y her representations, that he not only
reprimanded the youngster severely for what he termed his insolence, but
so far forgot himself as to give him a blow. This was not to be borne,
and having consulted his friend Pellew, he applied for his discharge.
Captain Stott ordered a boat immediately, for the purpose, as he said,
of turning him on shore. Pellew instantly went to the captain, and said,
"If Frank Cole is to be turned out of the ship, I hope, sir, you will
turn me out too." Their spirited conduct attracted the notice of the two
lieutenants, Keppel and Lord Hugh Seymour, and laid the foundation of a
friendship which continued through life: and Lord Hugh Seymour, finding
that the boys had no money, very kindly gave them an order on his agent
at Marseilles. Captain Stott afterwards tried to induce them to return,
but not succeeding, he gave them the highest testimonials of their
ability and desert, saying that he believed that they would become an
honour to the service. Mr. Pellew found a master of a merchant vessel on
shore, who had known his family at Dover, and now offered to take him to
Lisbon, but declined to accommodate a second passenger. Mr. Pellew
pleaded so earnestly for his young friend, and so positively refused to
leave him, that the other at length consented to give them both a
passage. From Lisbon they reached Falmouth in one of the packets. Little
could he then suppose that he was next to see Marseilles as a
commander-in-chief, and one day to save it from destruction. Twelve
years after, when he had become a post captain, and was in command of
the _Winchelsea_, he took under his protection a son of Captain Stott,
who was then dead, and did every thing in his power to promote the young
man's interests.

It was now his happiness to sail in the _Blonde_, with Captain Pownoll,
an officer who had been trained and brought forward by Admiral
Boscawen, and whose character was among the highest in the service.
Captain Pownoll soon appreciated the merit and promise of his
midshipman, who returned his kindness with almost the affection of a
son. Such mutual confidence and attachment between a captain and his
midshipman has very rarely been met with; and it was peculiarly
fortunate for Mr. Pellew, that his quick and determined character,
which, with a judgment not yet matured by experience, might have carried
him into mistakes, found a guide so kind and judicious as Captain
Pownoll.

And here it will not be un