Captain Saumarez returns to Guernsey.--His exemplary Conduct.--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 some future period become his duty. This was eventually the case in 1793, when he captured the French frigate Reunion off that very harbour, from which she had sailed only a few hours before the action.