public despatches, speak in the most honourable terms of the vigilance, activity, and judicious conduct, of all the sea-officers who were employed to co-operate with the army on this expedition; and Lord Keith, in his letter to the Admiralty, Sept. 2, 1801, bears the following liberal testimony to the merits of the subject of this memoir, and the officers who were immediately under his command; “The Captains and Commanders of the ships appointed for guarding the port, have executed that tedious and anxious duty with diligence and success. During my absence from the squadron, the blockade has been conducted much to my satisfaction by Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton.”
On the news of peace arriving in Egypt, Lord Keith returned to England, leaving our officer at Alexandria, to superintend the embarkation of the French army; a service that was conducted with so much celerity, as to excite from the republican General Menou, not only his grateful acknowledgments, but the flattering compliment that “the vigilance of Sir Richard’s squadron had accelerated the reduction of that place, as it cut them off from all supply.”
During the Rear-Admiral’s stay in Egypt, he had the honor of being invested by the Capitan Pacha, with the insignia of the Turkish Order of the Crescent. The ceremony was performed on the spot where the battle was fought, which decided the fate of that country[1].
- ↑ The following is an account of the ceremony that took place on the occasion:
On the morning of the 8th Oct. 1801, Sir Richard Bickerton, accompanied by the Turkish Admiral of the Gallies, and suite, and those officers of the British Navy who had been particularly selected, proceeded from General Hutchinson’s tent, to that of his Highness the Capitan Pacha, and were received by the whole Turkish line, under arms, with music playing and colours flying. The Capitan Pacha, attended by the Pacha of Egypt, the Chief-General of his Highness’s army, and the Reis Effendi, were seated upon a most magnificent sopha. The three latter rose at the approach of the British officers; but his Highness received them sitting. They were placed in chairs on each side of the sofa; Sir Richard Bickerton on the right of the Capitan Pacha. The general officers of the Turkish army and navy stood at the back of their chairs; behind them were ranged his Highness’s retinue, arrayed in their different badges of distinction; and round the tent, in front, were drawn up his body guard.
