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 men. Rear-Admiral Neilly, it appears, had sailed from Brest purposely to intercept two valuable British convoys, then expected from the Mediterranean; and had he not been obliged to return into port with his crippled squadron, it is probable that he would also have fallen in with the Victory, first-rate, bearing the flag of Lord Hood, who was then returning home, unaccompanied by any other ship. On the 27th May, 1795, the gallant commander of the Alexander (who had been made a Rear-Admiral previous to his captivity) having got back to England, was tried by a court-martial, and, as may well be supposed, most honorably acquitted. The infamous treatment experienced by his officers and crew after they were landed at Brest, and the manner in which his first lieutenant escaped from the ferocious republicans, have been described in p. 702 of Vol. II. Part II.

The subject of this article obtained the rank of commander in May 1796; and died at Fishbourne, near Chichester, Jan. 6th, 1825, aged 72 years.





the royal navy June 1st, 1781, as midshipman on board the Royal Oak 74, commanded by his friend. Captain H. P. Hardisoif, and employed on the North American station. He obtained his first commission in Nov 1793; served as senior lieutenant of the Santa Margaritta frigate, at the capture of la Tamise, a much larger French ship of war, in June 1796; and, for his conduct on that occasion, was immediately afterwards made a commander. The following is an extract of his captain’s official letter, addressed to Vice-Admiral Kingsmill.

“Santa Margaritta, at sea, June 11th, 1796.

“Sir,– I have the honor to inform you, that on the 7th instant, being in company with H.M.S. Unicorn, 18 leagues west of Scilly, we discovered, at 2, three ships about a mile on our lee-beam; and, as the day opened, we perceived them to be frigates belonging to the French nation, which I communicated to Captain Williams, who immediately made sail to join me, and our signal to pass within hail, fur the purpose of