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Wasp, 1812
Type: Brig-sloop ; Armament 18
Launched : 1812 ; Disposal date or year : 1847
BM: 387 tons
Notes:

Falmouth 30 Jun 1811 Arrived from Lisbon with mail and dispatches.

Plymouth 1 Aug 1812 Arrived from Topsham.

Plymouth 27 Nov 1812 Arrived from St. Andero (23), with dispatches.

Plymouth 11 Jan 1813 Remains.

Plymouth 29 Mar 1813 Is to proceed shortly to Halifax with despatches.

Halifax 7 Dec 1814 Remains.

Portsmouth 10 Jul 1815 Arrived from the West Indies.

Portsmouth 19 Sep 1815 Arrived from Bremen.

Portsmouth 31 Jan 1819 Is making ready for sea.

Malta 8 May 1828 Had arrived Valletta from England.

Valletta 4 Jun 1828 Has been to Tunis and is expected daily.

24 Jun 1828 Blockading the coast of the Morea.

Malta 16 Nov 1829 Had been despatched to Salonica.

Malta 6 Feb 1830 Is at Egina.

Malta 6 Jan 1830 Arrived from Smyrna.

Palmas Bay, Sardinia 9 May 1830 Expected at Malta from the Archipelago.

At sea 8 Jul 1830 spoke the Messenger packet off Algiers.

Gibraltar 13 May 1831 Sailed to Algiers as escort to refugee ship.

Portsmouth 18 May 1833 Is in dock for repairs.

Portsmouth 6 Jul 1833 Is to be brought forward for commission : was undocked yesterday.

Portsmouth 13 Jul 1833 To be fitted as a brig.

Portsmouth 20 Jul 1833 Commissioned by Commander James Burney.

Portsmouth 26 Aug 1833 Taken out of the basin.

Portsmouth 11 Sep 1833 Sailed to Plymouth.

Portsmouth 7 Sep 1833 In harbour.

Portsmouth 14 Sep 1833 Sailed for Plymouth.

Plymouth 18 Sep 1833 Arrived from Portsmouth.

1 Jan 1834 On the North America and West Indies Station.

Off Barbadoes 16 Jan 1834 Spoke the Gannet.

Barbadoes, Carlisle Bay 18 Jan 1834 Arrived from a cruise.

Barbadoes 5 Feb 1834 Has sailed on a cruise.

Barbadoes 22 May 1834 Remains.

Barbadoes 19 Aug 1834 Is reported to have taken troops to St. Kitt's and has now returned to take troops to Trinidad.

19 Dec 1834 reported to be at Barbadoes.

1 Jan 1835 is reported to have sailed from Barbadoes to Trinidad.

12 Jan 1835 reported to have arrived at Jamaica from Martinique.

Jamaica 28 Apr 1835 sailed for Carthagena.

5 Mar 1836 was reported to have sailed to Vera Cruz.

2 May 1836 at Bermuda.

Jamaica 17 May 1836 arrived from Carthagena.

Portsmouth 15 Apr 1837 arrived here from Jamaica (11 Feb), having been in collision with the Elizabeth in a gale on 4 Apr at lat 48.45 N. ; long 13.54 W. : the Elizabeth, of Newcastle, was en route from Falmouth to Miramichi. The Wasp suffered damage to her foremast and stays and the loss of her bowsprit. The master, Kelly, and 3 men from the Elizabeth got on board the Wasp during the collision. Having got before the wind to make repairs, the Wasp lost sight of the Elizabeth in the poor weather prevailing, so her condition is not known.

20 Jul 1839 at Gibraltar.

12 Oct 1839 at Gibraltar

12 Jan 1840 at Gibraltar

25 Apr 1840 Commander George Mansell appointed to the Wasp, vice Hon. W. D. A. Pelham.

1 Jun 1840 Gibraltar, sailed to Malta, having been relieved by the Jaseur.

7 Aug 1840 arrived Mytelene, from Smyrns, and joined the Flag Officer's squadron.

16 Aug 1840 Alexandria, was off Cape Baba, looking out for the rest of the Turkish squadron, from Constantinople, of which a frigate and a corvette had already made their appearance.

