THE WRECK OF THE BUTTON. 51 



lives, in bringing her alongside. The ends of two 

 additional hawsers w^ere got on shore, and Sir 

 Edward contrived cradles to be slung upon them, 

 with travelling ropes to pass forward and backward 

 between the ship and the beach. Each hawser was 

 held on shore by a number of men, who watched 

 the rolling of the wreck, and kept the ropes tight 

 and steady. Meantime a cutter had with great 

 difficulty worked out of Plymouth pool, and two 

 large boats arrived from the Dock-yard, under the 

 directions of Mr. Hemmings, the master-attendant, 

 by whose caution and judgment they were enabled 

 to approach the wreck, and receive the more helpless 

 of the passengers, who were carried to the cutter. 

 Sir Edward, with his sword drawn, directed the pro- 

 ceedings, and preserved order, a task the more diffi- 

 cult, as the soldiers had got at the spirits before he 

 came on board, and many were drunk. The 

 children, the women, and the sick were the first 

 landed One of them was only three week^ old, 

 and notning in the whole transaction impressed Sir 

 Edward more strongly, than the struggle of the 

 mother's feelings before she would entrust her infant 

 to his care, or afforded him more pleasure than the 

 success of his attempt to save it. Next the soldiers 

 were got on shore ; then the ship's company ; and 

 finally. Sir Edward himself, who was one of the 

 last to leave her. Every one was saved, and presently 

 after the wreck went to pieces. 



Nothing could equal the lustre of such an action, 

 except the modesty of him who was the hero of it. 

 Indeed, upon all occasions, forward as he was to 

 eulogise the merits of his followers. Sir Edward was 

 reserved almost to a fault upon every thing connected 

 with his own services. The only notice taken of 

 the Dutton, in the journal of the Indefatigable, is a 

 short sentence : — *^ Sent two boats to the assistance 

 of a ship on shore in the Sound ;" and in his letter 

 to Vice Admiral Onslow, who had hoisted his flag 

 at Plymouth a day or two before, he throws himself 



