IN tracing the progress of Gentlemen, whose professional exertions entitle them to an inscription on the columna rostrata of their Country, we have often to regret our inability to ascertain the period of their entering the Service. Our knowledge sometimes only commences at the time of their attaining the rank of Post Captain. Yet, to say nothing of that humble state of probation, as it may be termed, in which the aspiring Mid inhales the fumes of the orlop, the services of a Lieutenant are generally useful, frequently conspicuous, and sometimes splendid. The Master and Commander has also a superior chance of displaying his abilities. Our regret on this subject, however, does not extend to the present respected object of our notice; as we have the pleasure of being able to present an outline of Admiral Cosby's naval career, from its commencement down to the present time.

Phillips Cosby, of Stradbally Hall, Queen's County, Ireland, Esq., is the representative of an Irish family of some distinction. In the beginning of the year 1745, at an early period of life, he went into the Navy, on board of the Comet Bomb, commanded by the late Admiral Sir Richard Spry, as Captain. On the 12th of February, in the same year, almost immediately after he had become a worshipper at the shiine of Neptune, he was in a severe engagement with a Spanish Ship of War, called the Galga, of 36 guns.

We have been gratified in learning, that our biographical sketch of the “gallant Merchant Commodore Dance” has not been condemned as an innovation, but has rather been deemed a just tribute to that spirit of invincible valour, which so universally pervades both the Royal and Mercantile British Navy. The actions of another Merchant, whose birth indeed was humble, but whose high achievements were splendid, will more fully illustrate the truth of this remark; and prove unto the French, that if we are a Nation of Shopkeepers, the spirit of commerce has no tendency to abate the natural and inherent Valour of an Englishman.

The origin of Commodore Sir William James is enveloped in obscurity. Whether this may have proceeded from that feeling which revolts at the retrospect of poverty, it would now be difficult, if not impossible, to determine. That such feelings are frequently incidental both to families and individuals, is too true; since it too often has deprived us of the means of marking the progress of naval merit, from its first dawn, to its meridian splendour. Even Johnson was not invulnerable to its influence. That truly great philosopher, though endowed with sentiments too noble and elevated to permit any attempt at deceit, dwelt with pain on the poverty of his early years.

[Continued from our last.]

We will state to M. de Cevallos, that after such declarations had been made, it would be difficult to suppose that any explanation could be given of the present Naval preparations, whieh would render such a proceeding consistent with the neutrality which is professed; but it is manifestly impossible to consider it, unaccompanied as it has been by any previous explanation whatever, in any other light than as a menace directly hostile, and imposing upon his Majesty the duty of taking, without delay, every measure of precaution; and particularly of giving orders to his Admiral of the Port of Ferrol, to prevent any of the Spanish Ships of War from sailing from that Port, or any additional Ships of War from entering it.

The whole conduct of his Majesty towards Spain has abundantly proved his earnest desire to carry that forbearance to the utmost limit a due regard to the safety and interests of his people would admit: but he cannot depart from the declarations he has already made; nor allow Spain to enjoy all the advantages of neutrahty, and, at the same time, to carry on against him a double War, by assisting his enemies with pecuniary succours, to which no limit is assigned; and by obliging him at the same time to divert a part of his Naval Force from acting against those enemies, in order to watch the Armaments carried on in Ports professing to be neutral.

Extract of a Dispatch from Lord Hawkesburyto J. H. Frere, Esq. dated Downing Street, 2d June, 1803.

I shall now proceed to signify to you his Majesty's pleasure with respect to the conduct which it will be proper for you to observe at the Court at which you reside.

It is the King's sincere and earnest desire that the Spanish Government may be enabled to maintain the strictest neutrality in the War which was commenced between Great Britain and France. You will therefore endeavour, by all the means in your power, to impress upon the Spanish Ministers the expediency of their adopting this system; and you will assure them, that if it be adopted, his Majesty will respect it with the most scrupulous good faith.

His Majesty's Government having no means of deciding how far his Catholic Majesty may consider himself as bound by the Treaty of defensive and offensive alliance, which was concluded at St. Ildephonso on the 9th of August 1796, it is indispensably necessary that you should lose no time in ascertaining this important point. If the Spanish Government should state to you, that they conceive themselves to be under the obligation to furnish to France the number of Troops and Ships which are stipulated in the Treaty above mentioned, but that their co-operation will extend no further, you will refrain from giving any opinion upon this measure, but will content yourself with signifying that you will transmit the information of it to your Court.

Sir Richard Bickerton, the Father of the Gentleman whose professional life we are about to trace, was an Officer of distinguished merit in the British Navy At a future period, we indulge the hope of being enabled to present a detailed account of his services; but, for the present, we shall content ourselves with exhibiting a brief sketch, by way of introducing the Naval Career of his Son to public notice.

