Works - 1856 Author:John Wilson Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: MEMOIR OF VICE-ADMIRAL THE HON. SIR H. BLACKWOOD, BART., K.C.B., K.G.H. [JULY 1833 ] This Island has mainly owed her greatness to her Navy ; nor in all the... more » revolutions among kingdoms and empires, that may be destined to take place in time, can we imagine a condition of the world in which her greatness will not still have to be guarded by the same power. It represents the national character in its most formidable attributes, and embodies the national might in the most magnificent impersonation. The British Navy—these are words of fear to tyrants, and of succour to slaves. All shores have been shaken by that thunder; and usurpation has felt the crown falling from its forehead, " As patriot hopes arise, and doubts are dumb, When bold, in Freedom's cause, the Sons of Ocean come!" In none of those great sea-fights with the intrepid and skilful Hollanders were our fleets vanquished; some were doubtful or drawn battles ; in most our flag flew in triumph. Previous to their Great Eevolution, the French never could cope with us at sea; ever after it, whether engaging our fleets with their own, or in junction with the Spaniard, they sustained signal and total overthrows. As certain was the same issue in all single combats between ship and ship ; and our enemies fought not for the glory of victory, but of resistance against inevitable defeat. The glories even of Hawke and Rodney were eclipsed by those of Jervis and Nelson—and the dominion of the seas was settled at AbouMr and Trafalgar. The Americans are of our own blood, and they fought against us, both on shore and sea, in a way worthy of their national origin. At sea, in almost all their victories, but notin all, they were greatly, in some overwhelmingly, superior in force ; nor need we now either be surprised or mortified ...« less