only between fourteen and fifteen years of age, joined the Active frigate, Captain Richard Hussey Moubray, one of Sir John T. Duckworth’s squadron in the expedition against Constantinople; and he appears to have been employed in her boats at the destruction of the formidable Turkish battery on Point Pesquies[1]. On the 26th Mar. 1808, he witnessed the capture of the Friedland, a Venetian brig of war, mounting 16 long 12-pounders, and having on board the commander-in-chief of the Italian marine.
Early in 1809, the Active, then commanded by Captain (now Sir James A.) Gordon, escorted a fleet of merchantmen to England, and was paid off soon after her arrival. In Aug. following, however, we find her re-commissioned by the same officer, with whom Mr. Duff returned to the Adriatic, where he bore a part in many boat attacks, and also in one of the most severe and brilliant actions, between two squadrons of ships, that has ever been recorded[2]. Among the most important of the former services, were the capture and destruction of two valuable convoys; one in the harbour of Grao, the other near the island of Ragosniza, on the 29th June, 1810, and 27th July, 1811[3].
After the battle off Lissa, Mr. Duff was sent with a party of men, under Lieutenant George Haye, to assist in navigating the Corona frigate, one of the prizes, into port. Early in the ensuing night, that ship caught fire, and the whole of her main-mast and rigging were instantly in flames. The Active was then towing her; but it being known that she had a number of ready primed shells on board. Captain Gordon gave orders instantly to cut her adrift. “She now presented a most awful spectacle, and was quite given up as lost. No possible assistance could be afforded from the squadron, and she had to trust alone to her own exertions. These, however, were not wanting; and by the extraordinary perseverance and coolness of the British officers and men on board, the
