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BLONDE (38) The French L'HEBE taken by Capt. TROLLOPE in RAINBOW in the Channel on 4 September 1782. She was renamed BLONDE in December 1805.
Broken up in 1811.

  • Capt. Volant Vashon BALLARD.
  • 1807 Convoy to the West Indies on 7 January.
    On 15 August she captured the French privateer LA DAME VILLARET (5) and the following day the HORTENSE (8). L'HIRONDELLE (8) was taken on 14 September and DUQUESNE (17), on the 24th. ALERT (20) was taken on 14 October.
  • At the end of 1809 she was employed with the light squadron off Basse-Terre in the blockade of Guadeloupe.
  • On 25 September the boats of BLONDE, FACON and SCORPION were sent in chase of a French privateer standing for Basse-Terre. She ran inshore between two batteries which kept up a heavy cross fire on the boats. They got the privateer off under small-arms fire from a large body of men in the bushes, but she was bilged and they had to leave her.
    One sailor from BLANCHE died of his wounds and Mr THOMPSON, the master, had to have his right arm amputated. He recovered and took part in the following attack.
  • On 18 December Capt. Samuel BALLARD in SCEPTRE, who had been searching for four French frigates which had captured JUNON on the 13th., joined the frigates and discovered two of the enemy moored in a strong position in Anse la Barque. It was planned that BLONDE and THETIS should lead SCEPTRE in, the first and last ships anchoring abreast the French frigates. THETIS, FREIJA and CASTOR to bring up near the batteries and the sloops and a schooner to cover the boats. In the event, because of baffling winds, the brunt of the action was borne by BLONDE, THETIS, CYGNET, HAZARD and RINGDOVE. One of the enemy frigates was soon dismasted and before long, deserted by their crews, they were both in flames before SCEPTRE and the rest of the squadron could get in.
    LA LOIRE and LA SEINE, Capt. BALLARD thought she was LA RENOMMEE, both of 40 guns, were laden with stores and provisions for the garrison of Guadeloupe.
    Mr G. JENKINS, first lieutenant of BLONDE, leaving a widow and family, Mr Edward FREEMAN, master's mate, three seamen and two private marines were killed.
    Lieut C. W. RICHARDSON, Mr T. ROBOTHAM, midshipman, and 15 men were wounded.
    BLONDE was not damaged but her bower cable was shot away resulting in the loss of an anchor.
  • Guadeloupe surrendered at the beginning of February 1810.
  • When Capt. Charles WORSLEY of STATIRA, who was to have taken command of BLONDE after the reduction of Guadeloupe, died at sea on 17 November 1809, Cdr. Thomas HUSKISSON of PELORUS was ordered to act as captain of BLONDE and to escort home a valuable convoy of merchantmen.
    He put BLONDE out of commission at Woolwich in July 1810.
  • On 21 March 1811 a court martial was held on Lieut. William HENDRY, late first lieutenant of BLONDE, on a charge preferred against him by Capt. Lawson of the royal marines for having permitted drinking, smoking and singing in the gun-room while on her passage home. The court decided that the charges were frivolous and malicious.
    A little earlier Capt. Lawson had been admonished by a court martial for unofficer-like behaviour while a passenger in BLONDE.


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