LIFE OF SIR HOWARD DOUGLAS. CHAPTER I. THE FATHER OF SIR HOWARD DOUGLAS. THE name of Douglas is familiar to English ears, and none is more famous in Scotland. It has figured in tale and history there from the days of tradition, when we are told of its being won by the "blackgrey man who came to the rescue of the King's lieutenant in a battle with a pirate chief. Our own great poet has celebrated the "Renowned Douglas, whose high deeds, Whose hot incursions, and great name in arms, Holds from all soldiers chief majority, And military title capital, Through all the kingdoms that acknowledge Christ." And there is hardly one of Scotland's bards who has not touched on the same theme. The family became allied to the Scottish crown by the marriage of the Lord of Dalkeith with the Lady Mary, fifth daughter of James I., and sister of James II.; and the latter monarch created his brotherin-law Earl of Morton. The title descended from father to son through three generations, when King James V. seized James, the third Earl, and imprisoned him in Inverness Castle until he consented to B entail it on Robert Douglas of Lochlevin, whom the King wished to console for having a little disturbed his wedding by carrying off the bride. But nothing was gained by the motion, as he died before the Earl, and no sooner lay in his grave than Morton abjured the arrangement, and executed a new deed, entailing the title on the husband of his second daughter-James Douglas, brother of David Earl of Angus, and Lord Chancellor and Regent of Scotland during the minority of James VI.-who became fourth Earl of Morton. This nobleman was succeeded by his nephew, Archibald Douglas Earl of Angus, from whom the title of Morton passed by the entail to William Douglas of Lochlevin, who was descended from the first Earl, and made the sixth inheritor of his honours. Another sixth generation threatened the earldom with a new diversion, as it was now borne by an old man, apparently determined on dying a bachelor. But the twelfth hour brought him to better thoughts, and he fell in love with a beauty who enabled him to leave his title to a son. This shut out the next branch of the family, represented by young Charles Douglas, who had come almost within reach of the coronet, being the lineal descendant of Sir George Douglas of Kirkness, second son of Earl William of Lochlevin, and hence presumptive heir. But Fortune made up for the slip by designing him to win honours of his own; and these lost none of their lustre on descending to his son HOWARD DOUGLAS, whose career forms the subject of this volume. Charles Douglas ran his course in the navy, which he entered as a child, passing through the successive grades of rank until he appears in command of a frigate at one time taking part in the naval operations on the coast of America during the War of Independence, and afterwards capturing prizes in the Channel. Subsequently he was employed in organizing the navy of Russia, on the recommendation of the British Government; and he succeeded in placing it on a good footing, when he returned to England. His reputation now stood so high that the Admiralty selected him to command a squadron for the relief of Quebec, which the Americans had besieged, and were exerting every means to reduce. Its capture would entail the loss of Canada if not of our whole dominion in America, and the public were in the greatest alarm at the danger, as the closing of the St. Lawrence seemed to cut off assistance. But the panic abated on the announcement that the succours to be sent out were intrusted to Captain Douglas, who was known to be familiar with the American waters, and had established a character for energy and action which inspired confidence. The general feeling is reflected in a letter addressed to him on the occasion by Lord Townshend. "The day before I left town to bring my family out of the country," writes his Lordship, "I asked either Lord George Germain or Lord Sandwich (I think it was the former) who went up the river with the relief? and was told it was you. I replied, 'I am glad you have fixed on so good a man. You cannot inquire better upon all occasions after the river St. Lawrence than from him. He will tell you as much as Mr. Cooke' or any one else.' 999 1 Probably the celebrated Captain Cook. |