At length Captains Thompson and Berry, with most of the, Leander's officers, reached their native country. The court-martial, which sat on Captain Thompson, his officers and men, for the loss of their ship, was held on the 17th of December, 1798, at Sheerness, on board the America 64. The following was the sentence pronounced: "The court having heard the evidence brought forward in support of Captain Thompson's narrative of the capture of the Leander, and having very maturely and deliberately considered the whole, is of opinion, that the gallant and almost unprecedented defence of Captain Thompson, of his majesty's late ship Leander, against so superior a force as that of the Généreux, is deserving of every praise his country and this court can give ; and that his conduct, with that of the officers and men under his command, reflects not only the highest honour on himself and them, but on their country at large, and the court does therefore most honourably acquit Captain Thompson, &c." The president, Captain George Tripp, then addressed the captain nearly as follows: "Captain Thompson, I feel the most lively pleasure in returning you the sword with which you have so bravely maintained the honour of your king and country ; the more so, as I am convinced that when you are again called upon to draw it in their defence, you will add fresh laurels to the wreath you have already so nobly won." The thanks of the court were also given to Captain (knighted on the 12th) Sir Edward Berry; and Captain Thompson, upon his return to the shore, was saluted with three cheers by all the ships in the harbour.

Thus had Captain Thompson received from the sentence of a court-martial, as honourable an acquittal as his heart could desire ; and he soon afterwards received, from the hand of his sovereign, a boon which the proudest victor usually, but not more rightfully claims, the honour of knighthood.

As every officer, who was on board the Leander in her action with the Généreux, is entitled to have his name included in the account, we are happy in having it in our power too record the names of the greater part, if not the whole, of those not already mentioned in the return of loss. Her first lieutenant was William Richardson; her second and third, and her master, appear among the wounded. Two master's mates were Jeremiah Russel and John Whitehead ; a third is among the wounded. Her midshipmen were, Charles Hardy, William Reynolds, George Lemprière, John Coates, and Cæsar William Richardson; exclusive of the three killed and the one wounded ; clerk, Charles Bullman; surgeon, boatswain, and carpenter have been already named. The gunner was John Burns, and the purser, Daniel Hogg ; Marine officer there was none on board but sergeant Dair, and he gallantly fell at his post.

It is not a little singular that, towards the close of the preceding war, this same Leander had an engagement with a French

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