t.--Visits Cherbourg.--Is introduced to the French
King.--Returns.--Changes at Guernsey.--Prince William Henry
visits the Island twice.--His Reception.--Appearance of
Hostilities in 1787.--Captain Saumarez is appointed to the
Ambuscade, and pays her off.--His Letter on his
Marriage.--Remarks thereon.--Armament of 1790.--Saumarez
commissions and pays off the Raisonable.--War of
1793.--Appointed to command the Crescent.--First Cruise; takes a
prize and saves Alderney.--Second Cruise; captures a
cutter.--Third Cruise.--Return.--Crescent docked and refitted.

Captain Saumarez having paid off the Russell, and distributed his crew
into different ships according to the final orders he had received
from the Admiralty, repaired to London, and after paying his respects
to Earl Howe, proceeded to Guernsey to receive the congratulations of
his numerous friends; but these were far from altering "the natural
bent of his disposition to do good." Instead of becoming elevated by
prosperity, his sincere and unaffected piety induced him to take a
leading part in the establishment of charitable institutions, and in
his own person to give "a striking and useful example of moral and
religious life." But his noble mind was never diverted from the
service and the good of his country; he was constantly attentive to
every circumstance that concerned the duties of his profession, and an
event occurred about this time that peculiarly interested him.

Although this was a period of profound peace, the ambition of France
was constantly awake. It had long been the object of the French
government to form a naval port in the British Channel, for the
evident, if not avowed, purpose of annoying our trade in time of war,
and disputing with us the dominion of the British seas. No labour
however arduous, and no expense however great, could check this
favourite design. The port of Cherbourg, which had long been fixed
upon as being immediately adjacent to our great arsenal at Portsmouth,
became the point of attraction. The unfortunate Louis XVI. had
determined to stimulate this grand undertaking by his presence, when
the first _cone_ was submerged.

The assemblage of the French court opposite our own coast naturally
attracted a number of our countrymen, among whom was Captain Saumarez,
who was induced to cross the Channel probably by a secret wish to
examine the nautical projects of our rivals, to counteract which,
might at som