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SWIFT
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Purchased in 1804, ex PACIFIC.
Sold in 1814. |
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- 1805 John WRIGHT, Jamaica.
In the summer of 1805 when SWIFT was stationed off Honduras, a number of trading vessels had been captured by a guarda costa schooner, so Capt. WRIGHT detached his second lieutenant, James SMITH, with a party of men in the schooner MARIAMNE to search for the enemy.
He took the schooner to the southward and learnt from fishermen off the island of Bonacca that a guarda costa was anchored under the batteries at Truxillo with two captured vessels, a schooner, the ADMIRAL DUCKWORTH from Jamaica, and another vessel from Honduras.
Lieut. SMITH apprised his small crew of the situation and they readily volunteered to attempt to cut her out. - On the evening of the 13 August the schooner stood into the bay under cover of the night and sent in two small boats with six men in each.
The Boatswain, Mr WALKER was in charge of one and the young midshipman, Mr BOWLER, of the other.
They pulled in close to the shore and soon Mr BOWLER's boat came up with the vessel they were seeking.
Without waiting for the others to catch up they boarded and soon took possession of her, the captain and crew jumping overboard.
The noise alarmed the shore batteries and they immediately opened a heavy fire while the enemy's cables were cut and she was taken out. She proved to be a schooner-rigged vessel, the CARIDAD PERFECTA, pierced for 16 guns but mounting only 12.
No one was injured on the British side.
Mr BOWLER had been at sea for less than two years. - SWIFT was on North Sea convoy duty at beginning of 1807.
- 1808 Sheerness.
Used as storeship.
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