captured l'Aigle, a French frigate, of 40 guns, 24-pounders, on the main deck, and 600 men, commanded by the Count de la Touche, who made his escape on shore with the Baron Viominil, commander-in-chief of the French army in America, M. de la Montmorency, Duc de Lausan, Vicomte de Fleury, and some other officers of rank; they took in the boat with them a great quantity of specie; two small casks, and two boxes, however, fell into the hands of the captors. La Gloire, another frigate which was in company with l'Aigle, in consequence of drawing less water, made her escape. La Sophie, armed vessel, of 22 guns and 104 men, was also taken, the Terrier sloop of war was recaptured, and two brigs were destroyed.

At the general election in 1786, Captain Elphinstone was chosen representative in parliament for Stirlingshire.

In 1793, soon after the war broke out with France, Captain Elphinstone was appointed to the Robust, of 74 guns; and having been placed under the command of Lord Hood, sailed with him to the Mediterranean. That nobleman, who had always been deemed one of the ablest admirals in the British service, was now engaged in a project of no small importance. While the south of France had been a prey by turns to terror, and to insurrection, the combined fleets of England and Spain menaced her departments in that quarter, cut off the supplies of corn and provisions, and infused new hopes. into the minds of the malcontents. After negotiating with the inhabitants of Marseilles and Toulon, the British admiral issued a notice, in which he stated, "that if a candid and explicit declaration were made in favour of monarchy in those places, the standard of royalty hoisted, the ships in the harbour dismantled, and the ports and forts placed at his disposal, the people of Provence should enjoy the protection of His Britannic Majesty's fleet, and not an atom of private property be touched." He also published a proclamation to the same effect; and after stating the anarchy and misery of the inhabitants, he concluded with observing, "that he had come to offer them the assistance of the force with which he was

furnished by his sovereign, in order to spare the further, effusion of human blood, to crush with promptitude the factious, to re-establish a regular government in France, and thereby maintain peace and tranquillity in Europe."

The inhabitants of Marseilles were prevented from accepting these terms by the approach of a republican army; but the sections of Toulon immediately proclaimed Louis 17th; and promised, by a deputation, "that the moment the English squadron cast anchor in the road, the white flag should be hoisted, the ships of war disarmed, and the citadel and forts on the coast placed provisionally at the disposal of the British admiral."

Notwithstanding these professions, a large portion of the people, and also of the sailors, was not a little mortified at the idea of such a surrender. Rear-Admiral Trogoff, indeed, declared in favour of the conditions; but Admiral St. Julien, who had been recently invested with the chief command, together with the crews of seven of the ships, for some time exhibited a spirited, although ineffectual resistance. They were accordingly forced to yield; and, on August 28. 1793, the English obtained possession of Toulon, of which Rear-Admiral Goodall was declared governor, and Rear-Admiral Gravena commandant of the troops. But as it became necessary to take possession of the forts which commanded the ships in the road, before the fleet could enter, fifteen hundred men were previously landed under Captain George Keith Elphinstone; who, after effecting this service, was ordered to assume the command of the whole, as governor of Fort Malgue.

But the English in their turn were fated to be exposed to the sudden changes incident to a state of warfare. A few days. after their arrival, General Carteaux, at the head of a detachment of the republican army which had lately taken possession of Marseilles, and routed the troops raised by the associated departments, appeared on the heights near Toulon. As he was accompanied only by an advanced guard of seven hun

dred and fifty men, and ten pieces of cannon, the governor of Fort Malgue placed himself at the head of six hundred British and Spanish troops, with which he marched out, put the enemy to the rout, and seized their artillery, ammunition, horses, and two stands of colours.

On the first of October, the combined British, Spanish, and Neapolitan forces, under the command of Lord Mulgrave, Captain Elphinstone, and Rear-Admiral Gravina, also obtained a complete victory at the heights of Pharon over a detachment of the French army, consisting of nearly two thousand men, the flower of the eastern army; of whom about one thousand five hundred were either killed, wounded, or taken prisoners, during their precipitate retreat. The loss on the side of the allies amounted only to eight killed, seventy-two wounded, two missing, and forty-eight taken prisoners.

