want of firmness when decision was desirable, and punishment highly necessary. This failing, however, principally betrayed itself in cases attended with either palliative or highly afflictive circumstances, which called into exercise the amiable qualities we have been feebly attempting to delineate.

The publications of the Archdeacon were not numerous. In addition to those we have mentioned, he printed "The Duties and Qualifications of the Christian Minister," a sermon preached in Chester Cathedral on the 20th September, 1801; "What is truth?" a sermon preached in the same cathedral, on occasion of a general Ordination, 29th September, 1816; "A Charge delivered to the Clergy of the Archdeaconry of Leicester, A. D. 1822." We believe there were several other occasional Charges and Sermons published by Dr. Parkinson; but we have neither the titles of them, nor any means of ascertaining their dates.

From "The Gentleman's Magazine."

* 2

84

No. VII.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE GEORGE BYNG,

SIXTH VISCOUNT TORRINGTON, IN DEVONSHIRE, AND BARON BYNG, OF SOUTHILL IN BEDFORDSHIRE (1721); A BARONET (1715); VICE-ADMIRAL OF THE WHITE; DOCTOR OF THE CIVIL LAW; FELLOW OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY; PATRON OF THE MAIDSTONE MASONRY SOCIETY; A VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE LITERARY AND COVENT GARDEN THEATRICAL FUNDS, AND OF THE MERCHANT SEAMEN'S AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY, THE SEAMEN'S AND LONDON HOSPITALS, THE MILE END PHILANTHROPIC SOCIETY, THE EASTERN DISPENSARY, AND THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN PHILANTHROPIC SOCIETY.

THIS nobleman was descended from the Byngs of Wrotham, in the county of Kent, who flourished in the reign of Henry VII. In that of Elizabeth, Thomas Byng was Master of Clare Hall, Regius Professor of Civil Law, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. Robert, his elder brother, and ancestor of the subject of this memoir, served for the borough of Abingdon in the first parliament of that Queen, and also in the 34th year of her reign. His eldest son, George, received the honour of knighthood from Queen Anne, for his gallant behaviour in the battle of Malaga; and, after performing many other signal services, he was raised to the dignity of the peerage by the title of Baron Byng, of Southill in the county of Bedford, and Viscount Torrington, of Torrington, in Devonshire. He died First Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty, January 17. 1733, in the 80th year of his age. The unfortunate Admiral John Byng, who, after giving many

proofs of courage, was at length shot upon a dubious sentence for neglect of duty, March 14. 1757, was his fourth son. The gallant officer of whom we are about to speak was the eldest son of John, fifth Viscount (great grandson of the first peer), formerly a Colonel in the 3d regiment of Guards, and afterwards a Commissioner of the Stamp Office, by Bridget, daughter of Commodore Arthur Forrest, who died Commander-in-chief at Jamaica, and was buried at Kingston in that. island, and sister to the wife of the Right Honourable William Windham. Lord Torrington's maternal grandmother was also connected with the navy from her birth, having been born on board his Majesty's ship the Prince Frederick, on the passage to Jamaica, on St. Cecilia's Day; whence she was christened Cecilia Frederica Marina. The noble subject of this memoir was born in London, January 5. 1768, and received the rudiments of his education under the late Dr. James, at Greenwich; whence he was removed to a respectable seminary at Paddington, conducted by a Mr. Boucher. Being destined for the naval profession, he embarked February 23. 1778, as a Midshipman on board the Thunderer, of 74 guns, commanded by the Honourable Boyle Walsingham, which ship formed part of the fleet under Admiral Keppel, in the action with the Count d'Orvilliers, on the 27th July, in the same year. Some time after that event Mr. Byng joined the Alarm frigate, Captain Sir Richard Pearson; and subsequently the Active, of 32 guns, Captain Thomas Mackenzie. In the latter vessel he was engaged in the affair at Porto Praya, between Commodore Johnstone and M. de Suffrein.

