competent judges. Their countenance is a prefumptive proof of approbation.

We rely on the favours of our Correspondents, who for past communications are entitled to our best thanks. To Biography, for the future, we shall pay very confiderable attention. It is a most instructive and pleasing species of composition. It gratifies the inqusitiveness of youth, and confirms the experience of age. We also particularly invite juvenile composers to transmit us their most finished essays, both in prose and poetry. A periodical work is the usual depository for the efforts which GENIUS first makes to enlighten and reform the world. Sheltered from the rude blasts of criticism, it here puts forth its tenderest buds, and is gradually brought forward to maturity. Indeed, on our part, no pains shall be omitted to render the MONTHLY VISITOR, both by the elegance of its portraits, and by the variety of its contents, a cheap article of rational enter tainment to the RISING GENERATION.

May 24th, 1798.

THE

THE

MONTHLY VISITOR.

MAY, 1798.

T

BRIEF MEMOIRS

OF

SIR WILLIAM SYDNEY SMITH.

HIS bold and gallant officer is now once more returned into the bofom of his country. His fellowfubjects will naturally congratulate him on the wonderful escape which he has effected. Every one must take an interest in the hazardous, but fuccessful flight of this celebrated character. A defire of becoming acquainted with the particulars of his life will be of course generated. That laudable curiofity we shall endeavour to gratify.

In reviewing the naval history of Britain, a long train of heroes present themselves to our view. Each of them is diftinguished by fomething peculiar to himself. This is the characteristic of genius, in whatever line it is difplayed. More particularly fome of our officers have been marked by the vigour of their projects; and others by the alacrity with which these projects were carried into execution. But, in the extraordinary subject of these memoirs, both these excellencies appear to be united. The truth of this observation will be evident on the perusal of the subsequent narrative.

Sir William Sydney Smith was born about the year 1764. His father was John Smith, Efq. Aid-de-camp

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to Lord George Germain; and his mother, the daughter of Mr. Wilkinson, a merchant of eminence. This marriage, it is said, so displeased the lady's father, that he left the whole of his fortune to his other daughter, who married the late Lord Camelford. Be that as it may, the happy partners were blessed with a fon, the present hero, who has fignalized himself in the service of his country.

He was educated at Tunbridge school, which he quitted in 1773. At a very early period of his life, he embraced the naval profession:-scarcely turned of fixteen, he attained to the rank of Lieutenant on board the Alcide; and in his twentieth year he was conftituted a Post Captain. So rapid a promotion is an indication of merit. We have every reason to believe, that to this cause his elevation must be attributed. In the history of mankind, instances frequently occur of an extraordinary degree of excellence appearing, where, from the tender äge of the individual, little or nothing was expected.

After peace was restored to this country, in the year 1783, Sir Sydney obtained permiffion to enter in the service of Sweden. He went thither about 1788. The Swedes were then at war with the Russians. In this conteft, our juvenile hero diftinguished himself. His valour and intrepidity were displayed in a variety of enterprises. The court of Stockholm formed such a favourable estimate of his services, that the honour of knighthood was conferred upon him. This circumstance, of itself, is an ample testimonial of his active and enterprising difpofition. Upon the arrival of peace, he might have relinquished the toils of war, and might have partaken, together with his brother officers, of the blef. fings of repose. But he was, it feems, otherwise determined. He again buckled on his armour, when it had scarcely been laid afide. His martial ardour was not fuffered to cool. Impelled to new exertions, he faced the hardy hardy Ruffian-and, in the frozen régions of the north, reaped afresh the meed of glory!

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