“DEAR SIR,—­I hope it happened to me this afternoon to be serviceable to the unhappy sufferers on board the Dutton; and I have much satisfaction in saying, that every soul in her was taken out before I left her, except the first mate, boatswain, and third mate, who attended the hauling ropes to the shore, and they eased me on shore by the hawser.  It is not possible to refrain speaking in raptures of the handsome conduct of Mr. Hemmings, the master-attendant, who, at the imminent risk of his life, saved hundreds.  If I had not hurt my leg, and been otherwise much bruised, I would have waited on you; but hope this will be a passable excuse.

I am, with respect,
Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servant,
ED. PELLEW.”

“Thursday evening.”

The merit of services performed in the sight of thousands could not thus be disclaimed.  Praise was lavished upon him from every quarter.  The corporation of Plymouth voted him the freedom of the town.  The merchants of Liverpool presented him with a valuable service of plate.  On the 5th of March following, he was created a baronet, as Sir Edward Pellew, of Treverry, and received for an honourable augmentation of his arms, a civic wreath, a stranded ship for a crest, and the motto, “Deo adjuvante Fortuna sequatur.”  This motto, so modest, and not less expressive of his own habitual feelings, was chosen by himself, in preference to one proposed, which was more personally complimentary.

Appreciating Mr. Coghlan’s services, and delighted with the judgment and gallantry he had displayed, Sir Edward offered to place him on his own quarter-deck.  It is unnecessary to add that the career of this distinguished officer has been worthy his introduction to the navy.

On the 9th of March the Indefatigable sailed from Falmouth, with the Revolutionaire, Argo, Amazon, and Concorde.  On the 21st, the Indefatigable gave chase to three corvettes, one of which she drove on shore, and destroyed.  On the 13th of April, she fell in with the French frigate l’Unite, on her way from l’Orient to Rochefort, having on board, as passengers, the governor’s lady, Madame la Large, and her family.  The Revolutionaire, which was ordered to chase in shore to cut off the enemy from the land, came up with her a little before midnight.  Captain Cole hailed the French captain, and urged him repeatedly to submit to a superior force; but the enemy refusing to strike, he poured in two destructive broadsides.  He was preparing to board, the frigates at the time running ten knots, when the French ship surrendered.  She had suffered very severely from the fire of the Revolutionaire, without having been able to make any effectual return.  Sir Edward sent the passengers to Brest in a neutral vessel, and finding that one of the junior officers of the prize was a son of Mme. la Large, he took the young man’s parole, and allowed him to accompany his mother.