, is a disgrace which I believe never before happened to a British Admiral; nor could I have supposed it 