Guillaume Tell, a French 80-gun ship, Mar. 31, 1800[1]. The Foudroyant bore the flag of Lord Keith, by whom he was promoted into the Vincejo brig, on the coast of Egypt, in 1802.
Lieutenant Prescott’s next appointment was to the AEolus 32, which frigate formed part of the squadron under Sir Richard J. Strachan, and had three men wounded, at the capture of four French line-of-battle ships, Nov. 4, 1805[2].
Towards the latter end of 1806, Lieutenant Prescott joined the Ocean 98, flag-ship of Lord Collingwood, who promoted him into the Weazle brig, of 18 guns, Feb. 4, 1808.
On the 1st April following, being then off Sardinia, Captain Prescott fell in with a French squadron, consisting of ten sail of the line, three frigates, one brig, and a store-ship, which he closely reconnoitred the next day, and then proceeded with the intelligence to his Admiral, who was at that time cruising, with a more powerful force, near Sicily. Unfortunately, however, Lord Collingwood had to contend with strong westerly winds off Maritimo, and the enemy having rounded Sardinia, were enabled to reach Toulon without molestation.
Captain Prescott was subsequently employed on the coast of Naples, where he gave great interruption to the enemy’s trade, and obliged a French brig of 20 guns to seek refuge under some land batteries. This vessel he-repeatedly dared to battle; but all his endeavours to-entice her out proved fruitless, although eleven Neapolitan gun-boats were in readiness to support her. His spirited conduct on this occasion must have had a good effect, the Weazle’s manoeuvres being witnessed both by the enemy’s troops at Naples, and the English garrison of Capri.
On the 8th Sept. 1808, Captain Prescott assisted at the-capture of four large gun-boats and thirty-four coasting vessels, assembled at Diamante, near the gulph of Policastro, which place he had blockaded with much perseverance, until the arrival of a sufficient force from Sicily to attack them[3].
