LOCKER, EDWARD HAWKE, was the son of Admiral Locker, to whom Nelson, soon after the battle of the Nile, thus wrote : "You, my old friend, after twenty-seven years' acquaintance, know that nothing can alter my attachment and gratitude to you. I have been your scholar. It is you who taught me to hoard a French mawof-war by your conduct when in the Experiment. It is you who always said,' Lay a Frenchman close and you will beat him ;' and my only merit in my profession is being a good scholar." The eon, Edward Hawke, was born at East Mailing, Kent, on the 9th of October 1777. He was educated at Eton, which he left in 1795, and received an appointment in the Navy Pay Office. He remained in government offices till 1800, when he went to India as private secretary to Lord Exmouth. From that time till the peace of 1814, he was associated with that distinguished commander in arduous and confidential duties, especially as secretary to the Mediterranean fleet; duties which he discharged with eminent ability. In his official capacity he visited Napoleon at Elba in May 1814; of which visit he published an inter esting narrative after the death of the ex-emperor. In 1815 Mr. Locker married the daughter of an eminent antiquary and philologist, the Rev. Jonathan Boucher, the author of a 'Provincial Glossary,' the publication of which from the posthumous manuscript commenced in 1832, but which has not been continued beyond the letter B. Mr. Locker resided at Windsor from 1815 to 1319, when lie was appointed secretary to Greenwich Hospital. During his residence at Windsor his attention was called to an article in The Windsor Express,' in which was pointed out the deplorable want of books adapted to the large class who had learnt to read under the new system of education in National and other schools. Mr. Locker sought the acquaintance of the writer of that article, Mr. Charles Knight, then the editor of the
Windsor paper; and they together projected and jointly edited ' The Plain Englishman,' almost the first, if not the very first of any literary pretension, of those cheap and popular miscellanies which the growing ability of the great bulk of the people to read Imperatively demanded, in the place of mischievous or childish tracts. Some very eminent friends of sound education, such as the present Archbishop of Canter bury, were among its contributors. Mr. Locker's own papers in the miscellany are excellent models of popular writing—plain, energetic, affectionate. His Lectures on the Bible and Liturgy,' which have been reprinted in a separate volume; 'Lectures delivered to the Crew of the Caledonia, Lord Exmouth's flag-ship,' are admirable examples of clear exposition and earnest exhortation. Mr. Locker, after filling for several years the important duties of secretary to Greenwich Hospital, became the Resident Civil Commissioner of that great insti tution. The improvements which he introduced into its management were results of his active and comprehensive mind. Of these improvements the Naval Schools are striking instances. Himself an accomplished draughtsman and an ardent lover of the arts, he founded the Naval Gallery at Greenwich by his judicious exertions. In 1844 Mr. Locker's health so failed that he gave up his valuable appoint ment and retired upon a small pension, his fine faculties overclouded beyond the hope of recovery. Mr. Locker was the intimate friend of many distinguished men amongst his contemporaries. To use Mr. Lockhart's expression, he was "an old and dear friend of Scott's." Ile died on the 15th of October 1849.