“A few days after the submarine inspection, the gun-room officers invited Sir Edward to dinner, to commemorate the 10th of June, the Nymphe’s action, on board the Principe Real, a Portuguese 80-gun ship, used as a hulk by the Indefatigable’s crew, while their ship was repairing.  In the evening, some of the crew took Sir Edward on their shoulders, carried him all over the hulk, and swore they would make him an admiral.”

In her next cruise, the Indefatigable nearly lost her gallant captain.  On the 31st of August she had strong gales and squally weather, the wind flying round from W. by S. to N.E., S.E., and S.W.  In the afternoon the weather moderated.  The ship had been hove to under a close-reefed main-topsail, with the top-gallant yards down, the sea running very high, and the ship pitching much.  It was Sunday, and the captain was at dinner with the officers, when a bustle was heard on deck.  He ran instantly to the poop, and saw two men in the water, amidst the wreck of a six-oared cutter.  One of the tackles had unhooked, through a heavy sea lifting the boat, and the men had jumped into her to secure it, when another sea dashed her to pieces.  The captain stepped into the gig, which was carried over the stern above the cutter, and ordered it to be lowered; and though his officers urgently dissuaded him from so dangerous an attempt, he determined to hazard it.  At this moment the ship made a deep plunge aft, the boat was stove, and the captain left in the water.  He was much hurt, and bled profusely, for he was dashed violently against the rudder, and his nostril was torn up by the hook of one of the tackles.  But his coolness and self-possession did not forsake him, and calling for a rope, he slung himself with one of the many that were thrown to him, and cheerfully ordered those on board to haul away.  As soon as possible, the jolly-boat, with an officer and crew, was hoisted out from the booms, and fortunately saved the men.

This was the third time within the present year that Sir Edward had risked his life to save others.  While the ship was being fitted out, he had been instrumental in saving two lives at Point Beach.  Again, a short time before she sailed, and while she was lying at Spithead, the coxswain of one of the cutters fell overboard.  The captain ran aft, and was instantly in the water, where he caught the man just as he was sinking.  Life was apparently extinct, but happily was restored by the usual means.  Perhaps no man has oftener distinguished himself in this manner; but the splendour of one act of heroism and humanity leaves all the others in the shade.