BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR OF THE LATE CHARLES BOYLES, ESQ. VICE-ADMIRAL OF THE BLUE

Summary

Unbounded courage and compassion joined,

Tempering each other in the victor's mind,

Alternately proclaimed him good and great,

And made the Hero and the Man complete.

Dryden.

THE following unadorned Narrative of the Public Services of this Gentleman, we in compliance with the wishes of the writer give as we received it. The character of them does not need the aid of literary embellishment to recommend it to those who knew him. The numerous friends who enjoyed his society both in public and private life, can bear testimony to the brilliant and amiable qualities which he possessed and exerted in those respective stations.

His conduct when commanding the Windsor Castle, in the action of the 22d July, 1805, under Sir Robert Calder, with the combined French and Spanish fleets, would be alone sufficient to establish the credit of his public character; but when it is considered that he passed nearly half a century in the naval service of his country, and in every stage of it evinced his title to the successive gradations of honour which he obtained, it must be inferred that the series of his professional exertions were such as to claim the lasting gratitude of his countrymen.

Vice-admiral Boyles was the son of Charles Boyles, Esq. Collector of the Customs at Wells, in Norfolk.