TALES OF THE WARS;

OR,

NAVAL AND MILITARY CHRONICLE.

Illustrated with numerous Engravings.

TO WHICH IS PREFIXED

A MEMOIR OF THE EARLY LIFE AND SERVICES OF
WILLIAM THE FOURTH,

WITH AN

AUTHENTIC PORTRAIT OF HIS MAJESTY.

VOL. I.

LONDON:

PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM MARK CLARK,

19, WARWICK LANE, PATERNOSTER ROW,

AND SOLD BY ALL BOOKSELLERS.

1836.

BRITISH

LIBRARY

LONDON:

Printed by JOSEPH LAST, 3, Edward-street, Hampstead-road.

PREFACE.

THE naval and military annals of Great Britain are the most illustrious in the world. In every quarter of the globe has her flag been triumphant-on almost every battle-field of Europe have her armies conquered. In arms, as in arts, she excels all ancient and modern nations, outrivalling the chronicled renown of Greece and Rome.

The most formidable enemy that she ever possessed, was France under the sway of Bonaparte; but, as in the days of TALBOT, when that country, by right of conquest, became a province of her own, her soldiers again and again subdued that proud and restless nation, and at last succeeded in humbling her Imperial Eagle in the dust. In the memorable struggle which ended with the victory of WATERLOO, where WELLINGTON became the conqueror of the greatest military despot that ever existed, overturning for ever his colossal empire, and securing the ascendancy of GREAT BRITAIN, innumerable acts of valour and enterprize, of emulation and daring, took place, which invest that period with an interest not belonging to any other portion of our national history. At sea, the deeds of Nelson, Howe, Duncan, Jervis, Exmouth, and others of her naval heroes, tended to raise the fame and the influence of England far above what they ever were before, even at the brightest period of her annals; while on land, the victories gained by Wolfe, Abercromby, Moore, Cornwallis, Wellington, and her other famous commanders, on the plains of Egypt, on the burning sands of India, on the fertile fields of the Netherlands, and the Peninsula-at Vittoria, Talavera, Vimiera, and Waterloo-equal, if they do not excel, any of those of which any other country in the world can boast. The wars in which England have been engaged are full of deeds of high emprise, of incident and adventure, the