, which certainly was never surpassed
for gallantry and conduct, obtained for her crew the credit they so well
deserved. Lieutenant Dacres, who recovered sufficiently to go home with
the despatches, received promotion as soon as he arrived in England, and
was honoured with a personal interview with the king. He rose to be a
vice-admiral. How Mr. Pellew's services in this, his first action, were
appreciated by his superior officers is best told in their own words. In
a few days, Sir Charles Douglas, the senior officer at Quebec, to whose
command all the Lake service was subordinate, sent him the following
letter:--

"Isis, Quebec, Oct. 30th, 1776.

"SIR,--The account I have received of your behaviour on board the
_Carleton_, in the different actions on the Lakes, gives me the
warmest satisfaction, and I shall not fail to represent it in the
strongest terms to the Earl of Sandwich and my Lord Howe, and
recommend you as deserving a commission for your gallantry; and as
Lieutenant Dacres, your late commander, will no doubt obtain rank
for his conduct, when he reaches England, I am desired by General
Sir Guy Carleton to give you the command of the schooner in which
you have so bravely done your duty.

"CHARLES DOUGLAS."

The report of Sir Charles Douglas, obtained for Mr. Pellew the following
letter from the Commander-in-Chief:--

"Eagle, New York, Dec. 20th, 1776.

"SIR,--The account I have heard of your gallant behaviour from
Captain Charles Douglas, of H.M.S. _Isis_, in the different actions
on Lake Champlain, gives me much satisfaction, and I shall receive
pleasure in giving you a lieutenant's commission, whenever you may
reach New York.

"HOWE."

It is, perhaps, a singular occurrence for a midshipman to be honoured
with a letter of thanks from the First Lord of the Admiralty, but the
service itself was important, and Captain Pownoll strengthened Sir
Charles Douglas' report of his young officer's conduct, by a
communication of his own. Their joint eulogy obtained for Mr. Pellew the
following letter from Lord Sandwich:--

"Admiralty Office, London, Jan. 5th, 1777.

"SIR,--You have been spoken of to me by Sir Charles Douglas and