by John Marshall

“ Duff, then 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 [7] . 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Duff came home senior lieutenant of the Camilla 20, Captain John Hutt; in which ship he soon returned to the Jamaica station, where we subsequently find him serving as first of the Europa 50, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore Gardner, commander-in-chief. He was promoted to the command of the Martin sloop, employed on the coast of Scotland, in 1790; and advanced to post rank Feb. 9, 1793. These steps he obtained through the influence of the Duke and Duchess of Gordon, who recommended him in the first instance to the patronage of the late Lord Melville, then Treasurer of the Navy ”