breechings four times over; others drew the ring-bolts from the sides; and many, from getting wet, were repeatedly drawn immediately after loading. The loss sustained was only 19 wounded on board the Indefatigable; among the number, Mr. Thompson, the first Lieutenant. The Amazon had

3 men killed, and 15 badly wounded. The enemy's ship proved to be Les Droits des Hommes, of 80 guns, commanded by Captain ci-devant Baron Le Cross. She was on her retreat from the disastrous expedition to Bantry Bay; and had on board 1750 men, including soldiers; 1350 of whom perished.

In the following year the success of the Indefatigable and the western squadron was remarkably shown by the capture of fifteen of the enemy's cruisers. In 1799 Sir Edward Pellew removed into L'Impétueux, of 74 guns, and served in the Channel fleet.

In June, 1800, he was sent by Earl St. Vincent, with a squadron, consisting of seven ships of the line, one of 50 guns, nine frigates, a sloop of war, and a cutter, having on board a detachment of troops under the command of MajorGeneral Maitland, to co-operate with the French royalists and Chouans, in Quiberon Bay and the Morbihan. But the issue of this enterprise, though not so disastrous and fatal as that which had formerly taken place under Sir John B. Warren, was not attended with any important or permanent success. This was owing entirely to the circumstance of the Royalists being much less formidable than they had represented themselves to be. The forts on the south-west end of Quiberon were silenced and destroyed; several vessels were cut out and captured; but this was nearly the sum total of the result of this expedition.

As so little could be effected at Quiberon, Sir Edward Pellew and General Maitland resolved to make an attack on Belleisle. If this had been done as soon as the plan was matured, it probably would have succeeded; but some delay took place from unforeseen circumstances: the enemy were alarmed and prepared; and on the morning of the 19th

June, General Maitland received information that 7000 troops were assembled on the island. Nothing now could be attempted against Belleisle; the small island of Houat was, indeed, taken possession of for a short time; but this also was abandoned, and the Major-General proceeded for the Mediterranean, where, it was thought, his force might be more beneficially employed.

After the close of this expedition, Sir Edward Pellew was employed with his squadron in the blockade of Port Louis, on which station one of his Lieutenants, to whose brave con-duct we have already alluded, the present Captain Coghlan, performed a most gallant exploit in capturing Le Cerbère, French brig of war.

In the ensuing autumn, Sir Edward, still in the Impétueux, was again attached to the squadron of his old commander, Sir J. B. Warren, in an expedition against Ferrol; and superintended the disembarkation of the troops, which were landed under his directions, without the loss of a single man. Two days afterwards they were reimbarked with equal order and success; after which the squadron proceeded to Vigo, thence to Lisbon, and ultimately returned to Plymouth. He was afterwards placed under the orders of Admiral Cornwallis; and, as Commodore of a division of line-of-battle ships, blockaded the French squadron at Rochefort.

In 1801 he received the honorary rank of Colonel of Marines.

In consequence of the peace of Amiens, Sir Edward Pellew experienced a temporary respite from his professional labours. At the general election in 1802, wishing to obtain a seat in Parliament, he presented himself as a candidate for Barnstaple, in Devonshire. He succeeded completely; for, after a very spirited contest, Mr. Wilson, one of the former members, was thrown out; the numbers being,

William Devaynes, Esq.

Sir Edward Pellew, Bart.

Richard Wilson, Esq.

John Cleveland, Esq.

269

160

85

71

On leaving the hustings, Sir Edward was conducted to a barge, fixed upon wheels, ornamented with laurel, and adorned with colours. This vehicle, manned with a number of prime seamen, with white shirts, and oars in their hands, and steered by a Lieutenant of the navy, in full uniform, then got under weigh, amidst the cheers of the populace.

Mr. Wilson petitioned the House of Commons against Sir Edward's return, alleging a breach of the treating act. Some actual payments of three or four guineas a man were proved; but as these appeared to have been made to non-resident voters, for the purpose of defraying their travelling expenses, the Committee, which had been appointed to try the merits of the election, determined that the sitting member had been duly elected.

Sir Edward does not seem to have taken any very active part in the business of the House; but, on the 15th March, 1804, when an inquiry was moved for, respecting the naval defence of the country, with the view of censuring the administration of Earl St. Vincent, he, instead of contenting himself with a silent vote, delivered his opinion, at considerable length, in favour of that nobleman. He rose in the debate immediately after the Hon. Admiral Berkeley, who had accused the Admiralty of negligence, and had compared the armed vessels which had been sent to the coast of France to so many cockle-shells. The manner in which Sir Edward treated the subject riveted the attention of the House, and drew forth the particular praise of Mr. Wilberforce, who followed him.

