Serves ashore.--Returns to England in the
Leviathan.--Providential escape from shipwreck.--Visits
Guernsey.--Joins the Victory.--A journey to London.--Joins the
Fortitude.--Battle off the Dogger Bank.--Anecdotes of Admiral
Parker.--Mr. Saumarez promoted to the rank of Master and
Commander.--Appointed to the Tisiphone.--Sails for the West
Indies with Admiral Kempenfelt.--Action with Comte de
Guichen.--Captures a French ship of thirty-six guns.--Is
despatched to Sir Samuel Hood.--Arrives at Barbadoes.--Escapes
from two French men-of-war.--Passes through an intricate
channel.--Joins Sir Samuel Hood.--Gallant conduct in cutting
out a vessel.--Tisiphone ordered home.--Fortunate exchange with
Captain Stanhope.--Takes command of the Russell.

After the destruction of his little vessel, the Spitfire, Lieutenant
Saumarez was attached to the division of sailors under Commodore
Brisbane, to whom he became aide-de-camp. This division consisted of
the crews of the frigates and other vessels which had been destroyed,
on the following day in the southern passage, to prevent their falling
into the hands of the enemy. The vessels destroyed, in addition to
those mentioned in the last chapter, were, the Juno, Lark, Orpheus,
and Flora of thirty-two guns, and the Cerberus of twenty-eight.

The artillery and stores had been in part landed, and mounted in
various positions on the island; while the seamen and officers,
amounting to above a thousand men, were actively employed there during
the whole of the siege. Lieutenant Saumarez was stationed latterly in
command of one of the advanced posts, and had several opportunities of
distinguishing himself in repulsing the repeated assaults of the
enemy, and in attacking them in return.

The plans of the French for the reduction of Rhode Island having
failed, and their fleet having been dispersed in a storm, during which
some were disabled, and others captured, and finally the appearance of
Lord Howe with a reinforced but still inferior squadron, induced them
to abandon the project, and, after refitting at Boston, to steer for
the West Indies.

The officers and seamen, being now no longer wanted, were ordered a
passage home in the Leviathan of fifty guns, on board which ship
Lieutenant Saumarez embarked, in company with Captains Dalrymple,
Smith, Hudson, Brisbane, Symons, and Graeme, whose ships had also been
destroyed. As she was a