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UNIV. OF CALIFORNIA

REYNELL TAYLOR, C.B., C.S.I.

CHAPTER I.

EARLY LIFE.

1822-40.

AMONG the many tablets and monuments adorning the walls of the old parish church of Denbury, South Devon, there is one in the south transept which may be distinguished from the rest by reason of its size and importance. The Latin inscription, after the fashion of the time at which it was written, is of a laudatory character, but it has this advantage over many of the kind-it speaks the truth and tells of praise well earned.

Translated into English the lines of this inscription run

thus:

:

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF

JOSEPH TAYLOR, ESQUIRE,

Who for many years, being in command of a ship of war, discharged his duty most honourably. He was renowned both at home and abroad for his exploits.

With heroic courage he engaged four French vessels which together attacked him. He dyed the sea with the blood of the enemy and dispersed their ships in a miserably shattered condi

tion.

TO VIMU AIMBOLIAD

2

REYNELL TAYLOR

1822

Through the whole French fleet he forced a way for himself singlehanded, and he seldom put into port unadorned with some trophies of war. Dauntless in the face of the enemy, he always

inspired them with terror.

With friends he was always companionable and polite, and they found him ever courteous and amiable. Sincerely religious too— no less remarkable as a good man than as a good warrior, he had been schooled in the science of both warfares, the warfare of the world as well as that of Christ.

Having lived long enough and gloriously enough, with the same brave spirit and constancy with which he had served his country, he died

1733.

6

Joseph Taylor was no common man, and his life was one of stirring adventure. While still young he was taken prisoner at sea and narrowly escaped hanging at the hands of the Duke of Monmouth, for refusing to side against the king. Fifteen years later he played an active part in the wars of the Spanish Succession; was at the taking of Vigo, and brought home the despatches of the capture of Gibraltar. His successes against the enemy's privateers were so continual that he earned for himself the title of the King of the Channel,' and he not only defeated four French galleys and a number of shore boats, when becalmed alone off the Antilles, but he, on one occasion, cut his way through the French fleet, and so brought the news to Sir George Rooke that they were out. For this service he was decorated by the Queen with a gold medal and chain. In 1713 he was employed by the Government to settle some of the numerous fishery disputes in Newfoundland, and on the accession of George I., in the following year, he was offered a baronetcy. This honour, however, he declined,

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