which proved so fatal to the Centaur[1], Ville de Paris, and many other ships. She, however, reached Spithead on the 5th Oct. with the loss of her mizen-mast and fore and maintop-masts, and in so leaky a condition as to render it necessary for her to be immediately put out of commission.
In 1788, when the gallant Cornwallis hoisted a broad pendant on board the Crown, of 64 guns, on being nominated to the chief command in the East Indies, Mr. Giffard, who had previously completed his time as a Midshipman in the Ardent, 64, and Trimmer sloop of war, again joined that officer, by whom he was at length promoted, in 1790, to the rank of Lieutenant, in the Vestal frigate, and afterwards removed successively into the Crown, and Minerva. He continued to serve in India till 1793, when ill health compelled him to return home.
Lieutenant Giffard’s next appointments were to the Theseus, 74, and Queen Charlotte, a first-rate. The latter ship formed part of Lord Bridport’s fleet in the action off l’Orient, June 23, 1795, on which occasion she was very warmly engaged, sustained considerable damage in her masts, sails, and rigging, and had 36 men killed and wounded.
In Feb. 1796, our officer obtained the rank of Commander, in the Raven sloop of war, and on the 1lth of August following sailed from Spithead, in company with a large convoy under the orders of Sir Hyde Parker; who, finding on his approach towards Cadiz, that the French Admiral Richery had left that port, proceeded with his squadron to the West Indies, leaving the Raven in charge of the merchantmen, with orders to conduct them to Lisbon; for the able performance of which important service the thanks of the Board of Admiralty were conveyed to Captain Giffard through Vice-Admiral Vandeput, at that time commanding on the coast of Portugal.
We next find the Raven conveying to Sir John Jervis the intelligence of a British squadron under Rear-Admiral Mann having been chased by the Spanish fleet, in the neighbourhood of Gibraltar. By the former officer, who then held the chief command on the Mediterranean station, Captain Giffard was made post, into la Mignonne, of 32 guns, by commission dated Oct. 19, 1796, and some time after removed into la Maho-
