CLERK, JOHN (of Eldin, N.B.), was the inventor of one of the most important parts of the modern British system of naval tactics. In 1779 lie communicated to some friends his notions concerning what is technically called breaking the line.' In 1780 be communicated his plan to Mr. Richard Atkinson, the particular friend of Sir George (afterwards Lord) Rodney, and that distinguished officer, before leaving London, said he would strictly adhere to it iu fighting the enemy. On the 12th of April 1782, when the experiment was tried for the first time, it led to Rodney's decisive victory over the French, under De Grasse, in the West Indies. From that time the principle has been fre quently adopted; and during the war with France, under Napoleon I., when Howe, Nelson, and others executed the manoeuvre in perfection, it was uniformly attended with success. His views were embodied in 'An Essay on Naval Tactics, systematical and historical, with explana tory plates, in 4 parts, by John Clerk, Esq., of Eldin, &c.' (see also an excellent article in the 'Edinburgh Review,' vol. vi. p. 301). A few copies of the first part of this valuable essay were distributed among friends in the beginning of 1782. This part was reprinted and pub lished in 1790, and the second, third, and fourth parts were added in 1797. Mr. Clerk was no sailor, and had never oven made a single sea voyage.
Such is the account given by Mr. Clerk's relatives and friends, but it has been indignantly contradicted in various publications by General Sir Howard Douglas. In a circumstantial narrative of Admiral Rodney's battle, he proves that the passage of the British through the enemy's line, and thereby cutting off the rear shipe, arose from the chance position of the two fleets, and was one of those happy and unpremeditated decisions of the moment which always characterise a great and successful commander. By a close examination of dates, he al'o shows that Mr. Clerk's ingenious essay could not have been com municated to Lord Rodney before the engagement took place; and he supports these statements by letters and other documents which have fallen Into his hands since the death of his father, the late Admiral Sir Charles Douglas, who was at that time Roduey'a 'captain of the fleet,' and therefore minutely acquainted with all the transactions. (See the several publications on this subject by Lioutenaut-General Sir Howard Douglas, Bart.) Other writers have taken part in the contro versy, but, as far as we are aware, nothing material has been added beyond what is stated above. Mr:Clerk died in July 1812.