HMS Encounter (1846)
HMS Encounter (1846)


Royal NavyVessels

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NameEncounter (1846)Explanation
TypeSloop (1862: Corvette)   
Launched24 September 1846 Converted to screwon the stocks
HullWooden Length220 feet
PropulsionScrew Men225
Builders measure953 tons   
Displacement1934 tons   
Guns14   
Fate1866 Last in commission1864
Class    
Ships bookADM 135/153   
Career
DateEvent
5 September 1846Launched at Pembroke Dockyard.
7 September 1849
- 15 September 1852
Commanded (from commissioning at Portsmouth until paying off at Portsmouth) by Captain George Thomas Gordon, particular service
16 September 1852
- 19 February 1858
Commanded (from commissioning at Portsmouth until paying off at Plymouth) by Captain George William Douglas O'Callaghan, East Indies and China (on the Russian Pacific coast during the Russian war, then 2nd Anglo-Chinese War)
20 September 1859
- 3 August 1864
Commanded (from commissioning at Plymouth) by Captain Roderick Dew, East Indies and China (escorting the gunboats Bouncer and Snap out, and then British involvement in Taiping rebellion), then Japan
May 1866Broken up at Devonport.
Extracts from the Times newspaper
DateExtract
(various)this gets replaced
Ma 24 August 1846

23 August 1846

The Encounter screw steam-sloop, built on the design of Mr. J. Fincham, the master shipwright of Portsmouth dockyard, is ordered to be launched at Pembroke on the 5th proximo. Jury rig will be forwarded from Devonport, whence she will be navigated to the Thames to receive her engines of 360-horse power, manufactured by Penn and Son, of Greenwich.
Fr 20 November 1846The Encounter steam sloop was towed up the river today, having been brought round from Pembroke, where she was launched, to have her engines fitted by Messrs. Penn
Ma 8 February 1858The steam sloop Encounter, 14, Captain O'Callaghan, arrived yesterday afternoon at Plymouth. She left Aden November 21, reached the Cape December 19, and sailed on the 23d, touched at St. Helena January 2, and at Ascension on the 7th. Including stoppages the passage from Aden to Plymouth was accomplished in 78 days. At the Cape she embarked 12 invalids from the Boscawen, five from the Himalaya, five from the Sappho, and two formerly belonging to the Shannon; at St. Helena two distressed merchant seamen, and at Ascension nine invalids from the West Coast squadron.
Sa 27 February 1864

HOUSE OF COMMONS, Friday, Feb. 26.
THE ANGLO-CHINESE FLEET.

Colonel SYKES asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Africa, of four guns and 150-horse power, built in Her Majesty's Dockyard, at Devonport, and launched on the 20th of March, 1862, was sold to the Chinese Government; for what sum, and whether that sum had been paid; whether any other of Her Majesty's vessels had been sold to the Chinese Government; for what sums; whether the prices had been paid; and whether any moneys were due, and the amount, from the Chinese Government on account of vessels sold, or for the supply of warlike or naval stores to the so-called Anglo-Chinese fleet lately under the command of Captain Sherard Osborn, C.B., R.N.; and when the ship's books of Her Majesty's ship Encounter were likely to be received at the Admiralty. He farther wished to know whether the prices obtained from the Chinese Government exceeded or fell short of the cost prices of the ships.

Lord C. PAGET said the purchase-money of the Africa had been fully paid, and likewise that of the Jasper and Mohawk. The stores supplied had also been paid for. In the books of the Accountant General, however, there was a sum of 776 l. 7 s. 6 d. Still remaining due to the public for stores supplied to that expedition, and the Accountant-General believed that a further small sum would arise for stores supplied to the squadron after their arrival in Chinese waters. Captain Sherard Osborn had called upon him that day, and he had undertaken to state on his behalf that the debt of the Chinese Government would amount to about 100 l. When the Admiralty had paid Captain S. Osborn for certain stores supplied by him before he left to the senior officer of the navy in China. Everybody knew that it was very costly to send out stores to China, and it was therefore a matter of good policy and economy to purchase the stores out there at their original price. After balancing accounts there would remain, as he had said, a sum of 100 l. Due by the Chinese Government, and he had every reason to believe it would be paid. As to the latter part of the question, the ship's books of the Encounter were now in the office, as far as they ought to be, until the ship was paid off; and his gallant friend by applying to the Accountant-General could have any extracts from them printed which he thought necessary.

Colonel SYKES said the noble lord had not stated whether he got the cost price of the ships from the Chinese Government.

Lord C. PAGET replied that the ships were sold at a valuation. They were disposed of for their real value at the time, just as they would be to any private individual.

Colonel SYKES.- At a loss. (Laughter.)



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