pointed towards the close of the year 1789, first Lieutenant of the Adamant, a 50-gun ship, then fitting to receive the flag of Sir Richard Hughes, by whom he was promoted to the rank of Commander, in the Brisk sloop, early in 1790.
Returning to England in the ensuing summer, the Brisk was paid off at Portsmouth; but our officer soon after commissioned the Tisiphone fireship, attached to Lord Howe’s fleet, in which he remained until the termination of the dispute with Spain respecting Nootka Sound, and at the general promotion November 22nd following, was advanced to the rank of Post-Captain. His next appointment was in May 1791, to the Lapwing of 28 guns, on the Mediterranean station, where he served under the orders of Admirals Peyton and Goodall; and on the French army taking possession of Nice, in 1792, he was sent to Villa Franca for the purpose of affording protection to the British subjects and their property at the former place. Whilst on that service he received many insults in consequence of his refusing to salute the revolutionary flag and wear the national cockade, to induce him to do which the French used both entreaties and menaces. At length, on his taking advantage of a fortunate circumstance to put to sea, the republicans, who had not been prepared for such a sudden movement, on perceiving him tinder sail and out of reach of the castle, made signals to their ships in the offing to intercept him; but the French squadron being far to the westward of the port, could not arrive in time to cut him off and prevent his rejoining the British Admiral in Leghorn road.
In the spring of 1793, Captain Curzon convoyed home a great number of English and Dutch merchantmen from Gibraltar, and immediately after his arrival received orders to repeat signals to the rear division of Earl Howe’s fleet. For his conduct on that service he received a warm recommendation from the Commander-in-Chief to the first Lord of the Admiralty; and in compliance with that gallant veteran’s request was appointed to the Pallas, a frigate on a new construction, mounting 32 18-pounders, in which ship he served with the Channel and Mediterranean fleets under Lords Howe, Bridport, and St. Vincent, and was also present at the masterly retreat of the Hon. William Cornwallis, before the fleet commanded by Admiral Villaret de Joyeuse, off l’Orient, an
