Grecian, 1838
Type: Brig-sloop ; Armament 16
Launched : 24 Apr 1838 ; Disposal date or year : 1865
BM: 484 tons
Notes:

7 Apr 1839 off Frio, captured the Brazilian slave brigantine Ganges, with 419 slaves on board and was looking for the slaver Commodore, which was expected on the Brazil coast, with 700 Africans on board.

10 Apr 1839 stopped the American vessel Susan, of Boston, Thompson master, near Cape Frio, the boarding officer appearing to have upset Captain Thompson, who has complained to Mr. Stevenson, the US State Department. The response would appear to be that one of the passengers, apparently with Slave Trading interests, used abusive language to the boarding officer, and with the other passengers made it difficult for the boarding officer to see the Captain, in other words the language used by the passenger(s) appears to have produced the problems about which Mr. Stevenson complains.

11 Apr 1839 stopped the Danish vessel Charlotte by firing muskets, which appears to have caused a minor diplomatic incident as the Captain of the Grecian, Lieutenant Smyth, was not authorised to visit and inspect a Danish vessel in accordance with the Treaty between the two countries. A small sum of damages would also appear to be due to the Charlotte for the damage caused. It subsequently transpires that the Charlotte had a short time previously appeared to have been in communication with a known slaver and hence the reason for wanting to stop her, despite the stipulation in the Treaty regarding Commanding Officers requiring the appropriate papers.

11 Apr 1839 detained the slave brig Leal, with 319 slaves on board, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Brazilian Mixed Court of Commission, Rio de Janeiro, and on 17 Jun 1839 sentenced to be condemned.

30 Apr 1839 detained the Brazilian slave brigantine Ganges, with 386 slaves on board, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Brazilian Mixed Court of Commission, Rio de Janeiro, and on 31 May 1839 sentenced to be condemned.

29 May 1839 detained the slave vessel Maria Carlota.

17 Oct 1839 detained the Brazilian brig Dom Joao de Castro, which was sent for adjudication by the British and Brazilian Court of Mixed Commission and circa 24 Mar 1840 was condemned.

10 Dec 1839 at Buenos Ayres.

Jan 1840 in the Rio de la Plata with the Stag, Calliope, Curacoa, and Actaeon, due to the presence of a French force, along with other factors, which has left the coast of Brazil with very few British anti-slavery vessels.

21-27 Feb 1840, salvage monies earned for services to the English barque Lancashire Witch. Salvage monies subsequently being overpaid, another party also subsequently proving their entitlement to a share, were deducted from prize money due for the Maria Carlota.

2 Sep 1840 detained whilst on a voyage from Rio de Janeiro to Campos the slave vessel Alexandre, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Brazilian Mixed Court of Commission, Rio de Janeiro and on 10 Feb 1840 ordered to be restored to her Master, £186 9s. 0d. being awarded by the Crown to or on behalf of captors, in satisfaction of expenses etc., arising from the seizure of vessels alleged to be engaged in the Slave Trade.

25 Sep 1840 arrived Rio Janeiro from a cruise.

1840 the United Services magazine of 1845, Part III, reports that the "notorious" slave vessel Recuperador was detained, circa 1839-40 ?, presumably for being fitted out for the slave trade, but was released and then taken again on the coast of Africa with slaves on board. When brought before the Mixed Court the vessel was acquitted and Lord Palmerston subsequently reprimanded the British Commissioner for signing the sentence of acquittal. A report by a diplomat working in Brazil dated 24 Sep 1840 reports the arrival of the Recuperador, and the fact that she had landed her "cargo" of Africans, having evaded the Grecian and Wizard, who were on the look-out off the coast of Brazil for the returning vessel.

14 Nov 1840 at Buenos Ayres.

Circa 13 Jan 1841 in the Rio Plata.

Jan 1841 cruising on the coast of Brazil, looking out for slavers

12 Feb 1841 Captured slaver Saudade, Tonnage Bounty, Hull and Stores. Prize money due for payment 16 May 44.

25 Feb 1841 detained after departing Rio de Janeiro, en route for Benguello, the Hamburghese barque Louise, Captain Charles Henry Boyes, master, of Hamburgh, on suspicion of being involved in the Slave Trade and sent her to Plymouth, England, where she arrived on 9 May 1841. The case was sent to Hamburgh on 6 Sep 1841 where the Louise was set free, but no compensation was due to be paid by the captor since the vessel was carrying prohibited goods when detained, the captain being unaware that he was breaking the law. Dec 1846, expenses incurred following the arrest of this vessel deducted from the prize money paid to the Sandade now refundable, and due to be paid shortly.

