by John Marshall

“ On the 3d July, 1795, Lieutenant Hall was appointed by his patron to command the Lynx sloop of war, but his commission does not appear to have been confirmed by the Admiralty till Jan. 1796; previous to which, he had been superseded by another officer, on whose demise, in October following, he was re-appointed to that vessel.
Among the captures made by Captain Hall whilst in the Lynx, we find la Solide, l’lsabelle, and le Mentor, French privateers, the latter carrying 14 guns and 79 men. 3340 ”

“ The capture of la Solide was considered by the merchants and inhabitants of St. John’s Newfoundland, a service of great importance to their interests, she having hoisted the bloody flag, and threatened to plunder and lay waste the neighbouring defenceless coast. They accordingly sent Captain Hall a letter of thanks, for the protection he had thus afforded to the colony [1] .
We next find Captain Hall commanding the Assistance of 50 guns; in which ship he conveyed H.R.H. the late Duke of Kent, from Halifax to England, aod arrived at Plymouth Aug. ”