occasion, he was going by himself from Falmouth to Plymouth in a
small punt, fourteen feet long, when his hat was blown overboard, and he
immediately threw off his clothes and swam after it, having first
secured the tiller a-lee. As he was returning with his hat, the boat got
way on her, and sailed some distance before she came up in the wind. He
had almost reached her when she filled again, and he was thus baffled
three or four times. At length, by a desperate effort, he caught the
rudder, but he was so much exhausted that it was a considerable time
before he had strength to get into the boat.

The gratification felt at receiving his commission was soon forgotten,
when he found himself appointed to a guard-ship. He repeatedly solicited
more active employment, and at length took an opportunity to accost Lord
Sandwich in the street at Portsmouth. The First Lord asked him if he
were the young man who had been writing him so many letters; and after a
reproof for accosting him in the street, appointed an audience at the
hotel. He there told him that he could not be employed as he wished,
because he was included in the convention of Saratoga; and when Mr.
Pellew pleaded that the enemy had broken the convention, Lord Sandwich
replied, that was no reason why England should do so too. At length,
after every other plea had been urged in vain. Mr. Pellew took out his
commission, and begged that he might be allowed to return it, declaring
that he would rather command a privateer, than remain inactive while the
war was going on. Lord Sandwich, smiling at his ardour, desired him to
put up his commission, and promised that he should not be forgotten.
Soon after, he was appointed to the _Licorne_.

In the spring of 1779, the _Licorne_ sailed for the Newfoundland
station, under the orders of Captain Cadogan, who had lately superseded
Captain Bellew, her former commander. On her passage out, she engaged
two of the enemy's cruisers, and Lieutenant Pellew's conduct in the
action received the praise of his captain. She returned to England in
December, when he left her to join the _Apollo_, commanded by his
excellent friend and patron Captain Pownoll, who was so delighted to
obtain once more the services of a follower whom he regarded with equal
pride and affection, that he removed for his sake an officer of high
connexions, whose seniority would have prevented Mr. Pellew from being
the first lieutenant.

Mr. Pellew was too soon deprived