This distinguished admiral was early inspired with a strong and invincible love of that service in which he was destined to occupy so high and splendid a position, and with a determination that defied all dangers and overcame all difficulties in the pursuit of his objects. Study and self-denial, courage and perseverance, were the charmed weapons with which he fought his way from poverty and neglect to wealth and renown; and they are precisely those which, under similar circumstances, will always he found most satisfactory and effectual in producing like results. Hardly is any career more fraught with salutary lessons and suggestions to the young hero who dreams of naval glory and its appropriate rewards.

John Jervis was born at Meaford, in the parish 01 Stone, on the 20th of January, 1735, of a family that had possessed considerable estates in Staffordshire, in the time of the Plantagenets. He received the rudiments, and, indeed, nearly the whole of his education, at a school in Burton-upon-Trent, which was ever after connected in his memory with the irritable temper and severe disposition of the master, which were by no means improved or softened by a shrewish wife. Young Jervis soon gave indications of his ability and industry, and was reckoned the best Greek scholar in the school, so that he was selected to the honourable post of reading a passage from Homer before a great London distiller, who was desirous of ascertaining the progress and proficiency of the boys. He had been so well taught to "sing out," as it was expressively termed, that the loudness of his tone quite astonished the worthy citizen, who remarked, much to the lad's confusion and discomfiture, —

"You speak as if you spake through a speaking-trumpet, sir."

This somewhat cruel interruption effectually silenced the chosen performer of the Greek class, who did not soon forget the check of the redoubted extracter of spirits.

In 1745, when Prince Charles carried the standard of insurrection into the heart of the kingdom, all the hoys at the school wore plaid ribands sent them from home, to manifest their zeal and sympathy in his cause, with the exceptions of Jervis and Meux, after-wards the opulent brewer, who both adhered stead-fastly to King George and the Protestant succession; though branded as Whigs by their playmates for doing so, and frequently pelted on account of their political leanings.

The elder Jervis designed his son for the pro-fession of the law, of which he himself was a member; but circumstances ere long forced him to forego his plan. Being appointed counsel to the Admiralty, and auditor of Greenwich Hospital, he removed thither from Staffordshire, taking with him his son, who was placed at Swinden's academy, at Greenwich; and thus had a new scene opened up to him, which immediately produced a lasting impres-sion on his mind and imagination. His associates, among whom was the afterwards famous Wolfe, being mostly of a naval character, he conceived a strong fancy for the sea. This was fed by his father's coachman, who unhesitatingly declared that all lawyers were rogues, and strongly advocated a nautical career Perhaps his parents held a different opinion. At all events, his entrance into the naval service was the result of his own determination, and so completely opposed to their views and wishes, that, in order to accomplish it, he was obliged to commence with the perilous step of running away from school. His friends used their utmost authority, and made their best efforts, to induce him to return, but without effecting their object. His resolution to be a sailor was fixed and final; and he exhibited an energy and decision on the subject which were quite in seeping with the subsequent character of the man. Seeing that his purpose was too firm to be broken, and that all opposition must be futile, his parents wisely set themselves to the task of enabling him to carry it into execution under the most favourable circumstances they could command.

Accordingly, in January 1748, at the request of Lady Burleigh, Commodore Townshend consented to receive the youth into the "Gloucester," then fitting out for the West Indies. It is not stated whether he experienced that pang on parting with his relatives which saddened the first days at sea of his great contemporaries and compeers. Nelson's distress was great; and we are told of the noble-hearted Collingwood, that when, at the age of eleven, ho entered the navy, he sat crying at the thought of leaving home, till noticed by the first lieutenant, who, pitying his tender years and evident emotion, spoke to him in such terms of kind encouragement, that he took the benevolent officer to his box, and in gratitude offered him a large part of a plum-cake his mother had given him at parting. Perhaps the ardour of Jervis was stronger than his feelings. In any case, having received the sum of twenty pounds to be expended in equipment and pocket-money, he sailed from Portsmouth in the autumn.

He was then little more than thirteen years of age; but, being of an active, energetic turn of mind, he at once perceived, on arrival in the harbour of Port Royal, that to remain on board the guard-ship was not the true sphere for a youth of active energies and of aspiring vein. He, therefore, always volunteered to be sent into whatever ship was going to sea, or by which anything of importance was to be done, instead of reclining lazily on board under a tropical sun, or dissipating his time on the soil of Jamaica. When unavoidably in port, he devoted himself assiduously to study, and thus acquired an immense amount of general and professional knowledge. He resisted the allurements of pleasure, and pursued his studies with a characteristic firmness, which indicated his naval ardour, proved his mental courage, and against which the temptations of Jamaica baths and "quality balls" were equally ineffectual. Such voluntary achievements are much rarer among youths in his position than is desirable, and his example is well fitted to teach the aspirant the true path by which honour and distinction are reached and retained.

