of 18 guns, in which he cruised with considerable success against the enemy’s privateers and other armed vessels on the Lisbon and Irish stations. He obtained post rank. June 30th, 1797.
From this period until the beginning of the ensuing year, Captain Boyle remained on half-pay. He was then appointed to the Hyaena, of 24 guns, and served in her off Cherbourg, St. Maloes, and the Isle of Bas, until March 1799, when he was obliged to resign his ship in consequence of the injury he had sustained from being thrown out of a carriage, when about to sail for Lisbon.
His next appointment was, in the ensuing month of June, to the Cormorant, of 24 guns; in which;ship, after being for some time in attendance upon the royal family at Weymouth, he was sent to the Mediterranean, and on the passage out captured a Spanish brig of 14 guns and 87 men, and retook an English West Indiaman. On the 20th May, 1800, the Cormorant was wrecked off Damietta, on the coast; of Egypt, when on her way to Alexandria, with despatches from Lord Keith to Sir W. Sidney Smith, containing the ratification of the treaty of El Arish. Contrary to the usages of war, Captain Boyle was kept in close confinement for nearly three months, during which period the French General Menou, into whose power he had fallen, treated him in the most savage manner, telling him that he must consider himself as an hostage for the safety of Bodot, who had been an aide-de-camp to Buonaparte, and was then in the hands of the Grand Vizier.
Having at length recovered his liberty, Captain Boyle joined Sir W. Sidney Smith at Cyprus, and from thence went to Minorca, where a court martial assembled, Nov. 17th, 1800, to inquire into the circumstances by which the loss of the Cormorant was occasioned. The court were unanimously of opinion, that it arose from an error in the reckoning, occasioned by the great incorrectness of the charts, and that the conduct and exertions of Captain Boyle, were highly meritorious and exemplary on the unfortunate occasion; and did therefore adjudge him to be fully acquitted of all blame.
From this period, our officer remained unemployed till the spring of 1803, when he was appointed to the Seahorse frigate, and ordered to the Mediterranean, where he was most
