Captain Thompson and his officers no sooner arrived on board Le Genereux, than they were plundered of every article they had possessed, except the apparel which covered them.  On this harsh treatment, they vainly expostulated with the captain, and reminded him of the different situation of the French officers made prisoners by Admiral Nelson.  He coolly answered—­“I am sorry for it; but, the truth is, that the French are good at plundering.”  Captain Berry expressed his wish to have a pair of pistols returned, and pointed out the man who had stolen them.  Captain Lejoille, Jun. by immediately securing them for himself, proved the truth, in his own person, of what he had just observed respecting French expertness at pillage:  for, though he told Captain Berry that he would give him, in return, a pair of French pistols, to protect him on his journey home, this mean French officer never performed his promise.  To such a pitch, indeed, did these miscreants carry their cruelty and theft, that they purloined the English surgeon’s instruments, while he was performing operations on the wounded; and nearly rendered mortal the wound of Captain Thompson, by forcibly obstructing his attendance.  In short, the miseries suffered by this unfortunate crew, both before and after their arrival at Corfu, were greater than, it is to be hoped, for the honour of humanity, often occurs on such occasions; bad as the usage of the French is generally described to be—­not, indeed, by English speculative writers; but by brave men, speaking from their own melancholy and repeated experience!

On the 2d of October, the Honourable Captain Capel arrived in England, with the joyful intelligence of Admiral Nelson’s glorious victory off the Nile:  a victory which, from the peculiar period at which it occurred, the extent of it’s beneficial effects, and it’s splendid and complete success, excited in every British bosom such rapturous sensations as had never, in the memory of any living person, been before felt by the nation.  General illuminations, both in town and country, were continued for three days; and every other species of public rejoicing, demonstrative of universal admiration, affection, and gratitude, to the Hero of the Nile, and his brave associates in arms, prevailed for several weeks.  Even infants were instructed to articulate the name of Nelson; and to clap their little hands, with transport, in rapturous applauses of the preserver and protector of innocence, from their threatened invaders, the corrupters and destroyers of the human race.

Subscriptions were immediately opened, for the relief of the widows and children of all those brave men who had lost their lives on this glorious occasion; and a large fund was soon established, by a committee at Lloyd’s coffee-house, Cornhill, the beneficial effects of which have since been prodigiously extended.