During the six years he served in the "West Indies Jervis was, from the refusal of his family to make any allowance, so straitened in pecuniary matters as to undergo much inconvenience and considerable poverty — sometimes what might not unjustly be denominated want. But this proved, as it for-tunately turned out, of inestimable importance in forming the man. It created a lofty and enduring spirit of independence, taught him the necessity and benefits of self-reliance, and originated that confidence in his own resources which contributed so much to his great success, to his country's service, and to his superiority among men. At one time he was compelled, in order to raise money, to sell his bedding and sleep on the bare deck. He usually made and mended, and always washed, his own clothes; and, not having money to spend, his alertness to volunteer into other ships increased, In one of these cruisers he met with an old quarter-master who had been the mate of a merchant-vessel, and who gave the meritorious midshipman the only instruction he ever had in the science of navigation.

In the autumn of 1754 Jervis returned to Eng-land in the "Sphinx;" and she being in a short time paid off, he was transferred to the "William and Mary" yacht, where he completed the required term of service for the rank of lieutenant. As yet he had seen no war-service; but the period was fast approaching for him to mingle in its bloody and exciting scenes.

Meanwhile he passed his examination for a lieu tenancy with great credit, and soon after received his commission and orders to betake himself to Chatham and assist in fitting out the "Prince," intended for Lord Anson's flag. She was commanded by Captain Saunders, who, in a very short time, saw reason to entertain a high opinion of Jervis, and to bestow upon him the highest approbation. In February 1755 he was appointed junior-lieutenant of the "Royal George," and next month transferred to the "Nottingham," one of the fleet with which Admiral Boscawen was then despatched from Portsmouth against the French force collected at the Isle of Bhee.

When Sir Edward Hawke was sent out to repair our disasters in the Mediterranean, it was thought so extremely desirable to have Captain Saunders second in command, that a promotion was effected for the purpose; and so strongly had that officer described by Lord Orford as "the pattern of most steady bravery, combined with most unaffected mo-desty," been impressed with the high qualities of

Jervis, that he, without being solicited, selected him as one of Ms officers.

In March 1756, when the "Dorchester" was at-tached to the Mediterranean fleet, Lieutenant Jervis was appointed to her, but soon after removed to the "Prince," in which Admiral Saunders' flag was then flying. The illness of an officer caused Jervis to be placed in command of the "Experiment," and gave him an opportunity of exhibiting his skill and courage against the "Xebeque," a French privateer, off the coast of Catalonia.

Sir Charles Saunders being recalled from the Mediterranean to be intrusted with the command of the naval force that was sent to Quebec along with General Wolfe, Jervis was chosen by the admiral to be first lieutenant of the "Prince," which was again to bear his flag. He was subsequently pro-moted to the command of the " Porcupine" sloop, in which he showed his usual sagacious vigilance, and immediately after the capture of Quebec he was despatched to England with the intelligence. In 1761 he was promoted to the rank of post-captain in the "Gosport;" but she being paid off at the peace, which occurred soon after, he did not serve again for six years.

At the end of that time he was appointed to the "Alarm" frigate, when he courageously exacted redress from the Genoese for an insult offered to the

British flag, and liberated two Turkish slaves who had taken refuge under its protecting folds. He was soon after shipwrecked in the Bay of Marseilles.

Having been appointed to the "Foudroyant," he was in the drawn battle with the French off Ushant, and was examined as a witness before the court-martial held on Admiral Keppel at Portsmouth. In 1783 he was appointed commodore of an ex-pedition destined against the Spanish West Indies; but, on the subsidence of the American War into what was termed the "armed neutrality," the project was abandoned, and in the same year he was worthily elected member of Parliament for North Yarmouth. He took an earnest and active part in politics, and considerably increased his reputation by the readiness and facility with which he engaged in all discussions relating to his profession; and was pro-moted to the rank of Admiral of the Blue.

At the commencement of the French Revolution-ary war, he was one of the first officers called into active service; and he was named commander-in-chief of the squadron sent against the French West! India islands. On returning to England he was invested with the command of the Mediterranean fleet; and, after defeating the Spanish in a battle off Cape St. Vincent, he was created an earl, deriving his title from the scene of victory. In 1800 he took the command of the Channel fleet, and the same year accepted office as First Lord of the Admiralty in Mr. Addington's administration. In 1806 he re-sumed the command of the Channel, but finally resigned it next year. He received from George the Fourth a commission as an Admiral of the Fleet; and his last appearance in public was on board the royal yacht, on the occasion of the king's embarkation for Scotland.

This brave old English admiral expired at his seat of Rochetts, on the 15th of March, 1823, in the ninetieth year of his age; having by self-denial, perseverance, valour, and resolution, enjoyed some of the highest dignities of the state, and entitled himself to the lasting veneration of its free subjects.