tain) Stupart, and 9 others, badly wounded. It is said that a marine, who had his right arm broke by a grape shot, was asked by Lieutenant Facey, “If his arm was not disabled?” to which he nobly replied, “Yes, it was; but thank God, though he could not pull a trigger with his right, he could wield a cutlass with his left hand;” and in this situation was very active in assisting to board and capture the enemy.
The Success was subsequently employed in the blockade of Malta; and on the 10th Feb. 1800, when the squadron under the orders of Lord Nelson intercepted le Généreux of 74 guns, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Perrée, Commander-in-Chief of the French naval force in the Mediterranean, Captain Peard displayed great judgment and gallantry in laying his frigate across the enemy’s hawse, in which position he raked him with several broadsides. The Success on this occasion had 1 man killed and 9 wounded. Le Généreux was from Toulon, and had on board a number of troops bound for the relief of Malta. A large armed transport, with stores, provisions, &c., was taken at the same time.
On the 9th Feb. 1801, whilst lying in Gibraltar Bay, Captain Peard saw seven ships of the line and two frigates pass to the eastward under a press of sail; and having no doubt but they were French, and their destination Egypt, he immediately determined to put to sea, endeavour to pass them, call off Minorca, and then proceed to Lord Keith with the intelligence. The next morning he came up with them off Cape de Gatte, and passed them in the night. The two following days they were in sight, but very distant, the wind variable and light. During the night of the 12th, the wind blew fresh from the South, and as Captain Peard carried every sail the ship would bear, he imagined his distance would have been greatly increased by the morning; but had the mortification to find the enemy at day-light close upon his larboard quarter. They immediately gave chase; and as our officer saw it was scarcely possible to escape, he determined to run them back to the westward, as it would materially retard, or might bring them in sight of any British ships that should be in pursuit of them. At
