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HECATE
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Gunboat No. 32
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Built in 1797, Frindsbury (sliding keel).
Used as a breakwater in 1809. |
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- 1799 Lieut. BURLTON.
While HECATE was stationed off Land's End in 1800 he gave chase to two French privateers but, because of their superior sailing qualities, he was unable to come up with them.
A few days later Lieut. BURLTON received a letter from the Admiralty saying that their Lordships had had a letter signed James Jones stating that ten vessels had been taken off Land's End and that the writer had nearly being taken also.
He thought that there must be more than negligence in Lieut. BURLTON's conduct.
The lieutenant returned a satisfactory answer and after enquiry discovered that the letter had been written by a William Hitchens, a small shopkeeper of Penzance.
Three witnesses identified the hand writing.
On 1 February 1801 Mr Gibbs made a successful application at the court of King's Bench to move a writ for criminal libel against Hitchens on behalf of Lieut. BURLTON. - 1803 Lieut. PARSONS.
In August HECATE, in common with large numbers of vessels in the Hamoaze, was being got ready for sea. - 1804 North Sea, based at Yarmouth.
- 1805 Lieut. NORMAN, Nore.
- 1807 Out of commission at Sheerness.
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