up its blade; this is the time of their feeding on it. They will not be at the pains of searching for it at random in the sown land, for that is more trouble than so small a grain will requite them for; but as soon as these blades appear, they are by them directed, without loss of time or pains, to the places where the grains lie; and in three or four days time they will root up such vast quantities, that a good crop is often thus destroyed in embryo. After a few days the wheat continuing to grow, its blades appear green above ground; and then the time of danger from these birds is over; for then the seeds are so far robbed of their mealy matter, that they are of no value to that bird, and it will no longer give itself the trouble to destroy them.

Wheat that is sown so early as to shoot up its green blades before the harvest is all carried in, is in no danger from these birds; because while it is in a state worth their searching for, the scattered corn in the harvest fields is easier come at, and they feed wholly on this, neglecting the sown grain. But as this cannot always be done, the farmers, to drive away these ravenous and mischievous birds, dig holes in the ground and stick up the feathers of rooks in them, and hang up dead rooks on sticks in several parts of the fields; but all this is of very little use; for the living rooks will tear up the ground about the feathers, and under the dead ones. ones, to steal the seeds. A much better way than either is to tear several rooks to pieces, and to scatter the pieces over the fields; but this lasts but a little while, for the kites and other birds of prey soon carry off the pieces and feed upon them. A gun is a good remedy while the person who has it is present; but as soon as he is gone, they will return with redoubled vigour to the field and tear up every thing before them.

The best remedy the farmer has is to watch well the time of the corn's being in the condition in which they feed upon it; and as this lasts only a few days, he should keep a boy in constant pay to watch the field from daybreak till the dusk of the evening. Every time they settle upon the ground to fly over it, the boy is to holler, and throw up a dead rook into the air: this will always make them rise; and by degrees they will be so tired of this constant disturbance, that they will seek out other places of preying, and will leave the ground even before the time of the corn's being unfit for them. The reason of their rising at the tossing up of their dead fellow creature is, that they are a bird extremely apprehensive of danger, and they are always alarmed when one of their comrades rises. They take this for the rising of an out-bird, and all fly off at the signal.Sir George, a gallant naval commander, born of an ancient and honourable family in Kent, in 1650. His merit raised him by regular steps to be vice-admiral of the blue; in which station he served in the battle of La Hague, on the 22d of May 1692; when it was owing to his vigorous behaviour, that the last stroke was given on that important day, which threw the French entirely into confusion. But the next day he obtained still more glory; for he had orders to go into La Hague, and burn the enemy's ships as they lay there. There were 13 large men of war, which had crowded as far up as possible; and the transports, tenders and ammunition ships, were disposed in such a manner that it was thought impossible to burn them. Besides, the French camp was in sight, with all the French and Irish troops that were to have been employed in the invasion of England; and several batteries were raised on the coast, well provided with heavy artillery. The vice-admiral made the necessary preparations for obeying his orders, but found it impossible to carry in the ships of his squadron: he therefore ordered his light frigates to ply in close to the shore; and having manned out all his boats, went himself to give directions for the attack, burnt that very night six three-deck-ships, and the next day six more, from 76 to 60 guns, together with most of the transports and ammunition vessels; and this under the fire of all the batteries just mentioned, and in sight of all the French and Irish troops: yet this bold action cost the lives of no more than ten men. The vice-admiral's behaviour on this occasion appeared so great to King William, that having no opportunity at that time of promoting him, he settled a pension of 100l. per annum on him for life; and afterwards going to Portsmouth to view the fleet, went on board Mr Rooke's ship, dined with him, and then conferred on him the honour of knighthood, he having a little before made him vice-admiral of the red.

In consequence of other services he was in 1694 raised to the rank of admiral of the blue: towards the close of the next year, he was admiral of the white; and was also appointed admiral and commander in chief in the Mediterranean.

During King William's reign, Sir George was twice elected member for Portsmouth; and upon the accession of Queen Anne in 1702, he was constituted vice-admiral and lieutenant of the admiralty of England, as also lieutenant of the fleets and seas of this kingdom. Upon the declaration of war against France, he was ordered to command a fleet sent against Cadiz, the duke of Ormond having the command of the land forces. On his passage home, receiving an account that the galleons, under the escort of a strong French squadron, were got into the harbour of Vigo, he resolved to attack them; and on the 11th of October came before the harbour of Rondondello, where the French commander had neglected nothing necessary for putting the place in the best posture of defence. But notwithstanding this, a detachment of 15 English and 10 Dutch men of war, of the line of battle, with all the fire ships, were ordered in; the frigates and bomb-vessels followed; the great ships moved after them, and the army landed near Rondondello. The whole service was performed under Sir George's directions, with admirable conduct and bravery; for, in short, all the ships were destroyed or taken, prodigious damage done to the enemy, and vast wealth acquired by the allies. For this action Sir George received the thanks of the House of Commons, a day of thanksgiving was appointed both by the queen and the states-general, and Sir George was appointed to a seat in the privy-council; yet notwithstanding this, the House of Lords resolved to inquire into his conduct at Cadiz. But he so fully justified himself, that a vote was passed, approving his behaviour.

In the spring of the year 1704, Sir George commanded the ships of war which conveyed King Charles III. of Spain to Lisbon. In July, he attacked Gibraltar; when, by the bravery of the English seamen, the place was taken on the 24th, though the town was extremely strong, well furnished with ammunition, and had 100 guns mounted, all facing the sea and the narrow passes to the land: an action which was conceived and executed in less than a week; though it has since endured sieges of many months continuance, and more than once baffled the united forces of France and Spain. This brave officer being at last obliged, by the prevalence of party-spirit, to quit the service of his country, retired to his seat in Kent; where he spent the remainder of his days as a private gentleman.

He was thrice married; and by his second lady Mrs Luttrell left one son. He died January 24, 1708-9, in his 58th year, and was buried in Canterbury cathedral, where a monument is erected to his memory. In his private life he was a good husband and a kind master, lived hospitably towards his neighbours, and left behind him a moderate fortune; so moderate that when he came to make his will, it surprised those who were present: but Sir George assigned the reason in a few words, "I do not leave much (said he), but what I have was honestly gotten; it never cost a sailor a tear, or the nation a farthing."