Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v1p2.djvu/110

534  the naval service at an early age; was a Lieutenant in 1790; and at the commencement of the war with the French republic, commanded the Bonetta sloop, at Newfoundland, from whence he proceeded to the West Indies. His promotion to the rank of Post-Captain took place April 2, 1794, in which year we find him commanding the Syren, of 32 guns, in the North Sea.

On the 9th May, 1795, Captain Moore assisted at the capture of ten vessels laden with ship timber and naval stores, escorted by an armed brig and a lugger; this convoy had sought protection under a battery, the fire of which Avas soon silenced by the British, but not before the Syren had had 2 men killed and 2 wounded.

Captain Moore’s next appointment was to the Melampus, of 42 guns and 267 men, stationed off the French coast. On the 13th Nov. 1796, he drove on shore, and destroyed, at the entrance of Barfleur harbour, l’Etonnant corvette, of 18 guns; and the same day, in company with the Childers sloop, captured l’Etna, afterwards the Cormorant, of 20 guns. Early in the following year, the Melampus formed part of the squadron sent to escort the Princess of Wirtemberg from Harwich to Cuxhaven.

On the 23d. Jan. 1798, Captain Moore, being on a cruize. to the westward, fell in with, and after a short, but close action, captured la Volage French corvette, of 22 guns and 195 men, 4 of whom were killed and 8 wounded. The Melampus had 2 mortally, and 3 severely wounded. The prize, though a national ship, had been lent to, and fitted out by, the merchants of Nantz. Her commander and officers belonged to the republican marine.

On the day succeeding the action between Sir John B. Warren and M. Bompart, off the coast of Ireland, in which the Melampus had but 1 man wounded, Captain Moore was ordered by the Commodore to proceed to St. John’s Bay, in search of a French frigate which had been seen standing in there on the preceding night. At 10$h$ 30’ P.M. he discovered