a gold medal in common with the other officers who had shared in the late triumph, and was presented with the freedom of the metropolis, in a gold box, value 100 guineas. He also received the thanks of the Court-Martial held to enquire into the circumstances attending the capture of the Leander, “for the gallant and active zeal he manifested, by giving his assistance in the combat.”
In the autumn of 1799, Sir Edward Berry repaired once more to the Mediterranean, as Captain of Lord Nelson’s flagship, the Foudroyant; and early in the following year had the satisfaction of assisting at the capture of his old opponent, le Généreux[1], and of le Guillaume Tell, a French 80, the only remaining ship which had escaped from the battle in Aboukir Bay. A more heroic defence than that made by the latter vessel is not on record. Her colours were kept flying until she had become an ungovernable log, and sustained a loss of 200 men killed and wounded. During the action which took place on this occasion[2], Sir Edward Berry, who displayed the same matchless intrepidity and able conduct that he had often done before in many trying situations, was hurt in the foot, but not so much as to induce him to quit the deck. The Foudroyant’s total loss was 8 men killed and 61 wounded.
In the month of June following, Sir Edward conveyed the Queen of Naples, her family and attendants, from Palermo to Leghorn, from which place Lord Nelson proceeded across the continent on his way to England, and the Foudroyant to Minorca to refit. Previous to the landing of the above personages, her Sicilian Majesty presented Sir Edward with a gold box, set with diamonds, and a diamond ring.
Towards the latter end of the same year, our officer returned to England in the Princess Charlotte frigate; and during the remainder of the war, he commanded the Ruby, of 64 guns, stationed in the North Sea. His next appointment was in the summer of 1805, to the Agamemnon, another ship of the same class, in which, after having by the most masterly manoeuvres, escaped from a French squadron, consisting of five sail of the line, two frigates, and a brig, he joined Lord Nelson’s fleet, in time to participate in the glorious battle of
- ↑ See Superannuated Rear-Admiral Shuldham Peard, in our next volume.
- ↑ See pp. 377, 643.