The Active was afterwards detached by the Commodore to escort a fleet of transports and merchant ships to the East. Indies; and, on her arrival there, Mr. Byng was received on board the Superb, of 74 guns, bearing the flag of Sir Edward Hughes, the gallant protector of India; under whom he served in two severe actions with M. de Suffrein, one of the ablest officers that the French marine has ever produced. In the last of these conflicts Mr. Byng had a very narrow escape, all the men at the gun at which he was stationed being either

killed or badly wounded by the destructive effects of a single shot, whilst he himself received no material injury, although struck by a splinter.

Some time previously to this event, the Superb having been dismasted, and otherwise greatly damaged in a heavy gale of wind, Sir Edward Hughes was obliged to shift his flag, pro tempore, into the Sultan, of the same force. On the 5th of November, 1783, the former was driven from her anchors in Tellicherry Road, and drifting towards the shore, she struck upon a rock and sunk; but fortunately her crew were saved.

Hostilities having ceased soon after the last battle, the Commander-in-chief sailed for Europe; and Mr. Byng was removed into the Defence, 74, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore, afterwards Sir Andrew Mitchell, with whom he returned to England in the month of December, 1785. On his arrival, he passed the usual examination for a Lieutenant; soon after which he joined the Jupiter, of 50 guns, the flagship of the late Sir William Parker, on the Leeward Island station, and served under that officer during a period of three years.

Commodore Parker was succeeded by the late Sir John Laforey; and Mr. Byng was received by the latter on board the Trusty, 50. At length, in the month of September, 1790, after more than twelve years' active service, in the course of which he had participated in no less than four general actions, Mr. Byng received a commission from England, promoting him to the rank of Lieutenant, in which capacity he returned home in the Shark sloop of war.

Early in the ensuing year Mr. Byng was appointed to the Illustrious, of 74 guns, Captain C. M. Pole; from that ship he removed into the Druid frigate as First Lieutenant, and in her assisted at the capture of several privateers, merchantmen, and smugglers. His next appointment appears to have been to the Impregnable, a second rate, bearing the flag of RearAdmiral Caldwell; but ill health compelling him to go to sick quarters, he was thereby unfortunately prevented from sharing in the glories of the memorable 1st of June, 1794.

He however rejoined his ship on her return to port*, and in the month of October following was advanced to the rank of Commander, in the Ferret sloop, employed in the North Sea. We subsequently find him acting as Captain of the Artois frigate during the temporary absence of Sir Edmund Nagle.

On the 18th June, 1795, Captain Byng was made post, into the Redoubt, of 20 guns, stationed as a floating battery in the river Tyne, where he rendered essential service to the shipping interest, by his spirited conduct in suppressing an unlawful combination of the seamen, entered into for the purpose of extorting exorbitant wages. For his conduct on that occasion he received the thanks of the Trinity House at Newcastle, and the Corporation of North Shields, as also of the shipowners of those places.t

Our officer's next appointment was to the Mercury, of 28 guns, attached to the squadron on the Newfoundland station, under the orders of Sir James Wallace. In 1796, when the French Admiral Richery invested that settlement with seven ships of the line and three frigates, having 2000 troops on board, the Vice-Admiral defended it with one ship of 50 guns, two frigates, and two sloops; and, aided by the bravery and vigilance of Captain Byng, and the other officers of his small squadron, ultimately succeeded in compelling the enemy to abandon their project of subjugating the colony.

In the following year, 1797, Captain Byng was appointed to the Galatea, of 32 guns, in which frigate he cruised during

* Mr. Buller, who had superseded Lieutenant Byng in the Impregnable, was mortally wounded in the battle.

The following is an extract from the Times and Newcastle Advertiser:

"Newcastle, Oct. 20. 1795. "At a meeting of ship-owners, held in the Trinity House in Newcastle-uponTyne this day,

"Resolved unanimously,

"That the thanks of this meeting be given to George Byng, Esq., Commander of his Majesty's floating battery Redoubt, at Shields, for his spirited conduct in suppressing the late violent proceedings of the seamen, when stopping ships proceeding to sea, with a view to extort exorbitant wages and that the same be conveyed by letter from the Chairman; which was accordingly done by Mr. Lawton, the Chairman: also the thanks of the mayor and corporation, and gentlemen shipowners of North Shields."