 He was still in command of "Audacious" when she was ordered to join Nelson's squadron in their search for the French.On 1 August Gould commanded "Audacious" at the Battle of the Nile, engaging the French ship "Conquérant" and helped to force her surrender.Gould then took part in the blockades of Malta and Genoa for the rest of 1798 and into 1799.