He was a soldier, a scientific man, and was
possessed of literary talents and attainments in
no ordinary degree. He was allied, too, to literature
in another sense, for he was the son-in-law
of Thomas de Quincey. He died in middle life,
but his public career had extended over a quarter
of a century of almost continual labour and
usefulness.

BLACK FLAGS IN THE CHANNEL.

WHEN Scaliger gave it as his opinion that
piracy was practised by the English in a
peculiarly able manner, the compliment was
accounted for by the circumstance that public
opinion had not wholly dissociated the corsair
from ideas of chivalry and honour. There were
still nobly-born and accomplished sea-rovers—
Robin Hoods of the wave disappointed penniless
adventurous eccentric gentlemen, choice in
their quarry, not always athirst for gore; and
there were also mean skulkers, island-haunting
thieves, the scamps of the profession, who would
cut the throats of a whole crew for the matter
of a basket of Greek apples.

Thus the worthy critic was able to discern
degrees of merit in the buccaneering art, and
resigned to a later age the task of pointing out
that the forcible seizure of your neighbour's
goods is robbery; the cutting of peaceful
throats, murder; a profession that shall
embrace these features, piracy; and the end of
piracy, Execution Dock.

Something might, indeed, be advanced in
excuse of our former excellence, on the ground
that Great Britain has always been of an insular
character. " I have never so much as heard of
a Dutch pyrate," writes Captain Charles Johnson
(A.D. seventeen hundred and twenty-four).
"It is not that I believe 'em to be a whit
honester than their neighbours, but 'tis a
reproach to ourselves for our want of industry.
The reason I take to be that, after a war, when
the Dutch ships are laid up, they have a fishery,
where their seamen find comfortable bread."

As touching the bold, yet tender buccaneer—
he of the long low clipper and never-missing
gun, who danced around king's cruisers as if
they were but floating logs, executed manœuvres
undreamed of by any board of naval examiners,
and finally popping into an inaccessible haven,
burned his clipper and became a wealthy and
respected burgess — he, fine fellow! yet survives.

These lawless lawgivers had by no means bad
ideas of what was needful for the commonwealth.
There is an air of wisdom and sobriety about
some of the following enactments:

1. Every man has a vote in affairs of moment,
and an equal title to the strong liquors.

2. Every man to be called fairly in turn— by
list, on board of prizes— because (over and
above their shares) they shall be, on these
occasions, allowed a shift of cloaths. But if
they defraud the company to the value of a
dollar, marooning [sitting on shore, on some
desolate cape or island] shall be their punishment.

3. No person to game at cards or dice for
money.

4. Lights and candles to be put out at eight
o'clock. If any of the crew remain inclined for
drinking, they shall do it decently on deck.

6. No woman to be allowed amongst us. If
any man be found seducing any of that sex to
go to sea, he shall suffer death. If any woman
fall into our hands, a sentry shall be put over
her, to prevent ill consequences from so dangerous
an instrument of division.

8. No striking one another on board, but
every man's quarrels to be ended on shore, at
sword or pistol— thus: The quarter-master
accompanies the parties with what assistance he
thinks proper, and turns the disputants back to
back, at such a distance. At the word of
command, they turn and fire immediately (or else
the piece is knocked out of their hands). If
both miss, they come to their cutlasses.

9. No man to talk of breaking up our way of
living, till each had shared a thousand pounds.
The wounded to have compensation.

11. The musicians to have rest on the Sabbath-
day.

After such articles, it is painful to add that
certain, whose numbers are omitted, were of so
terrible an import, that even the repentant
criminals whose confessions furnished the above,
could not be induced to reveal them. An
excellent law, by the way— the ninth that against
secession. It took some time to provide every
pocket, down to that of the smallest boy, with,
a thousand pounds in hard money; and, usually,
before that period, everybody was either too
deep in crime to find safety elsewhere, or too
much imbued with the greed of gain to wish
for change:

    Too late would the captain recede,
        He laments his sad trade, and would doff it;
    Which nothing prevented— indeed—
        Excepting the very great profit.

The system of privateering— letters of marque,
now justly discountenanced— proved a very hot-
bed of piracy, and turned out many a skilful
professor. The distinctions were sometimes
remarkably fine, insomuch that even doctors
disagreed. There was a very pretty quarrel in
sixteen hundred and ninety-three, when some
gentlemen-rovers having been captured in the
very chops of the Channel, Dr. Oldish, king's
advocate, was directed to prosecute them. To
the surprise of the public, the doctor flatly
refused: giving it as his opinion that " they were
no pirates, nor ought to be prosecuted as such;"
whereupon, being summoned before the Cabinet
Council, Mr. Secretary Trenchard demanded the
reason of his opinion.

DR. O. " Pirates be common enemies to all
mankind, but these have a commission, signed
'J. R.,'" and dated at the Court of Saint
Germains, for to bring prizes and judgment into the
Court of Admiralty, before Thomas Shadford, at
Brest or elsewhere. This agreeth not with
piracy."

SEC. T. " But King James hath lost his