the boats to cut her out; which service they effected in a most gallant manner, bringing her off in triumph, notwithstanding a heavy fire from two batteries at the entrance of the harbour, with the loss of only 1 man killed and 8 wounded. She proved to be le Mondovi, of 16 guns and 68 men, 1 of whom was slain, 5 supposed to be drowned, and 8 dangerously wounded[1].
In the course of the following month, Captain Middleton captured la Corcyre, a French corvette of 16 guns, near Sicily. During the two succeeding years he was employed on the Lisbon station, where he cruised with considerable success against the enemy’s privateers and merchantmen. Among the numerous prizes taken by him, were l’Intrepide, of 20 guns and 160 men; l’Aventure, 14 guns, 132 men; N. S. del Carmen, 2 guns, 21 men; l’Aurore, 8 guns, 33 men; la Legere, 14 guns, 60 men; the Rhuiter, 14 guns, 104 men; Comnesa, 16 guns, 90 men; St. Antonio y Animas, 10 guns, 55 men; and the Cortes of 4 guns; making a total of nine armed vessels, mounting 102 guns, and carrying upwards of 640 men. He was also fortunate enough to re-capture many of their prizes.
In the early part of 1801, the Flora accompanied the fleet under Lord Keith to Aboukir Bay, where she had several men killed and wounded, whilst assisting at the debarkation of the army under Sir Ralph Abercrombie; with whose remains she was soon after sent to Malta, where they were interred in the N.E. bastion of the fortifications of la Valette, on the 29th of April. A black marble stone, laid horizontally, adorned with a Latin epitaph, marks the place of interment. The Flora returned to England in the course of the following month.
Soon after the renewal of hostilities in 1803, we find Captain Middleton commanding the North Foreland district of Sea Fencibles. In the summer of 1805, he succeeded Commissioner Otway in the superintendance of the naval yard at Gibraltar, where he remained until Sept. 1808, at which period he obtained a seat at the Navy Board, where he still continues.
- ↑ Lieutenant W. Russel, who commanded the boats on this occasion, died Captain of the Ceres frigate in 1801, aged 35.
