and 90 men and boys. The town offered to surrender; but Capt. Roddam told the inhabitants, that he did not come to aggrandize himself and crew by distressing harmless individuals; but only such as armed against Great Britain. On capt. Roddam's return to the squadron, he was met at entering the port by Admiral Warren, who taking him in his arms, thanked him most warmly for the very important service he had rendered his country, with which, and his answer to the inhabitants, he was so pleased, that his statement of the affair to the Lords of the Admiralty obtained Captain Roddam the command of the Greyhound frigate, of 24 guns, with the rank of Post Captain,

Lieut. Roddam, as first watch, received Capt. Wyndham's commands to put the ship about at twelve o'clock, which he unsuccessfully attempted three times, although there was no apparent obstacle; and when Lieut. Hamilton went upon deck to relieve the watch, Roddam told him that witchcraft must have prevented the ship from going about; and bidding Hamilton go forward, in his presence, he again attempted it, when, the ship missed stays a fourth time; a fortunate circumstance, as was proved by the event; for so much time was thus occupied that, the day breaking, a sail was perceived a head; which was chased, and taken. She proved to be a Spanish ship of about £100,000 value; which would not have been seen but July 7, 1747, on his return to England in for this accident. July 14, 1744, young the Viper, being off Portsmouth, and known Roddam was made second lieutenant of the to its inhabitants only by the account of his same ship, Captain Henry Harrison then conduct in Sidera bay, they solicited Capcommander, and July 14, 1766, he was pro- tain Roddam to become their representative moted to the command of his Majesty's sloop in Parliament. This honour he respectfully Viper. About this time Adin. Anson went to refused, as well as many similar offers from Portsmouth to command the western squadron, boroughs, at various times. Captain Rodand expressing a strong wish to all the captains dam served in the Greyhound frigate in Hol to stop a fleet at that time on the point of land under Commodore Mitchel; he was sailing from Plymouth, they urged the im- afterwards ordered to join Admiral Watson at practicability of the undertaking in a high Louisburgh, and was by him stationed three south-west wind. Mr. Roddam, the young-years at New York. He returned to England est captain, undertook to try what was possible in 1751, and January 30, 1753, was comthough his sloop being just off the stocks, was missioned to the Bristol guardship, of 50 every way incomplete. He performed the Admi- guns, at Plymouth, where he served about a ral's wish with a readiness and alacrity, which year; and in 1755 he was appointed to the shewed that quickness and steadiness united Greenwich, also 50 guns: sailed to the West may effect what to either separately is Indies, and was on the Jamaica station till impossible. Lord Anson immediately wrote 1757. Cruizing off Hispaniola, March 16, to the Lords of the Admiralty for leave to early in the morning plying off cape Cabroan, take Captain Roddam under his command. the Greenwich fell in with five French line In the course of this year Admiral Sir Peter of battle ships, two frigates and a store-ship, Warren commanding the western squadron, which the officers and crew of the Greenwich received intelligence from a Bristol privateer asserted were merchantmen convoyed by two of more than thirty vessels lying in Sidera frigates; Captain Roddam saw otherwise; bay, near Cape Ortugal, laden with naval and, though late, convinced his ship's comstores. Sir Peter inquired of the privateer's pany of their mistake. This squadron, Captain, whether he could carry in any of his being to windward, sent a frigate majesty's ships? He replied in the negative. reconnoitre; which Captain Roddam perThe Admiral then asked, if any battery shel- ceiving, and finding he had no chance of tered them? Being answered two, and that escaping, used every manœuvre to draw her the entrance was very narrow, he determined towards the Greenwich; he had prepared men to relinquish the attempt. Capt. Harrison, to board her, with intention of sending her of the Monmouth, being present, recom- immediately to Admiral Townshend, at Jamended the Admiral to send the Viper, which maica, with intelligence of the enemy; bat Roddam commanded, adding, "He would the frigate, aware of the character of the answer for that young man's effecting all that Greenwich, by great exertion sheltered herself human nature could perform." Captain Rod-amidst the French squadron. The firing be dam received his orders, to sail in the evening, and was off the first battery next morning, which he carried, and destroyed all the guns, though defended by 500 men, and took a privateer then coming out: he proceeded into the bay, burnt more than thirty sail of vessels, and on the third day rejoined his Admiral, with three or four prizes, not being able to man more from his little sloop of 14 guns,

to

gan at nine o'clock, and till nine at night the Greenwich was incessantly attacked by one or other of the fleet, and at length -became quite unmanageable, which compelled Capt. Roddam, after advising with his of◄ ficers, to cause his colours to be struck.

