It has been observed, by certain critics, that the life of an individual, and the history of a country, can never, with any degree of propriety, be blended with each other. This position, however, is true only in part; for, if the individual, whose life is exhibited, have been a public character, if his conduct have been connected with, or influenced by, public events, it necessarily follows, that the history of his life must also, in a measure, be the history of his country during the period in which he lived and acted. Unless the reader be acquainted with the motives of his hero, how is he to enter into the spirit of his enterprises? How can his atchievements interest, unless we are enabled to comprehend and appreciate their object? – The most brilliant actions, if not connected by something like historical narrative, can appear but as a chaos, or as a variety of vivid colours thrown indiscriminately upon canvas, without form or consistency.

We have premised these remarks, in order that, while we are relating the particular actions of the late Sir Peter Warren, we may be permitted, uncensured, to take a cursory view of naval transactions in general, during the period in which he had the honour to command under the British Flag.