THE RIGHT HONOURABLE ADAM DUNCAN, LORD VISCOUNT DUNCAN, KNIGHT OF THE IMPERIAL RUSSIAN ORDER OF ST.ALEXANDER NEWSKI, AND ADMIRAL OF THE BLUE SQUADRON." THE See what a grace was seated on this brow! Where every God did seem to set his seal, To give the world assurance of a Man. HAMLET. 'HE family of Lundie, from whence the noble and gallant subject of the present memoirs is sprung, and of which he is at this time the representative, is of very high antiquity: it was originally styled Duncan of Sea-side, and there is a well authenticated heraldic tradition relative to it, which accounts particularly for its crest—a dismasted Ship, now borne over the Arms of Camperdown. A person belonging to the family, who lived about two hundred years since, being supercargo on board a vessel bound from Norway to his native place, Dundee, was overtaken by a tremendous storm, in which the Ship was reduced almost to a complete wreck, and the crew experienced, in consequence of that misfortune, the greatest extremity of hardship and distress. Contrary, however, to all human expectation, the crew were providentially enabled to navigate their crazy crippled vessel safe into port, and the parents of their fortunately rescued son, who, having considered him as lost to them, were in the most disconsolate desponding state, immediately adopted the crest alluded to, in commemoration of the dangers which their heir had escaped from, as well as in grateful acknowledg、 ment to that Providence which had preserved him. On the establishment of the Presbyterian form of worship in Scotland, the family of Lundie immediately attached themselves to it, and have ever since that time uniformly adhered to the same principles; nor have they shewn less steadiness in their political conduct, than in their religion. Wel. IV. M During the rebellion which broke out in the year 1745, the late Lundie, as the head of the family, according to the custom of Scotland, was always called, and his lady distinguished themselves exceedingly, by their loyalty and attachment to the House of Hanover. Although their possessions could not be considered more extensive than in proportion to the rank of a private gentleman, yet the liberality with which they on every occasion entertained the officers of the Royal Army, and all other adherents to the cause which they espoused, appeared better suited to the affluence of a noble, than the more narrowed income of a person inferior in rank and apparent consequence. As this conduct was the mere efflux of private virtue and honest attachment, unalloyed by the most distant hopes of honour or remuneration, so was the pleasing consciousness of their having supported the just cause and interest of their country, the only reward they ever did, or ever wished to receive*. His Lordship, of whom we have now to speak, was born in the month of July, 1731, and received the first rudiments of education at Dundee. In his earliest infancy he is said most strongly to have displayed that mildness and suavity of manners which have marked his life from his first entrance into the service, and in times when such qualifications (without the smallest offence to the service in general be it said) were somewhat more remarkable in a naval officer, than they are at the present day. So highly was this noble person beloved by his infantine associates, some of whom are yet living, that they still reflect on those hours of childhood, which they passed in puerile amusements with him, as the happiest of their lives: a strong, and incontrovertible proof, * Height of stature, and dignified appearance, have long been the characteristics of this family; for though Lord Duncan, the subject of these Memoirs, measured, at eighteen years of age, six feet, four inches, and being perfectly well prportioned, was considered, with great truth, one of the finest figures, as a man, in the naval service, his father and grandfather are both of them reported to have exceeded that height, enjoying at the same time every possible natural advantage of symmetry and just proportion. that the seeds of sincere friendship, when sown in a proper soil, neither wither nor decay from age; but that the plants they produce, will flourish with never fading verdure, till they have arrived at that period when fate converts them into sorrow and heartfelt regret. The debut of Lord Duncan, as a naval officer, was made either in the year 1746, or the following, when he was put under the command of Captain Robert Haldane, who, we believe, then commanded the Shoreham frigate, and with whom he continued two or three years. After the cessation of hostilities, he was entered in 1749 as a Midshipman on board the Centurion of 50 guns, a Ship then ordered to be equipped to receive the broad pendant of Commodore Keppel, who was appointed commander in chief on the Mediterranean station, for the customary period of three years. Mr. Duncan continued under the command of that able officer during the whole time, and, by his very diligent attention to his duty in the subordinate station he at that time held, attracted the early regard of his commander so strongly, that the attachment of the latter was quickly succeeded by friendship, and friendship by the strictest inti macy. The time necessarily passed by a young man, after his entrance into the service in the capacity of a Midshipman, is rarely diversified with events peculiarly interesting. Those years are the years of probation, in which the naval student is to endeavour, by all the means he possesses, to fit himself, with a laudable ambition of filling the highest rank of that particular line in which his own genius, his particular situation, or the wish of his relatives, have placed him; and it were an act of injustice to Mr. Duncan, were we not to declare his conduct and exertions were such, as though he truly considered that to be his condition. He aimed with a glorious and landable ambition at attaining the most elevated command, and appeared, without the smallest tincture of vanity, conscious of his own ability to deserve it. On the tenth of January, 1755, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. This well-deserved advancement was occasioned by a determination on the part of the British Government to send out General Braddock with a strong military force to North America, where the French had been guilty of a variety of encroachments. Commodore Keppel, who was chosen to command the Ships of war intended to convoy the transports, was not forgetful of the merits of Mr. Duncan, and accordingly seized the opportunity of recommending him so strongly to the Admiralty Board, that he was the first selected for promotion. It is reported of him, and to speak the truth, with much probability, that when passing through Chatham, on his way to London, where his qualifications for his new station were to be properly examined, the inhabitants were so wonderfully struck with his figure and appearance, that they came out of their houses and followed him far as the eye could reach, as though they beheld some strange or unusual prodigy. Mr. Duncan, immediately when he became a Lieutenant, was appointed to the Norwich, a fourth rate, commanded by Captain Barrington, and intended as one of the squadron which was to accompany Mr. Keppel to America. After the arrival of the armament in Virginia, two of the Licutenants on board the Commodore's Ship, the Centurion, being advanced to the rank of Captains, Mr. Duncan was removed into the Centurion, as well that he might be in the surer channel of advancement, as that his friend and patron might the better watch over and cherish those rising abilities which he had beheld, with so much pleasure, in their less mature state. Mr. Duncan continued on board the Centurion till that Ship returned to England, and Captain Keppel, after having for a short time commanded the Swiftsure, being appointed to the Torbay, of 74 guns, procured his much esteemed eleve to be appointed second Lieutenant of that Ship. After remaining on the home station, and |