Transport vessels for the cancelled British attack on Manila (1797)

Last updated

In 1797 the British East India Company (EIC) chartered a number of East Indiamen and country ships to serve as transport for a planned attack on Manila.

Contents

The vessels gathered at Penang in September and waited there. However, the Government cancelled the invasion following a peace treaty with Spain and the EIC released the vessels it had engaged.

The listing of EIC vessels comes from a report on claims by their captains for payment for their vessels' time. [1] The EIC held several vessels in India to support the expedition. There were eight regular ships: Lord Camden, Busbridge, Minerva, Lord Macartney, Lord Hawkesbury, Sir Stephen Lushington, Phoenix, and General Goddard. There were also three "dismantled ships": Pitt, Lascalles, and Royal Admiral. There were also some EIC "extra ships" on a voyage charter.

The captains of all the vessels sued the EIC for reimbursement for expenses consequent on the delay to their homeward bound journeys, and for the eight regular ships, the additional risks involved in the detours to Penang. In 1800 the court awarded six of the captains of the regular ship £750 each. The court further ordered that the officers of the vessels involved receive some payment.

EIC ships

VesselClaim for transport services (£sd)Claim for demurrage (days)Claim for demurrage (£sd)
Atlantic 7,600 – 7 – 2
Busbridge 2926,083 – 6 – 8
Ceres 591,597 – 18 – 4
Crown 6,753 - 18 - 3
Duckenfield Hall 6,401 – 19 – 2
Earl Talbot 591,597 – 18 – 4
Eliza Ann 13,249 – 6 – 6
General Goddard 1793,729 – 3 – 4
Harriott (or Harriet)10,438 – 3 – 2
Lascelles 2728,440 – 16 – 0
Lord Camden 2064,291 – 13 – 4
Lord Hawkesbury 2074,312 – 10 – 0
Lord Macartney 2174,520 – 16 – 8
Minerva 1062,308 – 6 – 8
Phoenix 2926.083 – 6 – 8
Pitt 2296,655 – 6 – 3
Princess Mary 10,148 – 13 – 7
Princess Royal 5,819 – 15 – 5
Sir Stephen Lushington 2103,192 – 0 – 0

Country ships

The list of the names of the country ships comes from a House of Commons Select Committee report. [2] The charter costs and period come from the Bengal Journal (April 1798; p. 614.) [3]

VesselBurthen (bm)Charter rate
sicca rupees		Period
Abercromby 6008,500/mo.10 June 1797 to 10 February 1798
Ajax4606,000/mo.3 June 1797 to 3 February 1798
Calcutta10,000/mo.25 May 1797 to 28 February 1798
Charlotte350£4,000/mo.Three months advance
Chichester 4506,000/mo.20 June to 20 December 1797
Hercules4506,000/mo.3 June 1797 to 3 February 1798
India80010,500/mo.25 May to 25 November 1797 + 10 days demurrage@£100/day
Munster Lass3503,500/mo.2 June 1797 to 3 April 1798
Nancy70510,0000/mo.11 June to 10 December 1797
Triton 95010,500/mo.25 May 1797 to 25 March 1798
Union3504,000/mo.20 June 1797 to 20 March 1798
Brisk [lower-alpha 1]
Eliza Ann [lower-alpha 2]
Goonony [lower-alpha 3]
Trident [lower-alpha 4]

In addition Martha was lost in the Hooghli River in July "going on an expedition". [4]

Notes

  1. ↑ Purchased for £38,000 for service as a ship's tender.
  2. ↑ Possibly same Eliza Ann as above.
  3. ↑ Fireship
  4. ↑ Possibly HMS Trident, listed by mistake.

Citations

  1. ↑ Asiatic Annual Register for the Year 1805 (1807), p.53–60.
  2. ↑ Select Committee... (1814), p.654.
  3. ↑ Asiatic Annual Register, Or, A View of the History of ..., Vol. 7, pp.43-4.
  4. ↑ House of Commons (1830), p. 979.

Related Research Articles

<i>Hindostan</i> (1796 Indiaman) Ship of the East India Company

Hindostan was an East Indiaman of the East India Company. She was a large vessel of 1,463 tons (bm), launched in 1796 to replace a previous Hindostan that the Royal Navy had bought and turned into a Fourth Rate ship of the line. Her owner was Robert Williams, M.P., who had been the owner of the previous Hindostan.

Minerva was a merchantman launched in 1773 in the East Indies. She traded there for more than 20 years before she made three voyages for the British East India Company (EIC). The first EIC voyage was from 1796 to 1798. In 1799 she transported convicts from Ireland to Australia while under charter to the EIC. From Australia she sailed to Bengal, and then back to Britain. She underwent repairs in 1802 and then traveled to St Helena and Bengal for the EIC. She was lost in 1805 or 1806 under circumstances that are currently unclear.

Phoenix was an East Indiaman, launched in 1785. She made six voyages for the Honourable East India Company (HEIC). On her sixth voyage, while under the command of Captain William Moffat, she captured the French 14-gun privateer Malartic. In 1803 her owners sent her out to India to sail in the coastal trade; her subsequent fate is unknown.

<i>Triton</i> (1787 EIC ship) British merchant ship 1787–1796

Triton was launched in 1787 as an East Indiaman for the British East India Company (EIC). She made three full voyages for the EIC before the French privateer Robert Surcouf captured her in 1796 while she was on her fourth voyage. She returned to British ownership shortly thereafter and the EIC chartered her for three more voyages to Britain. She was based at Calcutta and was last listed in 1809.

<i>Houghton</i> (1782 EIC ship)

Houghton was launched in 1782 and made six voyages as an East Indiaman for the British East India Company (EIC). In 1794 she was part of an EIC squadron that had some success against French privateers and naval vessels in the Sunda Strait, and then in 1796 she participated as a transport in the British capture of St Lucia. She was sold in 1799 and her owner took her out to India to work in the tea trade between India and China. She foundered in 1803.

