Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v2p1.djvu/153

of Sir Charles Morice Pole, with whom he had before sailed in the Colossus. The Agincourt was at Newfoundland during the ensuing summer; and on her return from thence at the close of the season, Captain Ryves received orders to join the armament preparing for the Baltic. These, however, were countermanded; and after serving for some time in the North Sea under Admiral Dickson, we find him conveying General Graham, (now Lord Lynedoch) and the 25th regiment, to Egypt.

The harmony that prevailed between the Agincourt’s crew and the troops has never been surpassed, not one complaint having been made on either side during the passage to Aboukir Bay, where the whole regiment, with the exception of one man, was landed in perfect health. The same corps was subsequently taken back to Malta by Captain Ryves, who appears to have suffered greatly in a pecuniary point of view, as in consequence of the Agincourt not being fitted up for the reception of troops, he was obliged to entertain no less than 10 officers, exclusive of the General, at his own expence, without ever receiving the least compensation from government. Previous to his quitting the shores of Egypt, he was presented by the Grand Seignior with the gold medal of the Order of the Crescent.

We next find Captain Ryves entrusted with the command of a small squadron, consisting of the Agincourt, Solebay, Champion, and Salamine, sent by Lord Keith to take possession of Corfu, where he remained till July 4, 1802, on which day he was honored with the thanks of the Government and Corps Representative of that island. The address presented to him by a deputation of Syndicks and other official personages, was couched in the following terms:

“Three months since, Sir, you saw us as at present, on board the vessel you command, but on a very different occasion. We then came to rejoice at your arrival, and to beg your continuance of those favors by which the English army had already so greatly benefited us. To-day it is to mourn your departure, and to thank you for those benefits arising from your presence; nor can we sufficiently satisfy our hearts, or express our sentiments on this last subject, whatever may be our wishes; to have proved the fact, and made a more lasting acknowledgment, it would have been our pleasure to have added, had not the state of our circumstances, and the ungrateful times in which we live, prevented the fulfilment of our washes. At the same time, sincere gratitude indelibly engraven on the