acted hastily, Mr. Grey himself went to the Duke of Northumberland, as
Sir Edward's friend, to say, that the board would allow him to write a
letter on service, recalling his ill-advised communication. The Duke
sent to Sir Edward's brother, who was then in town, that he might write
to India without delay; but Mr. Pellew at first thought the step
unnecessary. His brother, he said, was not in the habit of acting
without due consideration, and he did not think it would be found that
he had done so now. But next day. Earl St. Vincent called upon the Duke,
and insisted more strongly on the necessity for the step. Sir Edward's
letter, he said, was not a question of this or the other administration,
but an act of insubordination which no ministry could overlook: that his
professional prospects would be entirely destroyed if the board took
cognizance of it; and that extraordinary lenity was shown in allowing
him to recall it. A letter was accordingly written; but before a ship
sailed, Mr. Grey came a second time to the Duke, and told him he had
found, upon inquiry, that Sir Edward was right. He did more; for he
wrote to Sir Edward himself a very kind and handsome letter; and though
opposed to him in political opinions, while Sir Thomas Troubridge was
connected with his own friends, he recalled this officer, whom he
appointed to the Cape, and continued to Sir Edward, as at first, the
entire command in India.

Sir Thomas had with great reason assured himself of a different result.
He prepared immediately to cross the Indian Ocean to the Cape in the
_Blenheim_, though she was utterly unseaworthy, and required constant
pumping even in harbour. She had grounded on a shoal in the Straits of
Malacca, and was obliged to throw her guns overboard, and cut away her
masts, before she could be got off. Her back was broken, her frame
shaken to pieces, and she hogged excessively. In fact, her head and
stern fell so much, that she rose like a hill amidships, and a person at
the door of the poop-cabin could not see the sentry on the forecastle
below his middle. Sir Edward Pellew entreated the Admiral to select any
other ship on the station for his flag. The Captain of the _Blenheim_
formally reported her condition, but was told, that if he were afraid,
he might go on shore, a taunt that compelled the unfortunate officer to
sacrifice himself with the ship's company. The Admiral thought to force
back the broken keel to its place by putting in a