a commodious bay on the S.E. of Devonshire, at once the most perfect in form, and the most beautifully picturesque in Britain; of great importance to the naval power of the empire, as it is capable of affording shelter and anchorage to any number of even the largest vessels. The bay is formed by the projection of two rocky promontories, that on the north being named Hope's Nose, and that on the south Berry Head. The distance between these two points is about 4 miles; the depth of the bay from east to west is about 3½ miles; and the extent of the semilunar coast from Hope's Nose to Berry Head is about 12 miles. Near to the northern extremity is a sheltered recess in which is situated the singularly beautiful town of Torquay (which see); at about the middle of the bay is Paignton, a cheerful town, having the advantage of exten-
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1 Delille, Les Jardins. 2 Dryden, The Flower and the Leaf. TORDENSKIOld, Peter Wessel, a distinguished vice-admiral of the Danish navy, was the son of obscure parents, and was born at Drontheim in Norway, on the 28th of October 1691. He was originally apprenticed to a barber, but disliking this trade he ran away to sea. He engaged as a common sailor in the service of the East India Company, and at the end of three years he received the appointment of midshipman in the royal navy. From 1709 to 1711, he commanded a small privateer, with which he made many prizes. In 1712, he was advanced to the rank of lieutenant, and ere the middle of summer he and his small frigate met with a Swedish ship, of double the size of his own, which he almost annihilated. In 1715, he was despatched to reconnoitre the Swedish fleet, when, by his extraordinary skill and boldness, he destroyed four ships of the enemy's line and three frigates, besides capturing another frigate, and carrying her in triumph to head-quarters. For this exploit he was raised to the rank of commodore. Again, on the 7th of August 1716, he encountered the Swedish fleet, commanded by Admiral Wachtmeister, when the enemy, who possessed double the number of ships of the Danish commander, experienced a total defeat. It is said that this terrible engagement was watched steadily by Charles XII., from an eminence in the Island of Rügen. This victory was commemorated by a gold medal, which the king permitted him to wear suspended by the blue ribbon of the Order of the Elephant. In 1717, Commodore Wessel was raised to the rank of a nobleman, by the title of Tordenskiold (shield against thunder). During the same year he took Marstrand, one of the most important Swedish fortifications in the Cattegat. When peace came in 1720, Tordenskiold set out to travel. At Hanover, whither he had gone to visit George II., he met a gambling count, who ran him through the body in a duel, and he expired in a few moments. Foul play was suspected to have been instigated from a higher quarter. Tordenskiold died in 1720.