Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v2p1.djvu/480

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468
POST-CAPTAINS OF 1802.

Early on the 22d a flag of truce arrived from the French General Belliard, with proposals for a conference; and the next morning officers duly appointed by the different chiefs met under the trees near Giza, each attended by a guard of honor. On the 24th the outline of a capitulation was settled, and on the 26th the definitive articles were agreed to.

The surrender of Grand Cairo terminated the daring march which General Hutchinson had planned, and in which he had so resolutely persevered. By its conquest the fall of Alexandria was greatly accelerated, and the possession of Egypt secured. The intelligence of this important event was conveyed to Lord Keith, in Aboukir Bay, by Captain Curry, who went down the Nile in his cutter, carrying with him the strongest testimonials of his able, zealous, and gallant exertions, from the superior officers under whom he had so long served.

In consequence of those recommendations his Lordship was pleased to send Captain Curry home with his despatches, announcing the successes that had attended the British arms, and at the same time to point him out as an officer highly deserving of advancement. On his arrival at the Admiralty he was exceedingly well received by Earl St. Vincent, who ordered him the usual sum of 500l. as the bearer of such momentous intelligence, and gave him every assurance of promotion.

Captain Curry having re-joined the Fury at Malta, and afterwards visited Naples, was returning to England in that vessel when he received a post commission, dated Jan 7, 1802, appointing him to the Tigre of 74 guns; which ship he commanded from May till October of the same year, when she was paid off at Plymouth[1].

Oh the 13th April, 1803, Captain Curry was appointed to the Royal Sovereign of 100 guns; and after fitting her out, we find him commissioning the Prince George 98, from which ship he returned to the former in a very few days. Previous to her sailing from Spithead, the Royal Sovereign bore the

  1. It should be observed that Captain Curry, in common with his brother officers, was twice honored with the thanks of Parliament during the revolutionary war, viz. for his services during the campaigns in Holland and Egypt.