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| Name | Rover (1874) | Explanation | |
| Type | Corvette | ||
| Launched | 12 August 1874 | ||
| Hull | Iron | ||
| Propulsion | Screw | ||
| Builders measure | |||
| Displacement | 3490 tons | ||
| Guns | 18 | ||
| Fate | 1893 | ||
| Class | Volage | ||
| Ships book | |||
| Note | |||
| Snippets concerning this vessels career | |||
| Date | Event | ||
| 14 December 1875 - 3 May 1879 | Commanded (from commissioning at Chatham) by Captain Thomas Barnardiston, North America and West Indies | ||
| 21 September 1885 - 6 November 1888 | Commanded by Captain Gerard Henry Uctred Noel, training squadron | ||
| Extracts from the Times newspaper | |||
| Date | Extract | ||
| Tu 22 April 1873 | Five vessels for the Royal Navy have been completed during the past quarter, and there are 22 others in course of construction at the various Government dockyards and private firms. The vessels completed are the Encounter, screw corvette of 1,890 (1,405) tons, 2,149 (350) horse-power, which has been built at Sheerness; the iron-screw frigate Raleigh of 22 guns, of 4,653 (3,210) tons, 4,000 (800) horse-power, sheathed with wood, which has been completed at Chatham; the Seaflower, a brig for two guns of 454 (425) tons, built at Pembroke; and two four-guns composite gun-boats, the Ariel and Zephyr, of 408 (303) tons, 360 (60) horse-power, launched at Chatham. The new vessels ordered or under construction consist of the composite steam sloop Flying Fish, of four guns, 727 (879) tons, 120 (720) horse-power, building at Chatham; a 14-gun iron screw corvette of 3,451 tons, and 4,750-horse power, and to be named the Rover, building by the Thames Shipbuilding Company at Blackwall; the Superb, a double screw iron armour-plated ship, for 12 guns, of 9,400 tons, and 9,000-horse-power, under construction at Chatham; and four one-gun double screw iron gunboats, of 245 (254) tons, 28 (168) horse-power, to be named the Gadfly, Griper, Pincher, and Tickler, all building at Pembroke. The other vessels under construction are four composite screw sloops of four guns, 804 (727) tons, and 720 (120) horse-power engines — viz., the Albatross, building at Chatham; the Egeria and Fantome, building at Pembroke, and the Daring at Messrs. Money Wigram and Co.'s, Blackwall; two 14-gun screw corvettes, the Amethyst and Modeste, both building at Devonport; the Assistance, an iron steam troopship, of 2,038 tons, and 1,409-horse power, ordered of Messrs. Green, of Blackwall; two iron screw corvettes, of 14 guns each, cased with wood, 3,912 (2,679) tons, 5,250 (700) horse-power, both under construction at Portsmouth, and to he named the Bacchante and Boadicea; the Blonde, of 26 guns, an iron screw frigate, cased with wood, of 5,696 (4,039) tons, and 1,000-horse power, also building at Portsmouth; the armour-plated turret-ship Fury [renamed Dreadnought prior to launch], to carry four guns, 10,464 (5,030) tons, 7,000 (1,000) hone-power, being built at Pembroke; a composite steam sloop, of four guns, 894 (727) tons, 720 (120) horse-power, to be named the Sappho, building at Blackball by Messrs. Money Wigram and Co.; and three double screw iron gunboats, carrying one gun each, of 254 (245) tons, 168 (28) horse-power, named the Cuckoo, Hyæna, and Weasel, all being built by Messrs. Laird, of Birkenhead. | ||
| Th 28 August 1873 | In addition to the ships lately ordered to be constructed for Her Majesty's Navy, which appeared in The Times on Thursday last, the following are at present under construction at the various Government dockyards and by private firms:— Three composite screw sloops of 894 (727) tons and 720 (120)-horse power engines, to carry four guns each, to be named the Albatross, just launched at Chatham Dockyard; the Daring, building at Messrs. Money Wjgram and Sons', Blackwall; and the Egeria, under construction at Pembroke Dockyard. An iron steam troopship of two guns, 2,038 tons and 130-horse power engines, being built by Messrs. R. and H. Green, of Blackwall, to be named the Assistance. Two 14-gun iron screw corvettes, cased with wood, of 3,906 (2,679) tons, and 5,230 (700)-horse power engines, both being built in Portsmouth Dockyard, and to be called the Bacchante and the Boadicea; an iron screw frigate, cased with wood, of 5,696 (4,039) tons and 4,500 (l,000)-horse power engines, designed to carry 26 guns, to be named the Shah, and to be launched at Portsmouth early next month; the Flying Fish, a composite screw sloop, for four guns, of 727 (879) tons and 120 (720)-horse power engines, building at Chatham; an armour-plated turret ship, of 10,886 (5,030) tons and 7,000 (l,000)-horse power engines, to be named the