HMS Cyclops

HMS Cyclops (1839)

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Name	Cyclops (1839)	Explanation
Type	1st class sloop
Launched	10 July 1839
Hull	Wooden
Propulsion	Paddle
Builders measure	1195 tons
Displacement	1960 tons
Guns	6
Fate	1864
Class
Ships book
Note
Snippets concerning this vessels career
Date	Event
19 November 1839	Commanded (until paying off at Woolwich) by Captain Horatio Thomas Austin, Mediterranean (including operations on the coast of Syria in 1840)
27 May 1843 - 29 September 1843	Commanded (from commissioning at Woolwich until paying off) by Captain Horatio Thomas Austin, particular service (Ireland and the "royal squadron" accompanying "Her Majesty's Marine Excursion" in Victoria and Albert to Le Tréport, France and Ostende, Belgium)
23 November 1843 - December 1846	Commanded (until paying off at Sheerness) by Captain William Frederick Lapidge, south-east coast of America, then Channel squadron
29 July 1848 - 15 August 1848	Commanded (until paying off at Portsmouth) by Captain George Fowler Hastings, conveying troops to Ireland
8 September 1848 - February 1851	Commanded by Captain George Fowler Hastings, west coast of Africa
20 June 1855	Commanded by master commander John F. Rees, Mediterranean
April 1857 - September 1857	Commanded by Lieutenant Joseph Dayman, taking soundings for Agamemnon, laying the first Transatlantic cable (initiated 16 August 1858, but stopped working only a couple of weeks later)
15 September 1857	Commanded by Captain William John Samuel Pullen, East Indies and China
*Extracts from the Times* newspaper**
Date	Extract
We 26 September 1838	The Gorgon steamer towed the Venerable, 74, to Plymouth from this port, in 17 hours, the estimated distance 140 miles; the wind being favourable, both ships had the advantage of setting all their canvass. A new steamer to be called the Stromboli, on the plan of the Gorgon, is ordered to be built in this dockyard; but is to have 170 feet length of keel, and is to be launched in April next. Orders have been received at Pembroke-yard, since the failure of the Gorgon, to lengthen, by 12 feet, the Cyclops steamer, now building. ? Portsmouth paper.
Ma 14 September 1840	It appears that neither the Salamander nor Comet steam-vessels are to be paid off; they are equipping at Woolwich, with great despatch; they will be both at Spithead about the last week in September. The Medea will leave Woolwich on the 24th. The Vesuvius is fitting at Chatham for the Mediterranean. These four steam ships will increase Sir R. Stopford's force to 10 powerful steam-vessels of war, he having already the Gorgon, Cyclops, Phoenix, Rhadamanthus, Hydra, and Stromboli; and to which there are several steamers already fitted for guns, &c., employed in the conveyance of the mails, such as the Acheron, Volcano, Prometheus, Megaera, Alecto, &c.
Th 5 September 1844	Woolwich, September 4. — The Eclair steam frigate. Commander Walter G.B. Estcourt, commissioned at Woolwich last week, and having a crew of 145 men, has been ordered to be made ready for sea with the greatest despatch, and at the early hour of 6 o'clock this morning her first lieutenant, P.A. Halket, went on board, and a great number of hands were immediately set to work to complete this fine vessel for service. The activity displayed in the dockyard to have the Eclair ready by Friday, the day named in the order, is equal to the despatch used on a former occasion in fitting out the Cyclops steamer for Ireland, when Captain T. Austin, C.B., commissioned, rigged, and made her ready to proceed to sea in the short space of 36 hours. All hands not in the secret are anxiously asking this morning — are we to have war? Our reply has been, it is not likely, the Eclair is only wanted to form one of the Royal squadron to accompany Her Majesty to Scotland, on a mission of peace to her loyal subjects in that romantic and favoured country, now about to be honoured with the presence of Her Majesty and Prince Albert a second time.
We 6 December 1848	The Coast Of Africa The Siren, 16, Commander Chaloner, arrived this afternoon from the above station. She left St. Paul de Loando on the 1st of October, St. Helena the 19th, Ascension the 25th, and Sierra Leone Nov. 7. The squadron was distributed thus at the latest dates:- The Penelope and Philomel at St. Paul de Loando; the Amphitrite in the Bights; the Tortoise at Ascension; the Alert left Sierra Leone on the 5th of November for the Gambia; the Bittern off Loango and Mayumba; the Bonetta in search of the Commodore; the Britomart cruising between Cape Mayumba and the river Settee; the Contest off Benguela; the Cygnet in the Bights; the Dart cruising off Ambrize; the Dolphin in the Bights; the Favourite gone to Loango with provisions for the Bittern; the Pantaloon, from England, in search of the Commodore; the Ranger, recovered, and gone under sail in search of the Commodore, to report herself all safe; the Rapid left Congo on the 16th of October, to go northward; the