In 1793, Mr. Moubray visited Genoa, Leghorn, Naples, Smyrna, Malta, and Ancona; and he appears to have continued in the Juno until after her remarkable escape from the inner harbour of Toulon[1], when he was discharged into Lord Hood’s flagship, the Victory of 100 guns, on promotion.
On the 27th May, 1794, Mr. Moubray was appointed Lieutenant of la Mozelle sloop, in which vessel we find him present at the capture of two French line-of-battle ships, by the fleet under Vice-Admiral Hotham, Mar. 14, 1795[2].
In July following, la Mozelle narrowly escaped being captured by an enemy’s squadron, consisting of one 80-gun ship and four 74’s, which had been sent from Toulon to attack a small force under Captain Horatio Nelson, employed in cooperation with the Austrian army at Vado.
The enemy were first discovered, under Spanish colours, on the evening of the 6th July, and at day-light next morning it was found that they had gained considerably on the British detachment, which consisted of the Agamemnon 64, Meleager and Ariadne frigates, la Mozelle, and Mutine cutter. La Mozelle, then commanded by Captain Charles Brisbane, had lost her main-top-gallant-mast in the night, which obliged the heroic Nelson to shorten sail repeatedly to support her; and the enemy were so intimidated by his daring behaviour, that they did not open their fire till the British were close in with Cape Corse, which the Agamemnon very fortunately weathered by about half a mile. The Meleager, Ariadne, and Mutine were well to windward; la Mozelle, however, the dullest sailer, being to leeward of it, had no alternative but to surrender, run on shore, or attempt the almost impracticable passage between the rocks near the cape and a little islet, at a short distance from it. Captain Brisbane, with his usual intrepidity, having decided upon trying the passage, la Mozelle bore up, and the Frenchmen, knowing it was impossible to follow, opened their fire in succession to sink her: all the spare sails had previously been spread between decks, with a quantity of tar, and every thing else inflammable, Cap-