Fury [renamed Dreadnought prior to launch], and designed to carry four "Woolwich Infants," 35-ton guns, being built at Pembroke Dockyard; a 14-gun iron screw corvette, of 3.451 tons and 4.750-horse power engines, to be named the Rover, and building by the Thames Shipbuilding Company, at Blackwall; a composite steam sloop for 4 guns, of 894 (727) tons, and 720 (120)-horse power engines, building by Messrs. Money Wigram and Sons, at Blackwall, to be named the Sappho; a double screw iron armour-plated ship for 12 guns, to be called the Superb, of 9,400 tuns, and 9,000-horse power engines, under construction at Chatham Dockyard; and eight double-screw iron gunboats, to carry one gun each, of 254 (245) tons, and 168 (23)-horse power engines, to be named the Ant, Cuckoo, Gadfly, Griper, Hyaena, Pincher, Tickler, and Weasel, four building at Pembroke Dockyard, and four by Messrs. Laird, of Birkenhead. | ||
| Th 9 April 1874 | The ships to be in hand this year at Chatham Dockyard will be the Superb and the Téméraire, ironclads; the Euryalus, iron corvette, covered battery, wood sheathed; the new Magicienne,[cancelled?] composite corvette, and a composite sloop, the first four to be advanced, and the last to be laid off and materials provided. An iron corvette, the Rover, and two composite sloops, the Sappho and the Daring, to be built by contractors, will be surveyed and completed after delivery. These will employ 1,865 men, while repairs, manufacture, and harbour and yard services, &c., will employ 1,309 men. | ||
| Tu 18 August 1874 | The Rover, 18, iron corvette, 3,451 tons, 4,750-horse power, which was launched on Wednesday from the Thames Shipbuilding Company's yard at Blackwall, is to be completed and fitted for sea at Chatham Dockyard. | ||
| Sa 5 September 1874 | From a Parliamentary return issued yesterday it appears that no fewer than 43 unarmoured plated ships were in process of being built for the British Navy on the 15th of July last, and in addition to these nine more had been ordered to be built by the First Lord of the Admiralty. Among the former are the Shah (late Blonde), with 26 guns; Raleigh, 22 guns; Bacchante, 16 guns; Boadicea, 16 guns; Euryalus, 16 guns; Rover, 18 guns; and Encounter, Amethyst, Modeste, Sapphire, Diamond, and Magicienne [cancelled?], 14 guns each. There is also a torpedo vessel (Vesuvius), which is being completed at Portsmouth. Of the nine vessels ordered to be built, five — the Garnet, Emerald, Tourmaline, Turquoise, and Ruby — will carry 14 guns each; and three — the Cormorant, Osprey, and Pelican — four guns. | ||
| Ma 11 January 1875 | The Rover, 18, iron screw corvette, 3,431 tons, 4,750-horse power, now being built by the Thames Shipbuilding Company at Blackwall for the Royal Navy, is to be taken to Chatham Dockyard to be completed and brought forward for commission. A party of riggers from Chatham have proceeded to the company's yard to rig the ship, which is expected to occupy six or seven weeks. | ||
| Fr 26 March 1875 | The Rover, 18, iron screw corvette, 3,451 tons, 4,750-horse power, constructed for the Government at Blackwall by the Thames Shipbuilding Company, arrived at Chatham Dockyard yesterday to complete her fitments and to be brought forward for sea. She was immediately floated into No. 2 dock, where the necessary work will be done to her. | ||
| Th 22 April 1875 | The Rover, 18, unarmoured corvette, which was built by the Thames Shipbuilding Company, at Blackwall, and recently sent round to Chatham to be completed for sea, is ordered by the Admiralty to have her centre of gravity ascertained as early as possible. | ||
| Fr 7 May 1875 | The fitting-out of the Rover, 18, iron corvette, built by private contract at Blackwall, but now at Chatham Dockyard, is being rapidly carried on, and she will shortly be removed from No. 3 dock and floated into the basin in order to have her stability tested. | ||
| We 30 June 1875 | The Rover, 18, unarmoured screw corvette, built by private contract, and which has been fitting at Chatham Dockyard, will shortly be taken out of dock in order that she may make her trial trip. A dredging machine is now at work removing the mud which has accumulated at the mouth of the dock. | ||
| Sa 3 July 1875 | It is expected that the Rover, 18, unarmoured iron corvette, 3,451 tons, 4,750-horse power, Capt. T. Barnardiston, will shortly be sent to the West Indian station. Since she was handed over by the firm that built her, the Thames Shipbuilding Company, she has had her interior fittings completed at Chatham dockyard, and she will be floated out of dock on Monday. | ||
