"Truth has prevailed over calumny and falsehood; and justice has wiped off the ignominious stain of my supposed want of personal courage or disaffection. My heart acquits me of these crimes. But who can be presumptuously sure of his own judgment? If my crime is an error of judgment, or differing in opinion from my judges, and if yet the error in judgment should be on their side, God forgive them, as I do; and may the distress of their minds and uneasiness of their consciences, which in justice to me they have represented, be believed and subside, as my resentment has done. "The supreme Judge sees all hearts and motives, and to Him I must submit the justice of my cause. "J. BYNG. "_On board His Majesty's ship 'Monarque,' in Portsmouth Harbour, March 14th, 1757._" In his parish church, at Southill, is the following inscription to the memory of this unfortunate officer:-- "TO THE PERPETUAL DISGRACE OF PUBLIC JUSTICE, THE HONOURABLE JOHN BYNG, VICE-ADMIRAL OF THE BLUE, FELL A MARTYR TO POLITICAL PERSECUTION ON MARCH 14, IN THE YEAR 1757: WHEN BRAVERY AND LOYALTY WERE INSUFFICIENT SECURITIES FOR THE LIFE AND HONOUR OF A NAVAL OFFICER." IN INDIAN SEAS. 1758-9. Though the great achievements of large fleets are apt to monopolise fame, it often happens in the story of our English navy that small squadrons in out-of-the-way places show equal heroism in achieving less important results. Of such services the following are illustrations.