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twenty years under the command of Captain (now Sir Philip C. H.) Durham, by Whom, in a letter to the Admiralty, reporting the capture of l’Alcmene French frigate, Jan. 16th, 1814, he is described as a very deserving officer. His first commission bears date Nov. 16th, 1801; and his promotion to the rank of commander took place July 8th, 1814. On the day previous thereto, being then acting in the Heron sloop, he captured an American letter of marque, the Mary, of 5 guns and 32 men. 



first find this officer serving as master’s mate on board the Royal Sovereign 100, bearing the flag of Sir Henry Harvey, K.B. from which ship he was paid off in the spring of 1802. In June following, he joined the Phoebe frigate, Captain the Hon. Thomas Bladen Capel, fitting out for the Mediterranean station.

Shortly after the renewal of hostilities, in 1803, the Phoebe was ordered off Toulon, to watch the enemy’s fleet in that port. On her way thither, when off Civita Vecchia, two French privateers were seen from the mast-head, and, it being then a dead calm, her boats, one of which was commanded by Mr. Boys, were despatched in chase, under the orders of Lieutenant Perkins. After five hours’ rowing, about 10, they came up with one of the enemy’s vessels; but, from an unfortunate medley of disastrous circumstances, were twice repulsed, with the loss of eight men killed and wounded.

On the 1st of the following month, Mr. Boys commanded a boat, under the orders of Lieutenant Tickell, at the capture of two settees, laden with fruit and sundry merchandize, close to the land near Cape Sicie. On rejoining the Phoebe, he was placed in charge of one of these prizes, with orders to proceed, as soon as her sails could be put in order, to Lord Nelson, then on the coast of Catalonia, and from thence to