| Th 15 July 1875 | The Rover, 18, iron screw corvette, was floated into the repairing basin at Chatham Dockyard yesterday, and she will be placed in dock as soon as one can be prepared for her reception. | ||
| Tu 27 July 1875 | The Rover, 14, iron screw corvette, built at Blackwall, and which has been fitted out at Chatham Dockyard, having just had her screw propeller taken off and more finely pitched, has been placed under a powerful crane in the repairing basin, and on Friday her centre of gravity was tested, in the presence of Mr. J.B. Crossland, one of the Constructors at the Admiralty. It is expected that the ship will be ready to make her trial trip this week to test her machinery, which has been supplied by Messrs. Easton and Amos (formerly Ravenhill and Co.). | ||
| Fr 13 August 1875 | The necessary alterations to the engines of the Rover, 18, iron screw corvette, are being rapidly executed at Chatham Dockyard; but some portions of the machinery have had to be sent to London to be altered. It is believed the ship will be detained at Chatham some weeks before she will be ready to have another trial of her engines made. | ||
| Fr 24 September 1875 | The alterations to the machinery of the iron corvette Rover, at Chatham, being now nearly completed, it is thought that she will be able to go upon another trial trip early next week. The vessel has already made two trials, but in both cases they were failures. Since the last trial, however, some extensive alterations have been made, and it is fully expected that the nest trial will be more successful. | ||
| We 29 September 1875 | The Rover, 18, iron corvette, now at Chatham Dockyard, where alterations have been made to her machinery, is to make a preliminary trial of her improved engines on the 4th of October, while the official trial is fixed for the 7th. The alterations to the machinery having been extensive, it is expected that the approaching trial will be more successful than the former ones. | ||
| Fr 8 October 1875 | The Rover, 18, iron corvette, Capt Barnardiston, which left Chatham dockyard on Monday afternoon to make another preliminary trial of her machinery at the measured mile off the Maplin Sands, retuned to Chatham on Wednesday, the engines having again broken down. With respect to the third failure of the Rover when upon her trial trip, it seems that only 54 revolutions per minute could be got from the engines, but the contract number is 74. Even when working at 54, the bearings became so heated that it was necessary to pour water upon them, and it was this that caused the vessel to come to a standstill. The Admiralty have given the contractors 10 days to make good the defects. | ||
| Fr 22 October 1875 | A new preliminary trial of the Rover, 18, iron screw corvette, 3,494 tons, 4,750-horse power, Capt. Barnardiston, has proved unsatisfactory, like those which preceded it. This ship was built by contract, and was fitted out at Chatham Dockyard. On the first preliminary trial some portions of the machinery did not work properly, and the vessel has put into Sheerness, and at that dockyard further alterations of the machinery will be made. The official trial of speed was to have been made yesterday, but of course that has been postponed. These mishaps and delays are necessarily serious matters for the contractors for the machinery. | ||
| We 3 November 1875 | The machinery of the Rover, 18, iron screw corvette, is being altered at Chatham Dockyard as fast as is practicable, and it is hoped that in a short time she will be ready to go upon another trial trip, the former trials having been unsatisfactory. | ||
| We 10 November 1875 | The Rover, 18, iron corvette, 3,451 tons, 4,750-horse power, has again left Chatham Dockyard for Sheerness, in order to have another trial of her machinery. The vessel has had several preliminary trials of her engines, preparatory to the Admiralty taking her over from the contractors, but the result has been unsatisfactory. Extensive alterations and repairs have now been effected in the machinery, and it wilt be tested at the measured mile off the Maplin Sands. Among the officers who left Chatham in the Rover wore Mr. W. Eames, the Chief Engineer of the Dockyard, Mr. Bedbrook, engineer, &c. | ||
| Th 11 November 1875 | The preliminary trial of the engines of the Rover has at last proved satisfactory, various alterations and repairs having been effected, and the official trial will be made in a day or so. Owing to the failures the vessel has met with when testing her engines on previous occasions, the Admiralty have not yet taken her over. | ||
