52 THE WRECK OF THE DUTTON. 



almost out of sight, and ascribes the chief merit to 

 the officer who directed the boats : — 



" Dear Sir — I hope it happened to me thi& 

 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 

 hsindsome conduct of Mr. Hemmings, the master- 

 attendant, who, at the imminent risk of his hfe, 

 saved hundreds. If 1 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." 

 . Services performed in the sight of thousands 

 could not thus be concealed. Praise was lavished 

 upon him from every quarter. The corporation of 

 Plymouth voted him the freedom of the town. The 

 merchants of Liverpool ])resented him with a valua- 

 ble service of plate. On the 5th of March fol- 

 lowing, 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 feeling, was cho- 

 sen by himself, in preference to one proposed, which 

 was more personally complimentary. 



Appreciating Mr. Coghlan's services, and delight- 

 ed 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 of his 

 introduction into the navy. 



From Osier's " Life of Lord Viscount Exmoiith." 



