Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v1p2.djvu/243

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ROSS DONNELLY, ESQ.
665

ate the principal corsair, although a sum equal to 10,000l. sterling was offered for his ransom[1].

We next find our officer with a broad pendant at Alexandria; and he appears to have been there, making preparations for the embarkation of the British troops, &c. &c, at the time when Colonel Sebastiani arrived from Toulon to make a political and military survey of Egypt; the report of which, when published in the Moniteur, by order of the First Consul, produced those angry discussions between Great Britain and France, which terminated in a declaration of war between those countries, and led to the renewal of hostilities throughout Europe.

After the evacuation of Alexandria[2], Captain Donnelly escorted General Stuart’s army, and a number of French soldiers, &c, who had been taken prisoners during the late campaigns in that quarter, to Malta. From thence he proceeded with the latter to Toulon; and subsequently visited Palermo, where he gave an elegant ball and supper to the King of the Two Sicilies, his family, and court. About the same period he conveyed the present King of Sardinia from Cagliari to Naples.

The Narcissus happening to be at Genoa when intelligence arrived of the British minister having left Paris, Captain Donnelly, eagerly seizing the opportunity that presented itself of evincing his zeal for the public service, issued orders for the vessels belonging to English merchants immediately to depart, and in several instances compelled their commanders to get under weigh and quit the harbour contrary to their inclinations, thereby saving a large sum to the underwriters. He then went to Leghorn (where he found the Active frigate, Captain Davers), adopted similar measures, and by his prompt and spirited conduct prevented property to an immense amount from falling into the hands of the enemy. It is here worthy of remark, that a French 74 and four frigates were then lying in Porto Ferrajo; and although they saw him pass on his way to Malta with the vessels he had thus rescued

  1. The sabre alluded to above was given by Captain Donnelly to the Prince of Orange, three days before the battle of Waterloo, and is the same that H.S.H. fought with on that memorable day.
  2. Captain Donnelly and the present Lord Beresford were the last persons who left the Egyptian shore.