| We 17 November 1875 | Her Majesty's screw steam corvette, Rover, 3,494 tons, 4,750 indicated horse power, Capt. Thomas Barnardiston, was yesterday taken to the measured mile off Maplin Sands for the trial of her machinery prior to being passed over to the Admiralty. Unfortunately, however, the water was allowed to become so low in the boilers that, before the error had been discovered, it necessitated the cold salt water being pumped up, resulting in the boilers priming and the splitting of one of the small waste water pipes from the high pressure cylinders. Previous to this accident the engines had been working in a most satisfactory manner, giving as the result of two runs which had been made on the mile a speed of 14·7 knots, and an excess of indicated horse power of 47 over that required under the contract. The vessel will be taken again for trial to-morrow. | ||
| Th 25 November 1875 | The Rover, 18, iron screw corvette, Capt Barnardiston, arrived at Chatham Dockyard from Sheerness yesterday to have her fitments completed and to be repainted before going upon service. She was immediately taken into the repairing basin and subsequently docked. The vessel will be in the hands of the workmen for three weeks or a month. | ||
| Tu 7 December 1875 | The Rover, iron corvette, which has been fitted out al Chatham Dockyard, is to be commissioned on the 14th inst. by Capt. Barnardiston. She is to have a complement of 325 officers and men, all told, and will proceed to the North American and West Indian station. | ||
| We 15 December 1875 | The Rover, 18, iron corvette, 3,451 tons, 4,750-horse power, built by the Thames Iron Shipbuilding Company, and fitted out at Chatham Dockyard, was commissioned yesterday at Chatham, by Capt. Barnardiston, for service on the North American and West Indian station, The crew were to have arrived at Chatham from the Naval Barracks at Sheerness, but in consequence of a thick fog on the Medway their transfer was deferred. | ||
| Th 23 December 1875 | The work of excavating the third and last basin of the Chatham Dockyard Extension is making notable progress. About 1,500 convicts are engaged upon the undertaking, which is being carried out mainly by means of convict labour, under the direction of Mr. E.A Bernays, the civil engineer in charge at Chatham Dockyard. This fitting out basin will be much larger than the factory and the repairing basins, which were completed a considerable time back, and are now in use, the basin being constructed having an area of no less than 40 acres. A number of new workshops and factories are to be constructed near the varions basins. At this moment several convicts are engaged in erecting a large iron structure which will be used as a boiler-shop; other buildings for mechanical works have been constructed and have been fitted with machinery. The large armour-clad sbip Alexandra, and the iron corvette Rover are now being brought forward for service in the new part of the dockyard, each occupying a dock. | ||
| Sa 1 January 1876 | The Rover, 18, iron corvette, 3,494 tons, 4,759-horse power, Capt. Barnardiston, under orders for the North American and West Indian station, will leave Chatham on the 18th of January for her destination. She is now in one of the docks at the Extension having the bottom cleaned and coated with an anti-fouling composition. She has been in hand at Chatham nearly a year fitting for sea, but her departure has been delayed owing to the great trouble that existed to get her engines to work satisfactorily, and she is to call in at Portsmouth when she leaves here to make a final trial. | ||
| Th 13 January 1876 | The Rover, 18, iron corvette, Capt. Barnardiston, at Chatham Dockyard, has now got nearly all her stores on board, and she is expected to leave for her destination, the North American and West Indian station, next Saturday. | ||
| Tu 25 January 1876 | The Rover, 18, corvette, Capt. Barnardiston, arrived at Spithead, on Sunday, from Sheerness, and saluted the flag of Admiral George Elliot, the Commander-in-Chief. The Rover is bound for the North American and West Indian station, and has called in at Portsmouth in order that she may make an official trial of her machinery in Stokes Bay, in charge of the officers of the Portsmouth Steam Reserve. This trial is altogether exceptional, for although it was a long time before her engines could be made to give satisfactory results, the last run on the Maplin Sands indicated 200 horses beyond the contract standard. The armament of the Rover consists of two revolving 4½-ton 7-inch and 16 64-pounders, and her company numbers 320 men. | ||
