British hired cutter 'Penelope' (1794)

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Penelope

11406
Nominal Guns16BWAS-1793
NationalityGreat Britain
OperatorRoyal Navy
Hired29.1.1794BWAS-1793
ShipyardUnknownBWAS-1793
CategoryHired VesselBWAS-1793
Ship TypeCutterBWAS-1793
Captured7.7.1799BWAS-1793
Becomes
Spanish brig 'Penélope' (1799) (18) 1799-1813
Spanish 18 Gun
Unrated Brig

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1793
Burthen187 56⁄94Tons BM 

Armament


29.1.1794Broadside Weight = 32 Imperial Pound ( 14.512 kg)BWAS-1793
Gun Deck16 British 4-Pounder

1 Ship Commander


DatesRankNameSource
7.7.1799 - 1799Commander
Frederick Lewis MaitlandBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1795-1839
W005

Service History


DateEventSource
24.1.1798Took the Cutter
L'Aventure (2) 1798-1798
French 2 Gun
Privateer Cutter
the Start bearing N.N.W. 10 leaguesBG
7.7.1799Taken by a Spanish schooner in the MediterraneanBWAS-1793


Notes on Ship


Events of her captureW005
On the 7th of July, while the combined fleets were passing the Straits, some of the ships amused themselves with firing at two vessels belonging to the Algerines, and then steering close in with the Barbary Shore. Earl St Vincent, who was on board the 44-gun ship Argo, at anchor in the bay of Gibraltar, despatched the hired cutter Penelope, of 16 or 18 guns, Lieutenant Frederick Lewis Maitland, to ascertain the cause of the firing. Having stretched across the gut with very light winds during the night, Lieutenant Maitland, at daybreak on the 8th, found himself nearly within gun-shot of Admiral Massaredo's advanced ships, the boats of which, in the prevailing calm, were ordered to tow the 14-gun brig-corvette Vivo towards the Penelope. The latter, however, on approaching the British cutter, received so warm a salute, that she soon dropped astern.

A breeze now springing op, the Spanish 34-gun frigate Del Carmen ran down, and placing herself about a cable's length on the Penelope's weather beam, opened a heavy tire, by which the cutter was soon unrigged and compelled to surrender. An officer from the Vivo now boarded the Penelope, and demanded her commander's sword; but Lieutenant Maitland refused to deliver it, alleging that the British colours had been struck to the frigate. Shortly afterwards, one of the Carmen's boats boarded and took possession of the Penelope, and sent away the boat of the Vivo.

The Penelope, when thus suddenly ordered from Gibraltar, had on board a considerable sum in specie, intended for the island of Minorca, but which, rather neglectfully we think, was not removed. "When her crew found there was no chance of escape from the combined fleets, they made an attempt to plunder the treasure, which Lieutenant Maitland most honourably and successfully resisted, alleging that, as public property, it was the lawful prize of the captors."
 
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