THE MONTHLY REVIEW, For DECEMBER, 1757. The Naval Hiftory of Britain, from the earlieft Periods of which there are any Accounts in Hiftory, to the Conclufion of the Year 1756. Compiled from the Papers of the late Honourable Capt. George Berkley, Commander of his Majesty's Ship Windfor. And illuftrated with a great number of Figures on folio CopperPlates, of Sea Charts, Heads, Engagements, and other Subjects. Folio. 11. 15s. Ofborn, &c. O N reading the pompous title prefixed to this performance, decorated with the name of a Sea Commander, we flattered ourselves with the hopes of feeing a work hitherto greatly wanted; namely a Naval Hiftory, written by a perfon thoroughly verfed in naval affairs. By fuch an hand we hoped to fee the particulars of every enterprize related with perfpicuity; every action at fea defcribed without that abfurdity and contradiction, which Land-Writers on Sea-affairs are apt to run into; and the whole enriched with obfervations equally entertaining and useful. Upon turning, however, to the Dedication (to Prince Edward) we were not a little puzzled to guess the Author's meaning; whether, on this occafion, he intended to employ his pen or his folio copper-plates, in order to place our ftory, freed from the vain incumbrance of words, under his Highness's immediate infpection. But upon viewing, at the bottom of the page, the name of the ingenious Dedicator, our wonder ceased. We are accustomed to expect very fingular difcoveries from fo univerfal, fo uncommon a genius as Dr. Hill! And we venture to affirm; that the public will be as much benefitted by this, as by any VOL. XVII. Ii other other of the pofthumous works of the illuftrious dead *, which this great man, for the benefit of the living, has uthered into light. Tho' we cannot doubt of the authenticity of Capt. Berkley's papers, being affured of it by one who, as himself tells us, would not flatter Kings; yet as their names feem now infeparably united, we fhall fuppofe the good Doctor at least equally intitled to the honour of this extraordinary performance. There feems to be among the injudicious Writers of every nation, an ambition of complimenting their countrymen by deducing their original from the earliest accounts of time, or the fabulous Heroes of Antiquity. How allowable foever this practice may be amongft Poets and Writers of Romance, it is altogether unbecoming in an Historian. Our Author having, in his Preface, blamed Mr. Lediard for beginning his Naval Hiftory a thoufand years too late, that is, from the Norman Conqueft; begins his, at leaft, a thousand too early. In the first fix chapters he exercifes his Reader's patience with an enquiry into the ftate of Britain, as difcovered by certain Phoenicians; adopts the monkifh tradition of Brute, and his followers, and fagely gives an account of the Trojan's fucceffors, and the tranfactions of a powerful British Navy, in those remote and fabulous times: but this deferves no farther notice. Next follows his account of the invafion of this ifland by Julius Cæfar. Here our Author, in recording an event which, as he obferves, every little Reader has by rote, as every common Writer has copied it, diftinguifhes himself by rejecting all authorities, and relates the material circumftances of this tranfaétion, authenticated folely by his own. Cæfar, indeed, affigns as a reafon for his invading the Britons, (a common pretext among the Romans, to palliate their unjust ambition) that they had frequently atfifted their neighbours the Gauls against the Romans; but how, or on what occasion, is no where mentioned. He even expatiates on the difficulty of procuring any certain information concerning them. But Dr. Hill, on the contrary, affures us, That the Romans first knew Britain powerful, and even terrible to themfelves at fea; for their affiftance ftrengthened the hands of the Veneti, fo that they were able to fhake their poffeflions.' But the lofs of the fleet fent upon that important errand was never reftored. Cafar' (mark the conduct of this politic Roman!) fell upon the Bri * Such as the late Mrs. Martha Bradley, of Bath, renowned for her kill in cookery; and the late Mr. Thomas Hale, equally renowned for his difcoveries in Husbandry. See Review for May, p. 385. tons tons before they were able to fit out another navy capable of ⚫ oppofing him.' From this period, during feveral centuries, we find nothing belonging to a Naval Hiftory; being here only prefented with a detail of obfcure tranfactions, as land-fights, fkirmishes, &c. in which, however, this Hiftorian, if it be proper to bestow that appellation upon him, generally exaggerates the valour, dignity, and importance of the ancient Britons. Caraufius, at length, in the year 284, makes his appearance; and the ingenious Doctor very quaintly ftiles him, a SIGNAL Commander in the British Navy. Here we have a pompous fubject of declamation. A British navy acting on British principles-The Romans fearing to face the power of Britain, now disjoined from them!-And the navy of our country giving a prefage of what it has fince arrived at, conquering all at fea!-Who would imagine that this fwelling and boasting only implied, that Caraufius, a Roman Admiral, brought, from the coafts of Gaul, the fleet under his command, compofed of various nations; and prevailed on the Roman forces in Britain to fupport him in his independency !