Star in the Bights; the Wanderer off Cape Lopez; the Blazer en route to St. Paul de Loando; the Cyclops left Sierra Leone Nov. 6 for Ascension; the Firefly in the Bights; the Grappler in Elephant bay; the Pluto up the river Congo; the Snap tender en route to Ascension; the Sealark and Adelaide sailed from Sierra Leone on the 7th of November, the latter en route to Port Adelaide; the Waterwitch cruising off the Gallinas. Commander Rutherford has invalided from the Commodore's vessel and gone to St. Helena to recruit, and First Lieutenant Charles B. Bayley was made Acting Commander of her. The slave trade was very brisk. The Siren, since she has been on the coast (for the last 12 months cruising off the river Settee), has captured four prizes herself and shares for two others. The Penelope, Siren, and Bittern were lying at anchor in Mayumba-bay on the 5th of August, when a vessel was sighted becalmed; the Penelope got up her steam, went out, and presently made capture of the celebrated slaver "Polka," a fine brigantine fitted for the traffic, and having 24 slaves on board at the time. The Britomart has taken two — one empty, and one having 425 slaves on board. The Dart has taken one empty prize since the last mail. The Philomel, which lay outside of St. Paul de Loando on the 1st of October, reported the Grappler having taken another prize a day or two before, which she had destroyed in Elephant-bay. The Kingfisher had not arrived on the coast. The Siren has latterly been very healthy. She lost a man named Richard Sapper, a supernumerary from the Philomel, yesterday, in a heavy gale; he fell overboard, and although every means which could safely be adopted for his rescue were put in practice, he was lost. Another man, a sailmaker, from the Tortoise, died on the passage. The Island of Ascension was exceedingly healthy, and it was computed that there was a three years' ample supply of good water; all the turtle ponds were full, and vegetation and food for the flocks plentiful.
Fr 16 April 1852	SHEERNESS, Thursday Morning, April 15. Her Majesty’s screw steam frigate Horatio, 22, Captain the Hon. S.T. Carnegie, completed, the adjustment of her compasses yesterday, and was towed to the Little Nore by the Myrtle, where she will this day take in her powder. She is, we are informed, nearly 50 hands short of her complement, which deficiency is for the present to be supplied by the seamen riggers of the dockyard. Her crew are to be paid to-day three months' wages in advance. She is to start forthwith on an experimental cruise to the Scilly Islands, and will not return for 10 days. Her present armament consists of 18 eight-inch guns on her main deck, which throw 56lb. solid, or 68lb. hollow shot, and four ten-inch 84-pounders on her upper deck. Although 381 tons less than the Amphion, 32, she can discharge a heavier broadside. She stows 116 tons of coal, which, when steaming expansively, will suffice for seven days' consumption. On a trial cruise some time since, when light, her average speed per hour by screw propulsion was 8 1/3 knots. The Highflyer is reported to accompany the Horatio on her present trial cruise. Her Majesty's paddlewheel steam-sloop Basilisk, 6, Captain Gardiner, from Portsmouth, brought to off the Little Nore yesterday afternoon, and soon afterwards came into harbour and let go her anchor. Her Majesty's screw steam-sloop Desperate, 8, arrived here shortly after the Basilisk. Her Majesty's ship Nymph was towed yesterday by the Myrtle from her anchorage on the west shore to moorings off the Lapwell. Her Majesty's paddlewheel steam-frigate Cyclops, 6, has been warped to the north side of the fitting basin, to take on board her stores, &c.
Th 15 September 1853	WOOLWICH. Sept 14. The Cyclops steam frigate, in charge of Mr. Alexander Pope, assistant to the master attendant at Sheerness Dockyard, left Woolwich in the forenoon of to-day, with the boilers and engines of the Nile, for Devonport. The Admiralty have decided on discontinuing the Dover mail packet service, and that the mails between England and France shall be carried in future by contract steam-vessels. The present Dover mail steam-packets are — the Garland, Lieutenant-Commander Edward Wylde; the Onyx, Acting Second Master E.C. Rutter; the Princess Alice, Acting Second Master John Warman; the Violet, Lieutenant-Commander Henry P. Jones; the Vivid, Acting Master Luke Smithett; and the Undine, Acting Second Master Edmund Lyne, all paddle wheel steamers. Four of these vessels it is contemplated to dispose of, and reserve two for further service as tenders at some of the naval ports. It is also said that Captain Smithett will be appointed to the command of the Black Eagle, Admiralty steam-yacht, at Woolwich; in that case her present commander, Mr. John E. Petley, will, in all probability, be appointed Superintendent of the Compass Department, which has not been filled up since the death of Captain Johnson.

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