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LEDA
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(38) |
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Built in 1800, Chatham.
Wrecked in 1808. |
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- 1800 Capt. George HOPE, Channel and the coast of Egypt.
In March 1801 LEDA recaptured the ship BOLTON (22), Capt. Watson, a letter of marque which had sailed from Demerara to Liverpool some 6 weeks previously with the UNION and DART, letters of marque, carrying valuable cargoes of sugar, coffee, indigo and cotton, but had been taken by the French privateer GIRONDE of Bordeaux.
Two passengers had been killed and Capt. W and 5 men wounded. - 1803 Capt. Robert HONEYMAN, Channel.
On the renewal of the war with France he was given command of a small squadron off Boulogne.
On 29 September he attacked a division of enemy gun boats and drove two on shore.
LEDA was hit by a shell which exploded in the hold but did little damage and hurt nobody. - At the end of July 1804 LEDA's boats under Lieut. M'LEAN boarded a French gunvessel in Boulogne Roads but because of the strong tide were unable to bring her out.
Only 14 of the 38 men involved returned to LEDA.
Mr M'LEAN was among the killed. - About 6 o'clock on the morning of 24 April 1805 twenty-six French vessels were sighted rounding Cap Gris Nez.
Capt HONEYMAN immediately ordered his squadron, FURY, HARPY, RAILLEUR, BRUISER,GALLANT, ARCHER, LOCUST, TICKLER, WATCHFUL, MONKEY and FIRM, to weigh and, after engaging the enemy for about two hours, captured 7 schuyts.
(ARCHER brought in two more the following day) They had been bound for Ambleteuse from Dunkirk. - In January 1806 LEDA was with Sir Home POPHAM's squadron at the reduction of the Cape of Good Hope and accompanied him across the Atlantic for his expedition to the River Plate. She remained there until the final evacuation in September 1807.
- On 9 September 1806 LEDA gave chase to a brigantine and drove her ashore whilst she was running for Monte Video.
The large cutter, the pinnace and the launch were manned and armed and sent in to bring off or destroy the enemy.
Lieut. PARKER and Mr O'GRADY, mate, in the cutter; Mr LASCELLES, mate, in the pinnace and Lieut. William STEWART and Mr STERNE, midshipman, in the launch with a carronade to cover the boats.
They found the enemy vessel deserted by her crew and the heavy sea made it impossible to get her off or destroy her by fire, so she was cut adrift among the breakers.
Lieut. STEWART and three seamen, William CUMBER, John WHITE and -- ABDULA, were dangerously wounded by musket fire from the sand hills. - LEDA remained in South America until the final British evacuation about September 1807 before returning to Sheerness and serving in the Channel.
At eight o'clock on the morning of 4 December 1807, some 12 miles off the Cap de Caux they sighted a privateer lugger making for the French coast with a brig which appeared to be her prize.
The brig ran for Havre de Grace but the lugger stood E. by S. with Leda in pursuit. She was captured after six hours and was found to be the ADOLPHE, Nicholas Famenter, commander.
Entirely new, she was armed with ten 18-pound carronades, four long 4-pounders, two 2-pounders and two swivels.
Only 25 men were on board, the other 45 being away in prizes. - On 31 January 1808 LEDA was wrecked at the mouth of Milford Haven.
A court martial held on board the SALVADOR DEL MUNDO in the Hamoaze acquitted Capt. HONEYMAN and his crew of all blame.
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