Sicily; you will therefore remain here with H.M. ship under your command, and proceed to carry the articles of capitulation entered into with the French General into effect, conducting the transports in which his troops will embark, to Toulon, whence you will immediately proceed to Palermo, and, after communicating with H.M. Ambassador at that Court, join Lord Nelson, according to the best information which you may receive there of his lordship’s movements.
Commander Compton was subsequently sent by Nelson to Alexandria, in Egypt; and on his return from thence he appears to have been employed in the blockade of Malta, a service for which the Perseus was but badly calculated, she being an old ship, and in a very crazy condition. On her passage from off Malta to Naples, with despatches, she encountered a severe gale of wind, and sustained so much damage, that Commander Compton, instead of returning to his former station, was under the necessity of proceeding to Gibraltar; where, it being found impracticable to repair the Perseus sufficiently for active service, he received orders from Lord Keith to return home with a number of merchant vessels and transports under his protection. After leaving the ruck, he encountered a series of most violent gales, and the ship had frequently from four to five feet water in the hold: his convoy was dispersed, and he reached England in a state of great distress; but had soon the satisfaction to learn that every vessel was safe in port. The Perseus was then ordered round to Woolwich, and put out of commission early in 1801.
After this. Commander Compton’s health became so bad, owing to the fatigues of service, that he was obliged to refrain from soliciting active employment. He married, in 1807, Miss Molloy, niece to Edward Molloy, of Oporto, Esq., and has issue four sons and one daughter. One of his brothers, William, obtained the same naval rank as himself, commanded the Lilly sloop, and was slain in action with a French ship of superior force, on the Halifax station, July 15th, 1804. His other brother, Francis, an officer in the 68th regiment, fell a sacrifice to the yellow fever, while serving at one of the West India islands. One of his sisters