13 Mar 1841 was at Barbadoes.

23 May 1841 left Rio Janeiro on a cruise.

1 Jun 1841 detained the slave vessel Constante, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at the Cape of Good Hope and sentenced to be condemned.

1 Jun 1841 detained the slave vessel Castro, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Brazilian Mixed Court of Commission, Rio de Janeiro, and sentenced to be restored to her Master.

5 Jun 1841 arrived Rio Janeiro with 2 prizes: a bark fitted out for the coast of Africa, and a brigantine to supply the bark with stores. This probably refers to the 2 vessels detained on 1 Jun.

23 Jun 1841 cruising off Buenos Ayres.

8 Aug 1841 arrived Rio de Janeiro.

7 Sep 1841 at the Cape of Good Hope,

24 Apr 1842 detained the slave vessel Jenaviva, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena, and sentenced to be condemned. 16 May 1844 the proceeds arising due for payment.

28 Apr 1842 detained the slave vessel Minerva, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena, and sentenced to be condemned. 16 May 1844 the proceeds arising due for payment.

7 May 1842, the Grecian was reported by the survey vessel Sulphur to have been at St. Helena, the commanding officers being good friends.

29 May 1842 the Grecian and Acorn detained a slave brig, Name unknown, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Sierra Leone and sentenced to be condemned. 27 Mar 1844 the proceeds arising due for payment.

7 July 1842 the Grecian, Brisk and Acorn detained the slave vessel Oito de Decembre. 28 Mar 1844 proceeds arising due for payment.

14 Oct 1842 detained the slave vessel Amizade Feliz, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena and on 16 Jan 1843 sentenced to be condemned. 15 Aug 1844 proceeds arising due for payment.

18 Oct 1842 detained the slave vessel Princeza Dona Francisca, alias Maria Carolina, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena, and on 27 Feb 1843 sentenced to be condemned. 15 Aug 1844 proceeds arising due for payment.

23 Nov 1842 the Grecian when in company with the Bittern detained the slave vessel Sumariva, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena, and on 5 Jan 1843 sentenced to be condemned. 15 Aug 1844 the proceeds arising due for payment.

23 Nov 1842 the Grecian when in company with the Bittern detained the slave vessel Flor de Verao, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena, and on 5 Jan 1843 sentenced to be condemned.

19 Aug 1845, anchored in Rio harbour with the Crescent, Seagull, Penguin, and Spy ; survey vessels Herald and Pandora ; US vessels Raritan, and Bainbridge ; and Brazilian frigate Isabella, when the survey vessels Herald and Pandora arrived.

9 Apr 1846 at Bahia.

4 May 1846 at Pernambuco.

1847 defeated an attempt to retake a prize slaver at Bahia - see p. 366 at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

22 Apr 1848 Captured slaver Bella Miguellino.

20 Dec 1848 SE Coast of America

3 Apr 1850 Slave and tonnage bounties and balance of proceeds of hull &c., of Bella Miguellino, now payable.

10 Aug 1851 To be commissioned at Devonport with a complement of 130 officers and men.

30 Aug 1851 Devonport

Jun 1852 news received that the American brig Camargo arrived off Quillimane, bound for Mozambique. Her subsequent movements are uncertain, but it is reported that she departed the Maindo River in November with 500-600 slaves on board.

Oct 1852 boarded the Portuguese brig Sublima, bound from Lisbon to Mozambique. Whilst nothing was found which would suggest that the vessel was involved in the slave trade, and thus detaining her, it was suspected that she may well be involved.

22-23 Oct 1852 communicated with the Penguin at Quillimane.

The ship's boats have examined the rivers between Lat. 16° 40' and 18° 37' S. to become acquainted with the passages and to ascertain the facilities that they afford the slave trader.

31 Dec 1852 at sea in Lat. 14° 11' S. Long. 45° 43' E.

30 Jun 1853 Simon's Bay,

4 Apr 1854 operation against local imperial troops in conjunction with the Encounter and U.S. corvette Plymouth - see p. 386-8 at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

1860 Devonport.