pproaching the English Channel, the Leviathan
was overtaken by a violent storm, and most providentially saved from
shipwreck by the clearing up of a thick fog just in time to avoid the
danger, when they found the ship close to the Rocks of Scilly, near to
the spot where Sir Cloudesley Shovel was lost. This circumstance has
been attributed to a strong northerly current, but it was probably
from the position of these dangerous islands being inaccurately laid
down in the charts; it is indeed an extraordinary fact, that an error
of no less than three leagues in their situation was first discovered
by the Swedish surveyor, Nordenanker, about the commencement of last
war. The Leviathan, nevertheless, arrived safely at Portsmouth about
the beginning of the year 1779, when Lieutenant Saumarez had again an
opportunity of visiting his family and friends in Guernsey.

He had, however, resided there but a short time, when he was appointed
first lieutenant of the Edgar of seventy-four guns, then fitting at
Woolwich for the broad pendant of Commodore Elliot. After receiving
his letter of appointment, he was obliged to wait some time for an
opportunity to cross the channel; but at length availed himself of the
Ambuscade, which touched at Guernsey. Having arrived at the Isle of
Wight, Captain Phipps, her commander, ascertained that the squadron
under Admiral Drake, to which he belonged, had sailed from Spithead;
therefore without touching at Portsmouth to land Lieutenant Saumarez,
he proceeded to join the Channel fleet, which he found twenty leagues
to the westward of Scilly, having on the way retaken the Helena sloop
of war; to command which Sir John Warren, then first lieutenant of the
Victory, was appointed, and Mr. Saumarez was ordered in his stead to
join the Victory, then bearing the flag of Sir Charles Hardy, at whose
request he was continued in that ship, where he was third lieutenant
in seniority, but supernumerary on the books. Besides the
commander-in-chief of the Channel fleet, Rear-Admiral Kempenfelt, as
first, and Captain Collings, as second captain, were both on board the
Victory detached to cruise off Brest, commencing in June 1779, and
returning occasionally to port until May 31st, 1780. After the death
of Sir Charles Hardy, which took place on the 9th May 1780, Admiral
Geary, and then Sir Francis Drake, succeeded to the command, with
Captain Clayton as captain.

The Victory continued on the same service until the spr