1797; from which period he served as a volunteer with the present Sir Richard Bickerton, in the Ramillies and Terrible, 74’s, till that officer’s promotion to a flag, Feb. 14, 1709. In 1801, he obtained the command of the Maidstone frigate; and in the following year was sent to the Mediterranean with despatches relative to the ratification of the treaty of Amiens. Soon after his arrival on that station, he conveyed Chevalier de Statinsky, the Russian Ambassador, from Naples to Constantinople, where he had the honor of being presented with a rich pelisse by the Grand Vizier. The Turks at this time appear to have been very grateful for the support they had received from Great Britain during the late contest with France, as may be inferred from the circumstance of their permitting Captain Moubray, who had determined, in compliance with the wishes of Lord Elgin, to remain a few weeks in that neighbourhood, to pass through the Bosphorus and anchor off Beuykdere, for the purpose of avoiding the plague then raging in the capital. A flattering compliment, when we consider their extreme jealousy respecting the navigation of the Euxine, and that a French squadron, which had arrived about the same time, with Marshal Brune, was then lying off the city. On his return from thence to Malta, three swords of very great value were confided to the care of Captain Moubray, as presents from the Sultaun to our late Sovereign, his present Majesty, and the Duke of York.
Soon after the renewal of hostilities in 1803, our officer captured the French brig of war l’Arab, of 8 guns and 58 men, from Athens, loaded with antiques for the Consular government. On the 1st Aug. following, he was appointed by Lord Nelson to the Active, of 38 guns, employed principally as a frigate of observation off Toulon – a service requiring the utmost vigilance and activity; during his continuance on which he was repeatedly chased away by the enemy’s squadron.
On the 18th Jan. 1805, the Active and Seahorse, the latter commanded by the Hon. Courtenay Boyle, were pursued by the whole French fleet, but fortunately effected their escape, although at one time within gun-shot; and the next day communicated the intelligence to Lord Nelson, who was then lying at anchor between the Madalena Islands, situated to the