<i>Nonsuch</i> (1781 ship) India-built British merchant ship 1781–1802

Nonsuch was launched at Calcutta in 1781 as the first large vessel built there. She was designed to serve as either a merchantman or a man-of-war. She spent the first 12 years of her career as a merchant vessel, carrying opium to China amongst other cargoes. After the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars in 1793 her owner frequently hired her out as an armed ship to the British East India Company (EIC). She participated in an engagement with a French naval squadron and recaptured an East Indiaman. She also made two voyages for the EIC. After the Peace of Amiens in 1802 the EIC paid her off; as she was being hauled into a dockyard for repairs she was damaged and the decision was taken to break her up.

Experiment was launched in 1802 and was immediately taken up by the British East India Company (EIC), as an "extra ship" on a multi-voyage charter. She made three voyages for the EIC and disappeared without a trace while homeward bound on her fourth voyage in the same storm that claimed two other East Indiamen.

Martha was built in 1796. The British East India Company (EIC) chartered her for a voyage to Bengal.

Earl Camden Was launched in 1802 as an East Indiaman for the British East India Company (EIC). She made three voyages for the EIC until a fire destroyed her at Bombay in 1810 on her fourth voyage. On her first voyage she was under the command of Nathaniel Dance, who was the commodore of the EIC's homeward-bound China Fleet at the battle of Pulo Aura. In the South China Sea he led the whole convoy into an attack that bluffed a squadron of five French warships into withdrawing.

Regent was launched at Calcutta in 1812 and made four voyages for the British East India Company (EIC) as an "extra ship", that is under charter. She was lost in November 1822 while on the outward-bound leg of her fourth voyage.

<i>Scaleby Castle</i> (1798 EIC ship)

Scaleby Castle was launched in 1798 at Bombay. She made three voyages for the British East India Company (EIC) under charter. At the end of the first she changed to British Registry. Her owners sold her in 1806 to William Moffat, who then entered into a four-voyage contract with the EIC as a regular ship. The EIC purchased Scaleby Castle outright in 1816. She proceeded to make 10 more voyages for the EIC. In all, she made 17 voyages for the EIC, a record. In 1833-35 the EIC ended its commercial activities and sold its vessels. New owners continued to sail Scaleby Castle to China and India. She was last listed in 1841. In 1847 her owners sold her as a hulk.

Streatham was launched in 1805 as an East Indiaman for the British East India Company (EIC). She made seven voyages for the EIC. On her second voyage the French captured her, but the British Royal Navy recaptured her some months later. She was broken up in 1821.

Europe was launched in 1803 as an East Indiaman for the British East India Company (EIC). She made six voyages for the EIC. On her third voyage the French captured her, but the British Royal Navy recaptured her some months later. In 1817 her owners sold her for a hulk but new owners continued to sail her between London and India. She is last listed in 1824.

Asia was launched at Liverpool in 1798. She competed four voyages for the British East India Company (EIC), and wrecked on her fifth. During the second she transported EIC troops to Macao to augment the Portuguese forces there, but the authorities there refused them permission to land. She was wrecked in 1809 on the outbound leg of a voyage to Madras and Bengal.

For the invasion of Java (1811), under the auspices of Lord Minto, the British government hired a number of transport vessels. Most of the transports were "country ships". Country ships were vessels that were registered in ports of British India such as Bombay and Calcutta, and that traded around India, with Southeast Asia, and China, but that did not sail to England without special authorization from the EIC. In addition, some of the transports for the invasion were "regular ships" of the British East India Company (EIC), and some were "extra ships". Regular ships were on a long term contract with the EIC, and extra ships were vessels the EIC had chartered for one or more voyages.

For the invasions of Île Bourbon and Île de France (Mauritius) the British government hired a number of transport vessels. Most of the transports were "country ships". Country ships were vessels that were registered in ports of British India such as Bombay and Calcutta, and that traded around India, with Southeast Asia, and China, but that did not sail to England without special authorization from the EIC. In addition, some were "regular ships" of the British East India Company (EIC), and some were "extra ships". Regular ships were on a long-term contract with the EIC, and extra ships were vessels the EIC had chartered for one or more voyages.

For the British expedition to the Red Sea (1801) the British government hired a number of transport vessels. The transports supported Major-General Sir David Baird's expedition in 1801 to the Red Sea. Baird was in command of the Indian army that was going to Egypt to help General Ralph Abercromby expel the French there. Baird landed at Kosseir, on the Egyptian side of the Red Sea. He then led his troops army across the desert to Kena on the Nile, and then to Cairo. He arrived in time for the battle of Alexandria. Captain Hardie of Shah Kaikusroo was appointed Commodore of the fleet of country ships.

Auspicious was built in 1797. The British East India Company (EIC), chartered her for a voyage to Bengal and back. At Calcutta a fire almost destroyed her. She was rebuilt there some years later. She served as a transport vessel in the British government's expedition to the Red Sea in 1801. She then sailed to England, again under charter to the EIC. In 1811 she sailed to Bengal to remain. She was sold in 1821 either to Malabars or Arabs.

Varuna was launched at Calcutta in 1796. She made four voyages as an "extra ship" for the British East India Company (EIC), and then spent two years as a troopship. She returned to India in 1806. She was lost in 1811, probably in a typhoon.

Glory was an East Indiaman launched in 1802. She made two complete voyages as an "extra ship" for the British East India Company (EIC) before she disappeared in November 1808 while homeward bound from her third voyage. On her second voyage she participated in the British expedition to capture the Cape of Good Hope.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.