And that is the story of how George Walker, by sheer undaunted courage and force of will and example, kept his ship afloat and saved his own and over three hundred lives from a horrible end in mid-ocean: the noblest victory he ever won. When he presented himself before his owners they received him, says the writer, "with marks of esteem, and a joy equal to what had been the claim of the best success." One of the first questions Mr. Walker asked was, whether they were insured? The answer was, "No, nor ever would be in a ship where he commanded"--a remark which, while exceedingly and intentionally complimentary to the gallant Walker, scarcely represents a sound commercial attitude. Walker's next command was a much more important one, for he was, as already stated, placed in charge of a squadron of privateers, all named after royal personages, and known collectively as "The Royal Family Privateers." The vessels were fitted out at Bristol, and were named: Guns. Men. _King George_, George Walker, Commodore 32 300 _Prince Frederick_, Hugh Bromedge, Captain 26 260 _Duke, Edward Dottin_, Captain 20 260 _Princess Amelia_, Robert Denham, Captain 24 150 --- --- 102 970 A formidable force, under such a commander. The _Prince Frederick_, however, got aground in the Bristol Channel, and was compelled to put back and dock: so the three others set forth in company at the beginning of May 1746, and had only been a week at sea when they encountered three French line-of-battle ships, from which Walker escaped in the dark by the ruse of leaving a lantern floating in a cask, while he extinguished all lights and altered his course; but the _Princess Amelia_ parted company and eventually put into Lisbon.