9 Sep 1840 arrived Beyrout.

11 Sep 1840 Beyrout, the Cyclops opened fire on troops in the south part of the bay.

14 Sep 1840 Beyrout, The bombardment continued and the allied troops fortified their positions.

25 Sep 1840 sailed with a squadron, under the Thunderer, to take possession of Sidon.

26 Sep 1840 operations at Sidon. Wounded. Mr. R. M'Guire, Mate, severely. See www.gazettes-online.co.uk of 17 Nov 1840.

18 Oct 1840 it is reported that a Mate, Mr. M'Guire was wounded during the attack on Sidon.

22 Oct 1840 at Beyrout, where sickness has spread amongst the squadron.

2 Nov 1840 Commander Hon. D. W. A. Pelham, late of Wasp, promoted to the rank of Captain.

2 Nov, 1840 arrived off St. Jean d’Acre.

3 Nov, 1840 bombardment of St. Jean d’Acre. Wounded. 5 seamen severely; 1 private marine. Egyptian forces evacuate St. Jean d’Acre overnight and the town was occupied on the 4th by the Turks. See www.gazettes-online.co.uk of 1 Dec 1840.

8 Nov 1840 off St Jean d’Acre, ordered to Malta to refit, having her foremast disabled. See www.gazettes-online.co.uk of 15 Dec 1840.

30 Nov 1840 arrived at Malta, from St. Jean d'Acre.

5 Dec 1840 Mate Rochfort Maguire (1835), of the Wasp, promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, for services, specially recorded, on the coast of Syria.

12 Dec 1840 Commander George Mansel, of the Wasp, promoted to the rank of Captain.

Aug - Nov 1840 Capture of Acre and operations on the coast of Syria. Turkish Medals awarded to the Officers and Men employed during the Campaign. 16 Oct 1844 those onboard between 9 Sep - 10 Oct 1840, and at the bombardment of St. Jean D’Acre, on the 3 Nov 1840, will be paid their respective proportions of the grant voted by Parliament for the said services.

2 Jan 1841 Commander Hon. Anthony Murray, appointed to the Wasp ; Lieutenant W. R. O. Price, appointed to the Wasp;

15 Jan 1841, Malta, sails shortly to join the fleet at Marmorice.

21 Jan 1841, arrived at Marmorice Bay.

12 Mar 1841, Clerk Mr. Ozzard, from the Wasp, appointed to the Powerful.

12 Mar 1841, Clerk Mr. Eales, appointed to the Wasp, vice Ozzard.

10 Apr 1841, Master J. R. Aylen, from the Wasp, appointed to the Dido, vice Knight;

10 Apr 1841, Master Roberts, from Alecto, appointed to the Wasp, vice Aylen.

12 Jun 1841, Purser Mr. Thomas Woodward, from the Wasp, appointed to the Daphne.

4 Sep 1841, Lieutenant W. P. Crozier, of the Wasp, appointed to command the Pantaloon ;

4 Sep 1841, Mate William Mottley (1837), of the Wasp, promoted to Lieutenant. Lieutenant William Mottley, appointed to the Wasp, vice Crozier.

6 Oct 1841, Beyrout, sailed for Caiffa, and will return on or about the 22d.

4 Dec 1841, Malta, arrived from Beyrout.

5 Apr 1846 Slaver Gaio captured. Tonnage Bounty, and Part of Expenses. Prize money due for payment 25 Nov. 1848.

20 Apr 1846 Slaver Gulgo captured. Tonnage Bounty, Proceeds of Hull, &c., and Part of Expenses. Prize money due for payment 25 Nov 1848.

