of the Foudroyant; whose Captain, Sir Edward Berry, has justly added another laurel to the many he has gathered during the war.  Captain Blackwood speaks in very high terms of the active and gallant conduct of Captain Long of the Vincejo, during the night; and I beg to mention the services of Captains Broughton and Miller.  The crippled condition of the Lion and Foudroyant, made it necessary for me to direct Captain Blackwood to take possession of the enemy, take him in tow, and proceed to Syracuse.  I received the greatest possible assistance from Lieutenant Joseph Paty, senior officer of the Lion; and from Mr. Spence, the master:  who, together with the other officers, and ship’s company, shewed the most determined gallantry.  Captains Sir Edward Berry and Blackwood have reported to me the same gallant and animated behaviour in the officers and crews of their respective ships.  I am sorry to say, that the three ships have suffered much in killed and wounded; and the loss of the enemy is prodigious, being upwards of two hundred.  I refer you to the inclosed reports for farther particulars as to the state of his majesty’s ships, and have the honour to remain, Sir, your’s most truly,

     Manly Dixon.

P.S.  The Guillaume Tell is of the largest dimensions, and carries thirty-six pounders on the lower gun-deck, twenty-four pounders on the main-deck, twelve pounders on the quarter-deck, and thirty-two carronades on the poop.”

     Sir Thomas Troubridge.”

Copious as the above account of this action may seem, the following affectionate letter of Sir Edward Berry, to Lord Nelson, relates so many interesting particulars of the contest, not elsewhere mentioned, and is so characteristically amiable, that it would be unpardonable to omit such a valuable document.

     “Foudroyant, at Sea,
     Cape Passaro North by East Eight or Nine Leagues.
     30th March 1800.

     “MY VERY DEAR LORD,

“Had you been a partaker with me of the glory, every wish would have been gratified.  How very often I went into your cabin, last night, to ask you if we were doing right; for, I had nothing to act upon!  I thought one ship had got out of La Valette, but I did not know which.  The Minorca hailed me, after I had slipped; and said, Captain Blackwood believed an enemy’s ship had passed on the starboard tack.  The wind was south.  I came aft, and considered for two minutes; which determined me to stand on the starboard tack, one point free.  This was at three quarters past twelve.  After hearing guns on shore, and seeing rockets thrown up, the night remarkably dark, could just carry single reefed topsails, top-gallant sails, gib, and maintopmast staysails.  At one, heard guns to the eastward, saw false fires; then, some rockets.  Put the helm up; brought those rockets, and false fires, to bear two points on the weather-bow; could then carry royal and top-gallant stay-sails, and reefed fore top-mast