DRURY. 113 seventy-four guns. He commanded this ship under Ad miral, afterwards Lord Duncan, off the coast of Holland, and had an honourable share in the glorious victory, on the 11th of October, 1797, when the Dutch fleet, under Ad miral de Winter, after prodigies of valour, were compelled to yield to the superior prowess of the British. On the 23rd of April, 1804, he was made a rear-admiral; and a vice-admiral on the 31st of July, 1810. Early in life Admiral Drury married a daughter of Ge neral Vallancey, of the engineers, so celebrated for his researches into the Celtic language and antiquities, the remains of the aboriginal inhabitants of these islands, and of the Western continent of Europe. By this lady he has had a large family, and some of his sons are now in the royal navy. Admiral Drury never had the good fortune to be com mander-in-chief of the fleet in a great naval action, but that is an honour which has happened to few. In every rank which the admiral held in the navy, he proved him self an able officer. The last station in which he served, was in the East Indies, where he was commander-in-chief. He prepared at Madras the grand naval expedition which captured the isles of Java, and was anxiously expecting the arrival of ships from Bencoolen, and of the Minden, of seventy-four guns, which had been fitted out at Bom bay for his flag, when he was taken ill, and, after twenty four hours' severe illness, expired on March 6th, 1811, just as the Minden appeared in the offing. His remains were interred in St. Mary's church, Madras, on the fol lowing evening, with every mark of honour and respect. The following anecdotes, characteristic of the good hearted gaiety of his profession and country, will no doubt be acceptable to our readers. When, at the commencement of the last war, it became an object of importance to ensure the safe arrival of the homeward-bound trade from India and China, a fleet was stationed off Cape Clear, for the purpose of protecting them. In this fleet, Admiral Drury had the command of WOL. II. i