But the enemy soon recovered from these defeats; and a body of about fifteen thousand men having been assembled, they obtained possession of several outposts, and seized on the heights of Cape Brun. On the junction of the victorious army, which had lately captured Lyons, they at length threatened to storm the forts, and by the aid of Buonaparte, then an obscure officer of artillery, found means to carry some, and annoy all our posts.

It was therefore reluctantly determined, in a general council of war, that Toulon was no longer tenable; and measures were accordingly adopted for the evacuation of the town and arsenal, as well as for the destruction of the ships of war. Early in the morning of the 18th Dec. the embarkation commenced; and by day-break on the 19th, the whole of the combined troops, to the number of 8000, together with several thousand of the French royalists, were safe on board, without the loss of a single man. This service was effected under the superintendance of Captains Elphinstone, Hallowell, and Matthews, to whose indefatigable attention and good dispositions the fortunate success of so important an operation was mainly at tributable. It was also owing to

their benevolent and persevering efforts that many of the unhappy Toulonese were indebted for an asylum.

Lord Hood, in his despatch to government, says, "In the execution of this service, I have infinite pleasure in acknow ledging my very great obligations to Captain Elphinstone for his unremitting zeal and exertion, who saw the last man off,” &c.; and Lieutenant-General Dundas, in his official letter, says, "Captain Elphinstone, as governor of Fort La Malgue, has ably afforded me the most essential assistance in his command and arrangement of the several important posts included in that district."

In the spring of 1794, Captain Elphinstone returned to England with the trade from the Mediterranean, and three French men of war, under his protection. On the 12th April, in the same year, he was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral of the Blue; and, on the 4th of July, to that of Rear-Admiral of the White, in which capacity he hoisted his flag on board the Barfleur, of 98 guns, in the Channel Fleet. On the 30th May he was created a K. B., as a reward for his distinguished merits.

We have hitherto beheld the subject of this Memoir acting under the command of others, but we are now to contemplate him under different circumstances.

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In the month of January, 1795, hostilities being about to take place between Great Britain and the Batavian Republic, Sir George Keith Elphinstone shifted his flag to the Monarch of 74 guns, and sailed from Spithead, April 2. for the Cape of Good Hope, having under his command a small squadron destined for the reduction of that settlement. On the 1st of June following he was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral.

Sir George arrived in Simon's Bay early in July, and was there reinforced by several men of war and Indiamen, having on board a number of troops under the command of MajorGeneral Craig. The Dutch governor, M. Van Sluyskin rejecting the proposals which were made to him for putting the colony under the protection of Great Britain, in trust for the

Prince of Orange, the necessary measures were taken to reduce the place by force.

The Dutch troops were entrenched in a strong position at Muyzenberg, distant six miles from Cape-Town, and well furnished with cannon, having a steep mountain on their right, and the sea on their left, difficult of approach on áccount of shallow water, with a high surf on the shore; but the absolute necessity of securing the post determined the British commanders to proceed without any hesitation.

For this service the Vice-Admiral prepared a gun-boat, armed the launches of the fleet with heavy carronades, landed two battalions of seamen, about 1000 strong, in addition to 800 soldiers and marines, and sent ships frequently round the bay, to prevent suspicion of the attack, which it was agreed should be made whenever any favourable opportunity might offer.

On the 7th of August a light breeze sprung up from the N. W., and at twelve o'clock the preconcerted signal was made; when Major-General Craig instantly put the forces on shore in motion, and at the same moment Commodore Blankett, with a detached squadron, got under weigh, whilst the armed boats preceded the march of the troops about five hundred yards, to prevent their being interrupted.

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About one o'clock, the ships, being abreast of an advanced post of two guns, fired a few shot, which induced those in charge to depart; and, on approaching a second post, of one gun and a howitzer, the same effect was produced by the same means. On proceeding off the camp, the confusion of the enemy became instantly manifest, although the distance from the squadron was greater than could have been wished; but the shallowness prevented a nearer approach. The ships having taken their stations in a very judicious manner, opened so brisk and well-directed a fire, as to compel the enemy to fly with the greatest precipitation; leaving to the assailants two heavy guns, one brass 6-pounder, and two howitzers. In this attack the squadron had only two men killed, and five wounded. Five Dutch East Indiamen were