Mr. Bickerton, the late Admiral, having been educated at Westminster School, entered into the Royal Navy, and received his Commission as Lieutenant in the month of February, 1745-6. In 1759 he was rated Post in the Culloden, and immediately afterwards sailed for the West Indies, in the Glasgow, of 20 guns. Having displayed much activity and gallantry in that quarter, he returned to Europe in 1761, and served for some time on the Home Station. In 1767 he again proceeded to the West Indies, in the Renown, a Fifth Rate; but quitting that Ship before the conclusion of the following year, he remained unemployed till the end of the year 1770, when, on the apprehended rupture with Spain, he was appointed to the Marlborough, of 74 guns, in which he remained for three years.

When the King reviewed the Fleet at Portsmouth, in 1773, Captain Bickerton had the honour of steering His Majesty's Barge, on which occasion he received the honour of Knighthood on board of the Barfleur.

Accustomed, as we have been for a long period of time, to contemplate the brilliant achievements of our naval heroes, until an uninterrupted series of splendid victories, unclouded by the remembrance of a single disaster, seemed to place an almost impassable barrier between our Fleets and the slightest reverse of fortune, it was reserved for the era of the present war to complete the triumph of Britain, and the disgrace of her vain-glorious foe. On the first appearance of the re-commencement of hostilities, Admiral Linois, who had been sent from France to take possession of the ceded settlement of Pondicherry, and with a force, which, under the management of British Sailors, had been adequate to the destruction of our commerce in the Indian Seas, made his escape from the roads of Pondicherry, and proceeded to join the Dutch Fleet at Batavia. From thence, however, he sailed without his allies in quest of the English homeward bound China Fleet.

WE know not how to commence a fresh Volume of our labours with more self-satisfaction, than in presenting the Public with some particulars of Sir Thomas Boulden Thompson, a gallant Officer, whose distinguished Services point him out as an object of eulogy and emulation, in that Profession of which he is a dignified ornament.—He is one of those brave Men — the proudest boast of Britain — who, by their glorious exertions, have increased the fame of their Country; have seized, for themselves; a wreath of perrenial verdure; and whose names and virtues will live in the remembrance of a grateful posterity.

Thomas Boulden, now Sir Thomas Boulden Thompson, it will be recollected by many of our Readers, is the Nephew of that able Officer and worthy Man, the deceased Captain Edward Thompson, whose extraordinary merit, as a Seaman and as a Writer, long since obtained for him the most honourable notice in the biographical department of our Chronicle. For young Boulden, the relationship was peculiarly fortunate; as to the advantages which it afforded him must, in a great measure, be ascribed the conspicuous figure he has made in his Profession.

The Subject of the present Memoir is a Native of Kent. His Father, Mr. Boulden, married Miss Thompson, the Sister of the late Mr. Thompson, who had then attained only the rank of Lieutenant.

The Honourable George Cranfield Berkeley is son to the late, and brother to the present Earl of Berkeley. The family is ancient; and, as will be sufficiently evident from the following account, of honourable origin:–

To withdraw the obscurity, which too frequently envelopes the professional lives of our Naval Officers, and thereby to narrate the meritorious exertions of bravery and fortitude, is a task of some labour, and entitled to commendation.

Rear-Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin, Bart, to whose services our attention is now directed, is an American by birth; and, from the ardour with which the spirit of liberty was cherished in that part of the world, he early imbibed a love for our Country and her glorious Constitution: born of British parents, and in the territories of his Britannic Majesty, he has every requisite claim to the honourable appellation of Briton.

Mr. Isaac Coffin was born at Boston, in North-America, in the year 1760; and, having first been brought forward by the friendship of Lieutenant Hunter, of Greenwich Hospital, he entered, as early as May, 1773, into his Majesty's service, under the patronage of Rear-Admiral John Montagu. His first cruize was in the Gaspée brig; and, after passing the summer in that vessel, he went from Rhode Island to Boston; completed his studies in mathematics on board the Captain, and then was turned over to the King's Fisher, commanded by Captain (now Admiral) George Montagu.

Never, since we first went out of Dock, in the year 1799, have we witnessed so tremendous a Gale, as that which has continued, nearly throughout the whole of our thirteenth Cruise; and, as the old song says,

It has indeed been dirty weather: but we have endeavoured that it should not blind our eyes: whilst the good old Ship the Britannia strained in every timber, and gave some awkward rolls, we strove to keep our little Packet steady, and to preserve whatever of value was thrown out, during the Tempest. Our Vessel was hardly large enough to stow it all away, though we removed many of our Bulk-heads; which brought on us angry and threatening words from some of our Passengers. Who must forgive us, if amidst the bustle and anxiety that has prevailed, we have lost something of our usual courtesy and condescension.

The Naval Chronicle, like all other Periodical Works, that have the smallest connection with the Political World, must sometimes vary the limits of the different subjects it embraces. And as, from its very name, it undertakes to chronicle the Naval Events of the Year, it must have a reference to the Naval Columns of the Public Prints, and to the Naval Debates of the British Senate. Nor does it follow from this, that we are negligent in procuring Philosophical Papers, Naval Literature, or Hydrographical Information.