ards
its exertions. The young officer, who, like him, has devoted himself to
an arduous service, with nothing to rely on but his sword, may derive
instruction from his example, and encouragement from his success.

Edward Pellew, Viscount Exmouth, descended from a family which was
settled in the west of Cornwall for many centuries, but came originally
from Normandy, where the name is still met with. After the close of the
war he received a letter from a family there, claiming kindred, and
offering the name and armorial bearings in proof. The original
orthography, "Pelleu," was retained until a comparatively recent period.
They are said to have landed at Pengersick Castle, near St. Michael's
Mount, and appear to have remained in that part of the county until the
beginning of the 17th century. They had a family tomb in Breage, a
parish on the eastern side of the Mount's Bay, in which they had
acquired property, and they still possess a small estate in that
neighbourhood. Part of this early history, it will be seen, can rest
only upon tradition; and indeed, it is of very little importance. The
weakness of seeking credit from remote ancestors, for one whose personal
honours require no further illustration, may well be exploded. But there
is one kind of ancestry where an inquiry will always be
interesting--that where the traits which distinguished the founder of a
family may be traced in the character of his forefathers.

The earliest of the family of whom anything is certainly known lived
during the great rebellion at Plymouth, where his loyalty made him so
obnoxious to the republicans, that the mob on one occasion assaulted him
on the Hoe, and plundered his house. A small piece of antique plate,
still preserved, and bearing the date 1645, was the only article of
value saved from them. His son, Captain Pellew, Lord Exmouth's
great-grandfather, served in the navy during the war of the succession.
A very fine portrait of him remains.

Humphry Pellew, the grandfather, was an extensive merchant. He held a
large property in shipping, and traded chiefly to America, where he had
purchased a valuable tobacco plantation of 2,000 acres, in Kent Island,
Maryland. Of this estate, upon which the town of Annapolis Royal is
partly built, the writings remain, but the property was lost at the
revolt of the colonies. No portion of the compensation fund voted by
Parliament was in this instance ever received; and General Washington
afterward