-a practice then very frequent in every province throughout the empire. To point out the many inconfiftences of this Writer, with reSpect to facts, and his defects with regard to method and file, would be a tafk equally tedious and difagreeable:we fhall, therefore, confine ourselves to a few general remarks; and close the article with a fpecimen of the work. As to his method, the Doctor divides the whole into eighteen books, each of which comprehends the tranfactions of a century; fome of these books contain two chapters, confifting each of half a page; while others are fpun out to about one hundred and feventy chapters. In his description of our Saxon ancestors, he expreffes a mortal averfion to the character of that brave and warlike people; representing them as cowards, robbers, and ruffians. The first of their incurfions, fays he, was, according to Ammmianus, in the year 366. In this expedition they bore up to the fhore without oppofition, landed their men, burned and detroyed wherever they came; and when they had notice of the approach of the Romans, they retired to their veffels loaded with fpoil, and returned with little lofs in number. Even this fhews the cowardly difpofition of the Saxon enemy. They were no fmall force; the body of the Romans were employed in the North, and what could be raised on such an emergency where they were, could not be very formidable. • They Ii 2 They fled, however, before their approach: they had come as robbers, and they went off as fuch, doing all the mifchief they were able, getting together all the treafure they could lay their hands upon; and flying with it from those against whom they might eafily have defended it. Here we fee the effect of fuffering the navy of this island to be unfit for fervice. A band of robbers, who would not have dared to put to fea, to prey upon the most defenceless veffels, had the British fhips been in order, no fooner learned that they were rendered unfit for fervice by neglect, but they attacked its coafts. Ruffians, whom a thoufandth part of the ifland would have been able to have cut in pieces, boldly committed the worst acts of cruelty and rapine; because the Britons, nor their Roman mafters, were in a condition to prevent their landing. • Cowards were valiant, because keeping the fea behind them, and having no fea-armament to fear, they knew they could at any time run away. • What a disgrace to the policy of thofe times, that a Banditti fhould be able to come as Conquerors into the ports of Britain; and after maffacres and robberies, to depart in fafety!' From these invafions of foreign enemies, our Author repeatedly inculcates a truth that no man will difpute with him, viz. the neceffity of maintaining a maritime force for the fafety of this island. But he might have fpared himself the trouble of fo frequently pointing out the inconveniences of not being poffef fed of fuch an advantage, which, from the manners and circumftances of the times, notwithstanding his many vague and unfupported assertions, was almoft impoffible. It is abfurd to fuppofe, that mere foldiers, like the Romans, or a nation that lived chiefly by hunting and agriculture, like our British ancestors, could conftantly maintain a numerous naval armament, or would chufe to fight these invaders on an element naturally no less dreadful to them than even their enemies themselves. Speaking afterwards of the defeat and deftruction of these Saxon invaders, Theodofius, fays he, took this opportunity to represent to them, in the faireft light, the Roman power, and the Roman generofity. It was not long before his four divifions were dispatched four feveral ways; and fome of the Britons joined them, but more flaid with the remaining force behind.' How exactly like that of a knot of modern Coffee-house Politicians, has he, on this occafion, defcribed the behaviour of the ancient Britons! Every eye (tho' they prudently kept out of fight!) was upon those legions that were out; every ear open to the flighteft rumour concerning their expedition; where they they arrived this day, where they refted the next evening, and what was the deftination of their march, were treated as matters of the most immediate moment.' Here it may be remarked, that our Author, throughout his work, difcovers a happy talent at modernizing. From the difficulty of railing men for the fea-fervice, in the time of Alfred, he takes occafion to defcant on the cruel and unconftitutional practice of impreffing featnen; and pays his compliments, en pafJant, to Juftice Fielding and the Marine Society. As to the ftile of this work, it is extremely flimfy, unequal, and incorrect; nor do we remember to have seen, in any or e performance, a greater number of crude and indigefted fentiments and obfervations, conveyed in fuch improper and inaccurate phrafeology. The Sovereignty of a great kingdom (like a fuit of cloaths) hangs eafily on a Prince's fhoulders-His acclamations generally tear the heavens-and his combatants frequently maintain a running fight at land, or a flying one at lea. Upon the whole, this work is improperly termed a Naval Hiftory; it feems rather a general account of moft of our battles, and other memorable tranfactions, put together in the Author's peculiar manner, and fuited to the common notions and prejudices of the lower fort of Readers. While he expatiates on the ftory of Thomas a Becket, on the battles of Creffy, Poctiers, and Agincourt, and on our inteftine broils, he omits fome very remarkable expeditions by fea, and even one of fa modern a date as that under Cathcart, &c. in the year 1740, against Carthagena. It is not eafy to imagine how an Author, in the leaft attentive to his fubject, could be guilty of these, and fuch like egregious overfights. In 1692, Lewis XIV had laid a fcheme for the invasion of England, in favour of James II. For this purpose twenty thou fand men, among whom were many British fubjects, were ordered down to the fea-coaft between Cherburgh and St. Maloes; three hundred tranfports were got ready for their embarkation, and the fleet of France, commanded by De Tourville, was appointed to favour their intended defcent.-This occafioned the engagement off La Hogue; of which our Author gives the following account, which fhall fuffice as a fpecimen of the work. The fhew of war, which had been continued languidly on each fide now for several seasons, in 1692 ripened into action. King William this year went to Holland; and the French, taking advantage of his abfence, affifted James with a fleet and army, which he joined at La Hogue. Ii 3 • This |