Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/29

 COSBY. 25 being repaired. Earl Cornwallis embarked on board her as a passenger; but soon after she got to sea she sprung a leak, and was found to be so extremely crazy as to be incapable of proceeding in safety to Europe: his lordship therefore removed into a merchant-ship, one of the Ro bust's convoys, and Captain Cosby bore away for Anti gua. In the following summer, 1782, after having been hove down and refitted there, the Robust sailed for England for a convoy, and arrived safely in the month of July. - Captain Cosby, we believe, held no farther command till the year 1786, when he obtained the rank of esta blished commodore on the Mediterranean station. Sir John Lindsey at that time retiring on account of the i l l state o f his health, the commodore succeeded him a s commander-in-chief. On his arrival there, he hoisted his broad pendant o n board the Trusty, o f fifty guns. He remained i n the Mediterranean till the month o f Sep tember 1790; but, with the exception o f his mission (in 1788) t o the emperor o f Morocco, n o event occurred, during that period, that i s worthy o f record. At that time, some apprehensions were entertained, that the com merce o f Britain might sustain a predatory interruption from the Barbary corsairs; and Commodore Cosby was sent t o visit the different states, and t o arrange such terms with the emperor o f Morocco, a s might ensure the safety o f the English traders. He accomplished the negotiation and treaty with the greatest exactness and precision, and t o the entire satisfaction o f government. On the 21st of September, 1790, the commodore was promoted t o the rank o f rear-admiral o f the red squadron, and appointed t o a command o n the Cork station, i n the Fame, o f seventy-four guns. I n the month o f September, 1791, h e sustained a domestic misfortune, i n the loss o f his nephew, Lieutenant Cosby, o f the army, who was un fortunately drowned a t Cork. - I n 1792 h e was appointed t o command a t Plymouth, a s port admiral, and accordingly hoisted his flag o n board