1846 East Coast of Africa.

25 April 1846 The Cases of the " "Felicidade" and the "Echo."- Regina V. Serva and Others.- This case a was argued by learned counsel of the common law bar before the judges at Westminster, on the 13th of November ultimo, but the learned judges having expressed a desire to hear a further argument upon the points in question by learned civilians, they met on Wednesday, in Serjeant's-inn-hall, for that purpose. Sir J. Dodson, Queen's Advocate, and Dr. Phillimore, appeared for the Crown; Dr. Adams for the prisoners Joaquim, Ribeiro, Martinos, and Francisco; and Dr. Harding for the other prisoners, Serva, Majaval, and Alves.

The facts of the case may be thus stated :-The [HMS] Wasp cruising on the African coast for the suppression of the slave trade, and having the necessary printed instructions on board for that purpose, captured the Felicidade, a Brazillian schooner, bound from the Brazils to Africa, for the purpose of bringing back a cargo of slaves, and being in fact fitted up for their reception. The capture was effected by two boats of the Wasp, under command of the Lieutenant, upon whose appearance the captain of the Felicidade immediately surrendered, and was conveyed, with all his crew, except four, on board the Wasp. On the following day these men also were removed, and the prize manned by sixteen British seamen, under the command of the Lieutenant and a midshipman, who had orders to sail in chase of another vessel which had then hove in sight. In pursuance of these instructions, the Felicidade, being manned and commanded as a British vessel, and having the British colours hoisted, pursued, and finally captured the Echo, with a cargo of 434 slaves, the captain surrendered, and being sent, together with twelve of his crew, on board the Felicidade. The Echo was boarded and taken possession of at first by the midshipman and eight seamen ; but the former subsequently returned to the Felicidade, which was placed under his command, with nine seaman, the Lieutenant taking charge of the Echo. Within an hour after this arrangement was effected. the Echo's captain and crew on board the Felicidade rose upon the midshipman, and the prize crew under his command, with a view to gain possession of the vessel, and murdered both midshipman and crew. For this offence they were tried and convicted at Exeter, the learned judge who presided having told the jury that the Felicidade was, at the time the murder was committed, in the lawful custody of her Majesty's officers, and all on board of her within the Admiralty jurisdiction.-

Dr. Adams opened the argument, and contended, in the first instance, that the prisoners had been guilty of no act of piracy. But supposing the prisoners had been guilty of the offence of piracy, the seizure of the Felicidade, he maintained, had not been made in accordance with the provisions of the act of Parliament. conforming to the instructions issued to the Royal Navy, under the treaties which existed between this country and the Brazils He submitted to their lordships that these parties had been wrongfully captured and detained, and the step they took to recover their liberty was justified by the law of nations, and by no means prohibited by the treaty between this country and the Brazils. Dr. Harding followed on the same side. He contended that the prisoners had been guilty of no offence against the law of nations, not even supposing they had actually been engaged in the slave-trade, because slave-trading was not piracy, nor was it contrary to the law of nation.

He next submitted to their lordships that they had been guilty of no offence under or by reason of the treaties existing between England and the Brazils. They were not within the criminal jurisdiction of the British empire ; and even admitting that they had committed an offence against the law of nations, it was of much less importance than the crime of murder.

Sir J. Dodson then replied on the part of the Crown. He said it was contended on the other side that because the Felicidade had not slaves on board at the time she arrived off the cost of Africa, she was, not liable to be deemed and dealt with as a pirate; but he maintained that these parties were pirates, and Lieutenant Stupart was quite justified in deeming them such, and directing their capture accordingly.

If, upon examination, the vessel was found to be a slaver, and to have had slaves on board, she was liable to condemnation ; and if it were only on this ground alone, he should contend; that Lieutenant Stupart was justified in capturing the Felicidade for the purpose of examination. After some further arguments from Sir J. Dodson, Dr. Addams replied. Dr. Harding also replied, and the Court adjourned shortly after five o'clock. No judgment is expected to be publicly given ; but the opinion of their lordships will be communicated in the proper quarter. If it be that the conviction is bad, the Home Secretary will be advised to recommend a free pardon; if the contrary, the law will be allowed to take its course when the respite expires.