| Fr 28 January 1876 | The Rover, iron screw corvette, Capt. Barnardiston, which put in at Spithead on Sunday from Sheerness, for a trial of her machinery, previous to sailing for the West India and North American station, was put on the measured mile in Stokes Bay yesterday. The trial was under the superintendence of Capt. Waddilove, of the Portsmouth Steam Reserve, the engines were in charge of Chief Engineer Brooker and Mr. Newman, of the Steam Factory, and among the gentlemen present on the occasion were Mr. James H. Crossland, Chief Constructor at the Admiralty; Mr. J. Bannister, engineer-assistant to Surveyor of Dockyards; Mr. W. Eames, Chief Engineer at Chatham, and Gen. Stillman. Considerable difficulty was experienced at Chatham in getting the contract horse power (4,750) out of the engines in consequence of heated bearings and the priming of the boilers; and although at the last trial on the 19th of November as many as 4,963 horses were realized, or 217 more than the prescribed standard, the pace proved somewhat disappointing, since the mean speed obtained wan only 14½ knots, or about a knot short of what was expected. It was, therefore, determined to give the ship another trial at Portsmouth, where the course is not only more sheltered than the Maplin Sands, but the water is deeper, and where she would have the benefit of the experienced stokers of the Steam Reserve. The trial yesterday was inconclusive, but as far as it went highly promising, and there can be little doubt that the results in the end will be satisfactory. The force of the wind was two, and as the sea was perfectly smooth, a better day could not have been desired for testing the power of her machinery to the utmost, The vessel got under way at half-past 9, but it was not until half-past 12 that she made the first run on the mile. The boiler unfortunately showed symptoms of priming from the beginning, and at times, when the fires were pressed, a shower of dirty water fell in the engineroom and upon the deck. Subsequently a gland was blown out, and the double mishap produced the delay. After a preliminary canter up the course, two runs against and with the tide were made, revealing a mean speed of 14·689 knots an hour. As there was afterwards a falling off of steam power, and as, moreover, the spring of the safety valve happened to break, the trial had to be postponed until another day. The load on the safety-valve was 70lb., the pressure in the boilers 58lb., the mean number of revolutions per minute 63·07, and the indicated horse power 3,725. At the previous trial at Sheerness the data were:- Pressure in boilers, 76lb.; mean number of revolutions, 68·5; indicated horse power, 4,963; and speed, 14·533. A comparison of these figures will show the extraordinary result that with less pressure of steam, fewer revolutions, and a reduced horse power of 1,238, there was an actual gain yesterday of tenth of a knot. The difference between the fore and aft draught of the Rover is considerable, the former being 17ft 6in. and the latter 23ft 4in. At the former trial the after draught was 22ft. 7in., and as the difference gave the propeller yesterday an additional immersion of 9in. and consequently greater hold upon the water, this will help to explain the increase of speed attained. The hull of the ship has also been coated with Russian tallow before leaving the Medway, whereby her passage through the water was facilitated. The Hirsch screw worked beautifully, the vibration when under full steam being almost imperceptible. | ||
| Fr 4 February 1876 | The Rover, corvette, Capt. Barnardiston, was again put on the measured mile in Stokes Bay yesterday afternoon for a trial of her machinery, in charge of the officers of the Portsmouth Steam Reserve. The result was even more unsatisfactory in some respects than on Thursday last. The boilers primed to such an extent that it was frequently necessary to ease the engines during the runs to prevent the covers of the cylinders from being knocked off, and, in consequence of the circulating pipes becoming choked with water, the vacuum in the condensers fell suddenly from 27lb. to 22lb. Six runs were made on the mile, the force of the wind, which blew from the south-west, being 4. with a pressure of 67lb. in the boiler, or about 9lb. more than at the previous trial. She developed 3,416 horses, or 300 less than before, and more than 1,300 below the contract standard. The mean number of revolutions was 60, a reduction of three upon the results of the previous trial, and the speed realized 13·871, showing a falling off of nearly a knot an hour. There will probably be another trial, when the circle sailings will be gone through. | ||
| Tu 8 February 1876 | The Rover, 18, iron corvette, Capt. Barnardiston, got under way yesterday morning, and proceeded for a continuous run of 48 hours down Channel for a further trial of her machinery, under charge of Chief Engineer Brooker, of the Portsmouth Steam Reserve, and Mr. Newman, of the Factory Department. | ||