The French ship, l'Eveillé, presently hailed Captain Roddam to hoist out a boat and go on board her; which he repeatedly refused to

do, and finding his interpreter had said that the Captain had been compelled to carry every thing being cut away, they could not his sword in his own boat to the frigate; he get a boat out," instead of saying, "Captain was resolved that such a disgrace should not Roddam would not," he himself hailed, and happen to him; for his sword, if so required, enquiring if any one on board l'Eveillé spoke should only have been delivered through the English he was answered by a person whom body of the person demanding it in a manner he knew, a Mr. Giddy, a Danish officer, to so degrading. His ship and her crew were whom Captain Roddani repeated his resolution taken to Hispaniola: and after about two that he would not go on board the French- months the company was embarked for Jaman, in his own boat, but niust be sent for; maica, where Captain Roddam was tried by if this were not complied with, he would a court martial. When the court presenthoist the British colours immediately, and ed the sentence to Admiral Coates, com defend his ship as long as she could swim. mander in chief, he complimented CapThe French lieutenant then went on board tain Roddam, by giving him the minutes of the Greenwich, and found the men all at their the court, with a request that he should print quarters, with lighted matches in their hands, them, as reflecting great credit on the service, and the greatest order prevailing throughout and the British flag. It was, accordingly, the ship (of which, under like circumstances printed at Kingston in Jamaica. Captain Rod there had never been a precedent). This dam returned to England on parole, and when seeming to alarm the French lieutenant, Cap- exchanged, took the command of the Col tain Roddam told him he there saw a garri-chester, under Sir Edward Hawke, December son capitulated to a very superior force, but ready to renew the fight, if the French had not done as he required."

7, 1759, who ordered Captain Roddamn, with Captain Hervey in the Monmouth, and Captain Rowley in the Montague, to watch Captain Merveille of l'Eveillé, instead of the French fleet close off Brest. Three French sending for the British captain's own bedding, men of war came out, which the English gave him that night one of the ship's com- ships chased within the batteries, and run one pany's cradles, with a dirty rug, which seemed of them on shore. After this service, Capto have been employed in the last office tain Roddam was ordered to relieve Captain for many a poor French mariner; and Cap- Duff, off Belisle; on this occasion he carried tain Roddam's anxious mind not having al- the Colchester through the narrow rocky paslowed him to think of dressing when he struck sage (Le Ras) between the Saints and the (at that time an invariable custom of the shore into Audierne bay, and was believed to French), he was of course next morning ex- be the first English ship that ever made the tremely black and dirty, with his shoes torn attenipt. Peace was soon after proclaimed; and his habiliments tattered by splinters during upon which, Captain Roddam turned his so long an action: and although he had most sword into a plough-share, and commenced his feelingly urged and solicited for kind treat- improvements at Roddam, to which estate he ment for his officers and men, yet had he the became heir in 1776 by the death of his eldest painful knowledge that all except the lieute-brother, Edward Roddam, Esq. in whose nants, were put among the foremast men; his purser's clothes were taken off his back, and his steward was kept waiting on the poop without victuals ten hours; every place was broke open, and ransacked, though the French lieutenant (who had the key of the bureau, &c.) had given his word of honour to the contrary; and the whole crew of the Greenwich were without food. Captain Roddam insisted on being carried to the Freuch admiral that he might complain of ill treatment. He was at last summoned to his presence in the uncomfortable condition mentioned. Monsieur Bofromont and his countrymen were sparing of every thing but civil speeches. Captain Roddam told the admiral, that Captain Merville and his officers had acted in so cruel and improper a way in every respect, that they ought to be broke. He was asked, what had induced him to hold so unequal a contest, and to refuse to hoist his boat out?

He an

swered, that having very lately heard, that au English man of war had been taken by a French line of battle ship and frigate, and VOL IV. Lit. Pan. Supp.]

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lifetime he built the present mansion-house, retaining a strong attachment to the ancient possessions of his family. On a supposition of war with Spain, about 1770, Captain Roddam was commissioned, Dec. 7, for the Lenox, of 74 guns, and continued in her command three years as a guardship, at Portsmouth. At the commencement of the American war he was commissioned for the Cornwall of 74 guns, March 17, 1777; and commanded one of the twelve ships then intended for the Mediterranean, but on being appointed Rear Admiral of the White (April 29, 1778) he was ordered to Chatham, as commander-in-chief in the river Medway and at the Nore. March 19, 1779, he received the rank of Vice-Admiral of the Blue, and was promoted to be Vice-Admiral of the White, Sept. 26, 1780; Vice-Admiral of the Red, Sept. 24, 1787; and April 20, 1759, he was appointed comman der in-chief at Portsmouth, where he continued three years, a most active and attentive commander. By early hours and regularity, he carried every business forward quickly, and 3 D

