them when they were least expected.  Five hundred sail were despatched by John to the relief of the Earl of Flanders; and on approaching the port of Daunne, in Flanders, they saw it crowded with an immense forest of masts; upon which they sent out some light shallops to reconnoitre, and bring tidings of the enemy’s condition.  The report was, that the ships had not hands to defend them, both soldiers and sailors having gone on shore for plunder.  Upon this the English pressed forward and captured the large ships without difficulty, while the smaller ones they burnt after the crews had escaped.  Having thus mastered the ships outside the harbor, the English advanced to attack those within it; and here the full rage of battle commenced.  The port was so narrow, that numbers and skill were unavailing, while the dispersed French, perceiving the tokens of conflict, came running from every quarter to assist their party.  The English upon this, after grappling with the nearest ships, threw a number of their forces on land; these arranging themselves on both sides of the harbor, a furious battle commenced on land and water at the same instant.  In this desperate melee the English were victorious:  three hundred prizes, laden with corn, wine, oil and other provisions were sent to England:  one hundred other ships, that could not be carried off, were destroyed; and the French king, Philip II. (surnamed Augustus), during the temporary retreat of the English, perceiving the impossibility of saving the rest of his fleet in the event of a fresh attack, set it on fire, that it might not fall into the enemy’s hands.  Thus the first great naval victory of the English destroyed the first fleet that had been possessed by France.”

GRANDY.  “My opinions are no doubt at variance with the world; but it does seem to me, that many of these warfares by sea and land are the most unjust, wanton sacrifice of life and property, recorded in the annals of history.  I know that there are times and occasions when it is necessary to do battle with foreign powers in self-defence, or to relieve the oppressed and defenceless of other nations; such was the glorious object of the battle of the Nile:  but many, many battles are fought with ambition for their guiding star, and high hopes of honor and reward in this life to urge on the combatants, while their zeal in the performance of the work of destruction is dignified with the title of ‘Patriotism.’

“We read continually of great victories; that, related by Charles, is designated a ‘great naval victory,’ and throughout, it breathes nothing but cruelty and unwarranted oppression.  It does not appear that the stratagems used to win a battle are ever taken into consideration:  it is evidently of no consequence how it is won, so long as it is won; and battles are more frequently decided by resorting to means which are dishonorable, to say the least of them, than by fair