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MINSTREL (18) Built in 1807, Boole's Yard at Bridport.
Sold in 1817.

  • 1808 John HOLLINWORTH, Adriatic.
    On 16 July 1808 he sighted a man-of-war schooner off Veruda near Fiume and anchored close to her.
    The schooner fired all her guns at MINSTREL and then ran herself ashore, all the 56 men in the crew deserting her. She was the Italian ORTENZIA, commanded by Lieut. Stalimini and pierced for 16 guns but carrying two long 24 pounders, six long 9-pounders and two 3-pounder swivels.
    A fast sailing vessel she was copper-bottomed and nearly new.
  • In October 1809 Lord COLLINGWOOD received information from POMONE that several of an enemy squadron had left Toulon and there were signs that the whole fleet might be coming out to run a supply convoy to the French forces in Spain. He therefore stationed three frigates, POMONE, HYDRA and VOLONTAIRE, and the sloop MINSTREL to windward to give notice of the enemy's approach.
    (Three of the French great ships were destroyed and some of the convoy burnt, the rest of the convoy took refuge in Rosas Bay were they were later captured or destroyed see PHILOMEL)
  • 1810 Capt. CAMPBELL, coast of Catalonia.
    In December 1810 an attack was made by a small squadron (KENT, AJAX, CAMBRIAN, MINSTREL and SPARROWHAWK) under Capt. Thomas ROGERS of KENT on a convoy in Palamos.
    This consisted of eight merchant vessels with supplies for the French army of Catalonia and their escorts a 14-gun national ketch and two xebecs. They were lying inside the mole and were protected by two 24-pounders and a 13" mortar. About 250 French troops were in the town.
    MINSTREL and SPARROWHAWK covered the landing, without loss, of 350 seamen and 250 marines over the beach on the afternoon of the 13th. They advanced into the town and drove the French back to a windmill on a hill where they remained as spectators while the batteries were destroyed, the magazine blown up and the vessels in the harbour all burnt except for two which were brought out. Instead of retiring back to the beaches where CAMBRIAN and the two sloops were waiting to cover their embarkation, the men came down through the town where they were ambushed by French reinforcements which had come in from St. Felice. The enemy opened fire on the boats which had come round to take the men off and killed a number waiting on the mole who were trying to swim to the boats.
    33 men were killed, 89 wounded and 86 missing from the five ships. On MINSTREL one seaman was killed and one officer and four seamen wounded.
  • 1811 John Strutt PEYTON, 26/09/1811, coasts of Valencia and Catalonia.
    On 10 August 1812 PEYTON observed three French privateers lying under the protection of the fortress of Benidorm. When they sighted MINSTREL two of them hauled up on shore and landed six guns to form a defensive battery manned by about 80 men.
    Two nights later a cutter under Lieut. Michael DWYER (he was in fact ignorant of the fact that he had been promoted to lieutenant five months earlier) and a crew of 7 was rowing guard off the beach.
  • When he learnt from local Spaniards that the French had only 30 men in the battery he decided to try and take it, so they landed about 3 miles to the westward at 9.30 PM
    and passed through a check point by pretending to be Spanish. The battery was quickly taken but they soon found themselves surrounded by 200 French soldiers.
    Against these odds one seaman was soon killed, another lost his right eye and DWYER was shot through the shoulder. When the British ammunition was exhausted the French charged, DWYER received 17 bayonet wounds and six of his companions were severely wounded.
  • The French general, GOUDIN, acknowledged their bravery by allowing them to return to their ship and Captain PEYTON accepted and invitation to go ashore and dine with General GOUDIN.
  • The Patriotic Fund presented Lieut. DWYER with a sword worth 50 guineas for his gallantry.
  • In September 1812 MINSTREL was ordered by Sir Edward PELLOW to cruise between Denia and Valencia to intercept supplies to the enemy.
    On the evening of the 29th. he received information that six vessels had been loaded with shells at Valencia and were lying between two batteries of 24-pounders waiting to sail for Pensacola.
    With MINSTREL close in shore to provide support,the boats went in under the command of Lieut. George Thomas and midshipmen LINNS, OLIVER and SMITH. They brought out four vessels and were in the process of bringing out the fifth when the wind changed suddenly and she grounded and was retaken with three men still aboard. Apart from these prisoners the only loss was one man wounded.
  • 1814 R. MILFORD, Mediterranean.
  • 1815 Francis LOCH, 29/09/1814, Mediterranean.
    MINSTREL was employed during Napoleon's '100 days' in carrying arms and munitions to the Duc d'Angouleme on the coast of Spain and blockading the French frigate ALCMENE and several gunboats in Porto Ferraio on Elba. She was paid off 15 December 1815.
  • 1816 Chatham.


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