the expectations of war with its hurrying consequences gave him in that situation many opportunities of exerting his professional zeal. Among other instances he received orders to get the guard-ships ready for sea, which he completed in five days, except men; five sail more being ordered he had them also entirely ready at Spithead in fourteen days, which he announced to the Lords of the Admiralty, with offers to go with the squadron to any part of the world. This extraordinary expedition so astonished the French nation, that their newspapers noticed, that British ships of war sprung up like mushrooms. He struck his flag at Portsmouth in 1792. Feb. 1793 he was promoted to be Admiral of the Blue; April 12, 1794, Admiral of the White; and in 1805, Admiral of the Red, at the head of which list he stood at his death, which took place at Newcastle, in April 1808.

Col. Pollen; Mr. Holliday from Petersburg, Mrs. Barris, with two children; M. Pereira who was sent by the Portuguese Chargé des Affaires from Petershurgh to Portugal, and who died the next day, in consequence of his extraordinary exertions; the captain of the vessels and servant, and two sailors: in all, ten persons.

in 1804, by Sir Samuel Hood at Surinam; his commission, however, was dated pre viously in England, as a reward for, his gallantry in the capture of Egyptienne French frigate privateer, of 36 guns; Capt. Shipley, then commanding the Hippomenes of 18 guns. The privateer had some day before been engaged by the Osprey sloop, commanded by the late Capt. George Youngs husband, and in conseqence made but a faint resistance; that, however, did not dimis aish the credit due to Capt. Shipley who, in a corvette with only 93 men, 36 of whom were foreigners, attacked a frigate with a complement little short of 300. His letter on the subject to Sir S. Hood will ever remain as a memento of modest merit: without attaching the least praise to himself, he delineated the heroism of Capt. Younghusband and his crew in glowing colours. On Sir Samuel Hood's appointment as commander of a squadron, in the winter of 1806, he applied for Capt. Shipley's vessel the Comes, of 20 guns, to accompany him.

Captain CONWAY SHIPLEY, who was unfortunately killed April 16, was a native of Flintshire, in North Wales. He was born in 1782, and was the second surviving son of the Rev. W. D. Shipley, dean of St. Asaph's. He entered into the navy, in 1793, under the protection of the Hon. Thomas Pakenham, in the Invincible, of 74 guns, and displayed in that ship, (during the ever memorable action of June, 1794) traits of uncommon courage. He served the remainder of his time as midshipman, with LORD ROYSTON, eldest son of the Earl of Sir R. Barlow, in the Phoebe frigate; was Hardwicke, who was lost at sea, near Me-made lieutenant, in 1800, and post-captain mel, by the stranding of the ship Agatha, off Lubeck, April 7, 1808; was born May 7, 1784. He left Ireland about two years ago for the Continent, accompanied by two servants, both of whom perished with him. This amiable and accomplished young nobleman had not been above four years from this Country; and not one of those by whom he was accompanied on his departure has sur vived him. His tutor, private secretary, and stoward, died natural deaths, his other attendants, and the companions of his tour, sunk with him into the watery grave. His lordship had twice, since he went to the Continent, narrowly escaped being drowned. In the course of last winter he went down in a sledge, and was rescued by a Mr. Poole, who took him out of the ice, by the hair of his head, for which Mr. P. was handsomely rewarded by Lord Hardwicke. By his lord ship's death, the reversionary interest of the Earl of Hardwicke's family in the patent place of clerk of the common pleas, in the ourt of exchequer in Ireland, is reduced to the two lives of his lordship and his son, the Hon. C. Yorke. There were on board the Agatha, 19 passengers, of whom three were children, and six were servants; and there were nine persons belonging to the vessel. The following were washed overboard and drowned: Lord Royston and two servants Col: Poller and one servant; D. T. Barclay, from Petersbarg; Renny, from Rigo; Becker, from Hamburgh, and one serant, que nurse, and five of the ship's crew. Mr. Tocke, of Hamburgh, and one servant maid, died on board during the night of the 7th and 8th. Of those who were brought on shore and who likewise died, were one sailor and the youngest child of Mrs. Barris. The persons rescued were, the lady of

At the time of his death, April 16, Capt. Shipley commanded the Nymphe frigate, off Lisbon. He was employed with eight boats, manned and armed, from the Nymphe and Blossom frigates, to proceed up the Tagus under cover of the night, to attack a large Portuguese brig, mounting 20 guns, moored near Belem Castle. It appears that they approached the vessel unperceived, but found all access to boarding prevented by a very strong netting, which Capt. Shipley was in the act of cutting away, when he was shot by a musket ball and fell dead into the water. A midshipman and several seamen being also killed and wounded by the fire of musquetry, (supposed from French troops on boardy the enterprize was abandoned. Captain Shipley,

it is said, as a matter of precaution (should he have been made prisoner), had taken his commission, and a considerable sum of money with him.

