His promotion to the rank of Lieutenant took place in the course of the year 1794; and we afterwards find him serving with. Captain Duff, in the Ambuscade and Glenmore frigates, on the North Sea, and Irish stations.
Mr. Duff’s next appointment was to the Foudroyant of 80 guns, commanded by Sir Thomas Byard, with whom he continued on Channel service until that officer’s demise, Oct. 30, 1798. He subsequently joined the Barfleur 98, and proceeded in her to the Mediterranean, where he again removed into the Foudroyant, which ship shortly afterwards received the flag of Lord Nelson, by whom he had the honor of being allowed to remain as one of his Lieutenants.
In Sept. 1799, the subject of this sketch performed a very intrepid and humane action, for which he was deservedly praised, both by his Admiral and Captain, the latter of whom granted him a certificate to the following effect:
“These are to certify that Captain Archibald Duff, when a Lieutenant on board H.M.S. Foudroyant, under my command, in 1799, and when she was lying at anchor in the bay of Palermo, did, in a most gallant manner, jump overboard, and save a seaman belonging to the said ship. This happened in the middle watch, and the night was very dark. The unfortunate man would most certainly have been drowned, had it not been for the exertions of this enterprising young officer.
On the 10th Feb. 1800, Lieutenant Duff assisted at the capture of le Généreux French 74, and a large armed transport, proceeding to the relief of Malta[1]. Soon after this event he joined the ill-fated Queen Charlotte, whose destruction by fire, off Leghorn, has been fully described in our memoir of Captain the Hon. George H. L. Dundas. On that awful occasion Lieutenant Duff was only roused from his sleep by the guns going off as they became heated; and he escaped from the surrounding flames by jumping overboard and swimming to the launch, which was providentially towing astern, and had already been taken possession of by many more men than she could conveniently carry. Mr. Duff fortunately reached her just as they were in the act of casting off the tow-rope, and he had the happiness of being afterwards able to save the lives of several other persons, as appears by the testimony of
