ortions as they
successively left him; and he had the gratification of entrusting to
each of his sons one of the many honourable tributes to his worth and
services which he had received from different public bodies. His eldest
son, who had served many years under his orders, was living near
Teignmouth, at the family mansion of Canonteign. He represented
Launceston in Parliament, and when he first entered the House had
exerted himself, though without success, to obtain for seamen serving on
foreign stations the privilege, since granted, of receiving part of
their pay abroad. He had been much impressed with the evils of the
former system, which his liberality had obviated for his own crews. Lord
Exmouth maintained a most unreserved intercourse with him, and often
expressed a confidence in the strongest terms, that he would do honour
to the rank he was to inherit: hopes never to be realized, for he
survived his father only a few months.

It is a memorable illustration of a truth, which all admit, but none
entirely feel, till their own experience has taught them the vanity of
worldly success, that when the attainment of every object had left him
without a wish ungratified, Lord Exmouth would sometimes confess that he
had been happier amidst his early difficulties. Indeed, his natural
character, and all his habits, were very unfavourable to repose. The
command at Plymouth was given him in 1817, on the death of Sir John
Duckworth; but this, though it prevented a too abrupt transition to
complete retirement, was a life of inactivity, when contrasted with his
general pursuits for almost fifty years.

While he held this command he was required to attend in his place in the
House of Lords on the trial of the Queen, one of the most lamentable
events in modern English history. He had received her then Royal
Highness on board his flag-ship in the Mediterranean with all the
attentions due to her exalted rank, and his principal officers were
assembled to pay their respects to her. But when he was desired to
furnish a royal standard, which, it was said, the vessel was entitled to
carry, though a foreigner, he replied that the standard of England
could be carried only by a British man of war. He shared the temporary
unpopularity of the noblemen who supported the bill, and the mob at
Plymouth and its neighbourhood expressed their feelings towards him with
much violence; but this, as far as he was concerned, gave him no
disquiet. He had