MR. CHARLES HENRY WILSON, late of the Middle Temple, was born in the north of Ireland, about 1755. He arrived in the metropolis about twenty years ago; where he was, for a considerable time, editor of the Gazetteer; and most daily or periodical publications of any standing have been occasionally indebted to his pen. He was the author of the "Wandering Islander," Polyanthea," Brookeiana," Beauties of Burke," and various other original productions, compilations, or translations, to none of which would he suffer his name to be prefixed, He was profoundly versed in the antiquities and literature of the Gothic, Scandinavian, and Celtic uations. With an inexhaustible fund of learning, he was a fellow of infinite jest, and of most excellent fancy." His wit and humour were truly original. Born to no fortune, he ran his career, without doing more than providing for the day which was passing over his head..

What intervals of leisure he could snatch from the society of his friends, or the labours necessary to his subsistence, were generally devoted to those abstruse speculations and studies, rather than to those, the object of which was emolument. Mr. W. died about May

21.

To the Editor of the Literary Panorama. SIR-I am sorry to find that you have fatlen into the same error with your brother Editor of the Athenæum, respecting the medaľ struck by his late eminence. As it is a cu rious numismatical monument, perhaps you' will allow me to describe the one in my possession more fully. The medal is of bronze, larger than a crown piece; on the obverse is a portrait of the Cardinal, in pontificalibus, with the inscription HEN. IX. MAG. BRIT. FR. ET. HIB. REX. FID. DEF. CARD. EP. TVSC. On the reverse stands a figure of Religion, holding a cross with her left hand, and a book in her right; the British lion couchant at her feet; and at the foot of the cross lie the crown and cardinal's hat: the back-ground presents a view of St. Peter's, the bridge of St. Angelo, and Monte Maria: the inscription is NON. DESIDERIIS. HOMINVM. SED. VOLVNTATE. DEI. On the exergue is the date, AN. MDCCLXXXVIII.- --Yours,

MEDALICISTA.

PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED
SOCIETIES.

ROYAL SOCIETY.

the reception of presents, returning thanks this evening little is usually attended to beside for them, and other matters of propriety and decorum.

CHARLES WOLSELEY, Esq. Admiral of the Red.-Adiniral Wolseley, the last surviving brother of Sir W. Wolseley, bart. was born about 1741. Of his early employment in the navy, very little is known; but, Nov. 2, 1760, he was made Post, and afterThe regular meetings of this learned Lody wards proceeded to the West Indies, in a commence on the first Thursday in the sloop of war; in 1761, he commanded the evening of Thursday, Nov. 5, 1807, the soci month of November. Accordingly, ou the Alarm, a fifth rate, on the same station.ety assembled after the long vacation. Ou At the general election, in 1774, he was returned M. P. for the borough of Milbourn Port, and sat for that place during the whole of that Parliament. At the end of 1780, Captain Wolseley was appointed to the St. Albans, of 64 guns; and, early in 1781, to the Magnanime, a new ship of the same force. Having cruised for some time in the North Sea, he returned to Spithead, and thence proceeded to join Sir Edward Hughes, in the East-Indies. He was in two or three of the engagements with Suffrein; and, in the action off Trincomalé, in Sept. 1782, the Magnanime suffered severely. Captain Wolseley was soon afterwards removed into the Coventry frigate; and January 10, 1783, he was captured by the French fleet, in Ganjam roads. He returned to England after being exchanged; but, as peace had taken

of the human body, Mr. Home's discourse on We place first, as belonging to the anatomy the functions of the spleen. It was begun on Nov. 19, and was continued on the 26th,

Mr. H. suspecting that the spleen performs zing the food taken into the stomach, injected an important office in the process of animali five ounces of liquid coloured with indigo into the stomach of a dog: the animal being killed two hours after, a portion of the indigo the stomach. The experiment was repeated was found deposited on the cardiac portion of with rhubarb the cardiac portion of the * Compare Panorama, Vol. HI. p. 1388

stomach (the pylorus being closely tied up) | many families experience either, by itcommunicated the rhubarb to a kind of plexus in the spleen, and thence to the bladder. The application of alkali to the urine immediately discovered the presence of the rhubarb, but none appeared in the liver. Hence it is inferred, that the spleen assists in secretion, as well as in assimilating the nutriment; and hence in our opinion an opening is made for the discovery of a passage to the bladder distinct from the secretions from the blood and possibly the well known effect of asparagus on the urine-and its rapidity, may speedily become no longer the subject of conjecture but of discovery.