roche was also capable of humour which was both subtle and unquestionably intentional. once, upon hearing his opponent john philpot curran expostulate that he could be "the guardian of his own honour", sir boyle offered his "congratulations to the honourable member on his possession of a sinecure." on another occasion, when the opposition tried to cough him down in a debate, sir boyle met the interruption by producing some bullets, with the observation "i have here some excellent pills to cure a cough." his personal courage being beyond dispute, this jest was quite sufficient in those duelling days to procure attention for the remainder of his speech.