THE MONTHLY VISITOR. SEPTEMBER, 1799. MEMOIRS OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF YORK, N the course of our Periodical labours, we have been I called upon to many a foldier, who has devoted his life to the fervice of his country. We now wifh to turn the attention of the reader to an officer of the first eminence in his profeffion, whofe military fkill we admire, and whofe unceafing activity entitles him to our approbation. His recent embarkation for the continent, in order to affift in the reduction of Holland, has engaged general notice, and raifed high expectations refpecting the fuccefs of that undertaking. FREDERIC DUKE OF YORK, the second son of. their prefent Majefties, was born August 16, 1763. He was first placed, at a proper age, under the tuition of the bishop of Chester, now archbishop of Yorkthen under Dr. Richard Hurd, an accomplished claffical scholar, and, at prefent, bishop of Worcester. With fuch advantages his understanding must have been confiderably improved; and he had the opportunity of enriching his mind with ftores of information. In In 1767, after the death of his great uncle, the duke of Cumberland, he was appointed Grand Master and First Knight Companion of the Bath; but on account of his youth, was not inftalled till the year 1772. The order of the garter was, on the preceding year, conferred upon him. His predilection for a military life foon difplayed itfelf, and he accordingly received a commiffion in the Guards. In the year 1780 he had attained to the rank of colonel in the army. After this period he vifited the continent, and was introduced to the famous king of Pruffia, who afterwards declared to Zimmerman, his phyfician, that he was well pleafed with the interview. In the year 1784 he returned home, having come of age, and was appointed Colonel of the Coldstream regi. ment of Guards. He was alfo created a peer of the realm, by the title of Duke of York and Albany, and Earl of Ulfter, in the kingdom of Ireland. Nor was it long before he again vifited the continent, though his ftay was fhort; and, upon his return, he had a houf, hold eftablifhed. His firft fpeech in the house of lords was at the time of the Regency, and it imparted a favourable opinion of his talents. The recovery of the King terminated the affair of the Regency, which was likely to involve the nation in fome troublefome difcuffions. Much about this period the famous duel occurred between his Royal Highness and Colonel Lennox, nephew to the duke of Richmond. It related to fome affair at Daubigny's, where a club met; and the bufinefs, even to this day, remains involved in a degree of obfcurity. The conteft, however, was likely to have proved of a very ferious nature. They met on Wimbledon Common, and had for their feconds perfons of diftinction. The Duke engaged lord Rawdon, now earl of Moira; Colonel Lennox had with him lord Winchelfea. The Duke had one of his curls either grazed or entirely fhot off; fo that it may be termed an hair-breadthi's efcape! Happily Happily the altercation ended here, both parties declared themselves perfectly fatisfied. How much is it to be regretted, that the barbarous cuftom of duelling fhould be endured in a country which boafts of the refinements of civilization and the bleffings of religion ! This mode of terminating difputes originated in the gothic times-and with Goths and Vandals fhould it have remained. The brave Colonel Gardener, who was killed by the rebels, at Preston Pans, September 1745, had a challenge fent him, but nobly refufed it. His anfwer was, "that he was afraid to fin but not to fight." Such a glorious refolution would have happily fettled many a difpute, faved the fhedding of human blood, and would have continued in life many a valuable member of society. In the year 1791 the fubject of our Memoir entered into the matrimonial state. He efpoufed the princefs Frederica Charlotta Ulrica Catharina, daughter of the late king of Pruffia. He had feen this amiable and ac complished lady in his former travels on the continent, and without flattery, it may be added, that the wisdom of his choice has been confirmed by the difplay of all thofe virtues which can adorn her exalted ftation. She is known to vifit the humble cottage-to alleviate the toils of the laborious peasant, and to bind up the broken heart of fuffering humanity. We notice, with pleafure, thefe engaging traits of her character, because fuch di vine exertions alone conftitute true nobility. It is not the gaudy trappings of wealth, nor the boisterous buftle of power, that can command real admiration. The multitude, indeed, will gaze upon them, and be gratified with their coarfe fenfations. But the enlightened and upright mind delights in the more fubftantial acts of leffening the fphere of human mifery, and of augmenting the stock of private and public felicity. At the commencement of the prefent war his Royal Highness was appointed a general in the army, and foon went over to the continent to ferve under Prince de Coburg, as commander of the English and Hanoverian troops. Having drove the enemy from their ftrong encampment at Femars, the fiege of Valenciennes began-was conducted with great vigour, and ended fuccefsfully. The batteries were opened on the 18th of June 1793, and on the 28th of July the city capitulated. The defence of the befieged was obftinate an immenfe quantity of shells and bombs were thrown into it, and the unfortunate town was almost entirely reduced to afhes. About 1,300 men of the befiegers were among the killed and wounded; and, of the befieged, 9,711 men laid down their arms on this memorable occafion. Valenciennes is an ancient, ftrong, and confiderable town in the French Netherlands. The fortifications were conftructed by the celebrated Vauban, and were, therefore, in high eftimation. It is feated on the river Scheld, which not only divides it into two parts, but almost runs round it, making it a kind of island. Elated with this success, the allied army divided itfelf, and the Duke proceeded to attack Dunkirk. But here the troops failed in accomplishing their purpose. The French gaining early intelligence, fo attacked them, that it has been faid had Houchard followed up his victory, the British army would have been deftroyed. The Duke himfelf narrowly escaped; he literally fled for his life. Such is the various fortune of war-to-day victorious-to-morrow at the mercy of the enemy! In the course of the campaign the English behaved with great bravery; and his Royal Highness obferving that the Auftrians neglected their wounded enemies, remonftrated with them, fo as to procure an amendment of their fituation. How highly commendatory are fuch traits in thofe elevated fituations! At the clofe of the year the Duke vifited England, and early in the enfuing fpring returned to the continent. But after a variety of manoeuvres with respect to him and the enemy, he relinquifhed his command, and chofe |