| Th 10 February 1876 | The Rover, corvette, Captain Barnardiston, anchored at Spithead yesterday afternoon, after a continuous full boiler run of 48 hours to the westward for a crucial trial of her machinery. The result was more satisfactory than was generally expected considering the character of the mile trials at Portsmouth. An indicated horse power of 4,500 was realized, which is only a little below the contract standard, although the boilers primed considerably at the outset. The cause was gradually removed by constant skimming of the water, and no signs of priming were noticed during the return journey. | ||
| Ma 14 February 1876 | The Rover, 18, corvette, Captain Barnardiston, was ordered to sail from Spithead for the West Indian and North-American station on Saturday, but, as further defects were discovered on her boilers being opened out, she will be delayed at Portsmouth for another week. She will then sail down Channel at a regulated speed of ten knots, and will put in at Plymouth for another examination of her machinery before proceeding to her destination. | ||
| Ma 28 February 1876 | The Rover, 18, corvette, Capt. Barnardiston, after having had the numerous defects in her boilers rectified by the factory hands at Portsmouth, sailed for her destination, the West India and North American station, on Friday morning. She is accompanied by several officers of the Portsmouth Steam Reserve, whose duty it will be to observe the working of her machinery on the passage down channel. The Rover will put in at Plymouth, where her boilers and engines will probably be subjected to a final examination. | ||
| Ma 20 January 1879 | The Army and Navy Gazette states that reliefs for the following unarmourcd ships will be required during this year, namely — the Rover, commissioned December, 1875; Opal, commissioned January, 1876; Rifleman, commissioned April, 1876; Avon, Plover, Spartan, commissioned June, 1876; Wolverine, commissioned August, 1876; Danae, commissioned September, 1876; Boxer and Vulture, commissioned December, 1876. The Frolic and Kestrel, on the China station, which will have completed a three years' commission, may either be recommlssioned on the station or be relieved by the river gunboats. The Admiralty will also have to provide a relief for the Bellerophon, ironclad, and flagship on the North American station. Little difficulty will be experienced in these reliefs, as the reserves are full of ships. | ||
| Tu 15 April 1879 | Tbc following vessels are under orders to return home to be paid off:- Active, 10, iron screw corvette, cased with iron, Capt. Henry J.F. Campbell, from the Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa, ordered to Spithead. This vessel was commissioned at Portsmouth, April 13, 1877. The Daphne, 4, screw sloop, Commander [William] H.C. Selby, from the East Indies, ordered to Devonport. This vessel was re-commissioned at Zanzibar, January 1, 1879. The Daring, 4, composite screw sloop, Commander John G.J. Hanmer from the Pacific, ordered to Spithead; commissioned at Chatham, September 29, 1874. The Lynx, 4, double screw composite gun vessel, Commander Francis M. Ommanney, from the East Indies, ordered to Devonport, at which port she was commissioned on the 9th of June, 1875. The Nassau, 4, screw surveying vessel, Commander William M. Lang, from China, ordered to Devonport. This vessel was re-commissioned at Hongkong on the 1st of November, 1878. The Nymphe, 9, steam sloop, Capt. Samuel P. Townsend, from Australia, ordered to Spithead. This vessel was commissioned at Sheerness on the 5th of January, 1875. The Pert, 4, double screw composite gun vessel, Commander Henry C. Aitchison, from North America and West Indies, ordered to Devonport, where she was commissioned on the 1st of July, 1875. The Rover, 18, iron screw corvette, cased with wood, Capt. Thomas Barnardiston, from North America and the West Indies, ordered to Devonport. This vessel was commissioned at Chatham on the 14th of December, 1875. The Sapphire, 14, screw corvette, Capt. E.H. Murray, from Australia, ordered to Devonport, at which port this vessel was commissioned on the 9th of August, 1875. The Sappho, 4, composite screw sloop, Commander Noel S.F. Digby, from the Australian station, ordered to Spithead. This vessel was commissioned at Chatham on the 26th of August, 1874. The Volage, 18, iron corvette, cased with wood, Capt. Richard Carter, from the south-east coast of America, ordered to Portsmouth, at which port she was commissioned on the 6th of July, 1874. | ||
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