On the resumption of hostilities, Sir Edward was appointed to Le Tonnant, of 80 guns, and hoisted a broad pendant in command of five sail of the line, with which he blockaded the French force at Ferrol. Being soon after advanced

When appointed to Le Tonnant, Sir Edward Pellew advertised for a schoolmaster to instruct the young gentlemen of that ship; and, as an inducement to a person of respectability to apply for the situation, offered to pay out of his own purse a yearly stipend of 50l. in addition to the salary allowed by government.

to the rank of Rear-Admiral of the Blue, he received the chief command in the East Indies, and, hoisting his flag in His Majesty's ship Culloden, of 74 guns, proceeded to that station on the 10th of July, 1804.

The reduced state of the French marine at the Isle of France presented no hope of any general action, although the activity of their frigates and inferior cruizers gave constant occupation to Sir Edward's squadron. In February, 1805, Captain Lambert, in His Majesty's ship St. Fiorenzo, fell in with and captured off Vizagapatam, after a very hard-fought action, La Psyche, of 32 guns, commanded by the Admiral's former antagonist, Captain Bergeret, who did not surrender until half his officers and men were killed and wounded.

The meeting of the Admiral and his gallant prisoner on the Culloden's quarter-deck was highly interesting. They embraced with lively feelings of sympathy; and the manly tears then shed found an honest welcome in every heart which witnessed the interview. Three years after, the St. Fiorenzo had the good fortune to capture another French frigate, La Piémontaise, of 46 guns, off Ceylon. The chase continued, with a running fight at intervals, for three successive days, when she was at length brought to close action; but Captain Hardinge (who now commanded her, and had, on a former service, gained much distinction), was killed at the second broadside; and after a very bloody contest the victory was won by his brave first Lieutenant William Dawson.

These and several privateers were the captures made from the French in India. The Dutch, then under their dominion, were more unfortunate. About the middle of November, 1806, Sir Edward proceeded towards Batavia, and on the 27th of that month arrived in the roads, with a squadron, consisting of four sail of the line, two frigates, and a brig. Having previously captured the Dutch East India Company's armed vessel, Maria Wilhelmina, the Terpsichore frigate, preceded by the Sea Flower brig, led through the very intricate navigation of those parts. On discovering the approach of the British force, the Dutch national frigate Phoenix, two

armed ships, and four brigs, followed by the merchantmen, immediately ran on shore, the William corvette having first struck to the Terpsichore, on passing Onrust. The shoal water preventing Sir Edward's ships from anchoring sufficiently near to fire with effect upon the batteries, or on the ships on shore, the boats of the squadron assembled alongside of the Terpsichore, which, with another frigate, had been placed as near as possible to cover them, and were led in to destroy the enemy's vessels, by Captain Fleetwood Pellew, the Rear-Admiral's son, under a heavy fire from them and the batteries. The crew of the Phoenix immediately abandoned her; and, on boarding, she was found to have been scuttled. Her guns, however, were instantly turned on the other ships, whilst the boats were destroying the remainder; after which, she also was set on fire and burnt. Two line-ofbattle ships had quitted the anchorage, or they must inevitably have shared the same fate. The whole of the vessels destroyed and taken in Batavia Roads upon this occasion, including the merchantmen, amounted to about thirty; and, what was more highly gratifying, the loss of men on the part of the British, though exposed to the continued fire of the enemy, was only one killed and four wounded.

Sir Edward subsequently sailed up to Griessee, on the coast of Java. On his approach (on the 11th of December, 1807), the commodore of the Dutch ships (a wretched American) fled from his duty; and thus deserted, the governor gladly compounded for the safety of the town by surrendering two line-of-battle ships and an old frigate which lay dismantled and aground; and these being set on fire, Sir Edward returned to Madras. The conquest of the Danish settlements in the East was among the last of his successes on that station. On the 28th of April, 1808, Sir Edward was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral of the Blue.

Sir Edward retained the chief command in the East Indies until the early part of the year 1809. Previous to his departure, he received an address from the merchants, shipowners, and underwriters of Bombay, expressive of their