He was particularly attentive to the junior part of his crew.  A steady person was employed to teach the ship’s boys, and he always had the best schoolmaster who could be obtained for the young gentlemen.  It was an object much desired to be placed with him, and could he have stooped to make his reputation subservient to his interest in this respect, he might have secured many useful political connections; but this consideration never seems to have influenced him.  Many of his midshipmen had no friend but himself, and rank obtained no immunities, but rather a more strict control.  He once removed from his ship a young nobleman of high connections, and who afterwards became a very distinguished officer, for indulging in what many would consider the excusable frolics of youth; but to which he attached importance, because the rank of the party increased the influence of the example; nor could he be induced by the young man’s friends to reconsider his determination.  The Duke of Northumberland, who had himself known all the duties and hardships of service, could appreciate the impartial strictness of Sir Edward; and when he determined to send into the navy, first a young man whom he patronized, and afterwards his own son, the present Duke, he was happy to avail himself of the services of Captain Schanck, to place them with such an officer.  Acting upon the same principle, he would allow neither of them more than the usual expenses of the other midshipmen.  All who entered a public service, he said, whatever their rank, should have no indulgences beyond their companions.  His sense of Sir Edward’s conduct was shown by a warm friendship, which terminated only with his life.

In a few weeks after the action with the Droits de l’Homme, the mutiny broke out at Spithead, which deprived the country for a short time of the services of the Channel Fleet.  The western squadrons were now of peculiar importance, for they became, in fact, the protectors of the Channel.  The Cleopatra, commanded by the late excellent Sir Charles V. Penrose, was at Spithead when the mutiny took place; but the good disposition of his crew enabled him with admirable address to escape, and she joined Sir Edward’s squadron at Falmouth.  Thence she sailed with the Indefatigable and Revolutionaire on a cruise, in which all displayed extraordinary exertion, as, under such circumstances, all felt the necessity for it.  One incident will mark their zeal and activity.  The Cleopatra carried away her fore-topmast in chase, but replaced it so quickly, that she never lost sight of the privateer, which she overtook and captured.  Several armed vessels were taken; and Sir Edward was careful often to run in with the squadron upon different parts of the French coast, that he might impress the belief that a considerable British force was at sea.