Thetis

Official Number none

The Thetis was a large brig of 282 tons built at Lancaster in 1790. She was registered at Lancaster, owned by Riding & Co. and was commanded by Capt.John Charnley ⁽⁶⁾. Her armament has been described as 12 six pounder and 2 four pounder guns ⁽⁶⁾ or 18 nine pounder guns ⁽¹⁾. In 1805 the Thetis achieved some fame in her home town, from her involvement in an engagement with the privateer Bonaparte off Barbados. The privateer was beaten off from an attack on the Thetis and two other English ships, and was so badly damaged that a Royal Navy sloop was able to seize her a few days later.

The Thetis, under the command of Capt.John Charnley and with a crew of 30, arrived at Cork in September 1804, intending to join a convoy bound for the West Indies ⁽¹⁾. That convoy had already left, on the 1st September, 21 merchant ships under the protection of HBM frigate Princess Charlotte and HBM sloop Pheasant⁽⁷⁾. Two other West Indiamen had also arrived at Cork too late, and the three ships agreed to sail together. Both the other ships belonged to Alderman Rowcroft – they were the Ceres (Capt.Daniel Bousfield, 372 tons, 18 guns, 36 men) and the Penelope (Capt.Robinson, 225 tons, 16 guns, 22 men). They left Cork together on the 6th October. The value of the three ships and their cargoes was estimated at £300,000. The small fleet had an uneventful passage of 33 days until, at position 13.26N, 57.30W, they were within a day of Barbados, on the 8th November ⁽¹⁾.

Cruising off the island was a French privateer, the Bonaparte (or Buonaparte), commanded by Capt.Painpeny. She was pierced for 22 guns and carried 18 French long eighteen-pounders ⁽⁸⁾. She is described as ship-rigged (ie.three masts) in the first report of the engagement ⁽¹⁾, but elsewhere as a brig ^{(6, 8)}, the latter almost certainly correct. One account of the battle ⁽¹⁾ reports her as having lost a mizzen mast, so perhaps she started ship-rigged and ended up as a brig !!

The Bonaparte had been causing “much mischief to our trade in the West Indies for some considerable time past “ ⁽⁴⁾ and was described as “one of the most formidable privateers that has ever infested those seas “ ⁽⁵⁾. On about the 3rd November she had captured a vessel belonging to Governor Maxwell of Barbados, and had subsequently sent in a challenge to the Governor, by the captain of an American merchantman, to send out a sloop of war to meet her ⁽¹⁾. There were at least two Navy sloops at Bridgetown at this time, the Cyane and Alligator, and also the privateer Barbadoes, (a captured French privateer, formerly named La Braove). It appears that the challenge was not accepted.

The Bonaparte therefore was more heavily armed than any of the three English ships, but her principal advantage was in men. Her aim when she saw the Thetis, Ceres and Penelope would have been to engage and board them, using her overwhelming crew numbers to best advantage. In this way the ships and their cargoes would have been preserved, and a few of the Bonaparte’s crew would have been released to take their prizes into a French port whilst the privateer continued her cruise. Although the three English ships were referred to as Letters of Marque ^{(6, 8)}, they were nevertheless merchantmen rather than privateers, and carried only small crews. Merchantmen at this time often carried a Letter of Marque, which legalised any appropriation of the property of an enemy nation, including ships and their cargoes, and avoiding the accusation of piracy.

The first report of the battle states that the Bonaparte, lying between the fleet and their destination, attacked the Ceres first, exchanging a broadside with her before the master of the Thetis " ran his ship, with great gallantry, between the Ceres and the privateer, and received the whole of her broadside " ⁽¹⁾. Other accounts, including that of Capt.Painpeny, indicate that the Bonaparte attacked the Thetis directly, and this is probably correct. The following report, highly complimentary to Capt.Charnley and disparaging of the efforts of the two other English commanders, probably reflects other accounts published in Felix Farley's Bristol Journal and the Sun newspaper, referred to elsewhere.

" We have been favoured with the following extract of a letter from Barbadoes, dated. November 20, which relates some circumstances of the engagement which the Thetis, in company with two other armed vessels, had with the Bonaparte privateer; not yet made public, and which bears strong testimony to the gallant conduct of Captain Charnley and his crew, in beating off a ship of very superior force :- On the 8th instant, the Thetis, in company , with two other armed vessels which sailed from Cork in company together, met at half past eight A.M. a privateer, ship-rigged, which came alongside under English colours, and fired a broadside, and then hoisted French colours. The Thetis, being all prepared, returned the Frenchman's salute; and the enemy, in a most masterly and courageous manner, wore ship, and laid the Thetis on her starboard quarter keeping up an incessant fire for three hours, when the foremast and bowsprit went by the board. The enemy attempted boarding twice, but were boldly repulsed. The other two armed-vessels had no share in the action, keeping aloof during its continuance. Commodore Hood sent the Alligator frigate in pursuit of the privateer. She is called the Bonaparte, of 18 guns and 140 men. Captain Charnley made his crew a very handsome present of £10 a man, and £200 for their bravery. Commodore Hood gave them a protection for the voyage; and impressed the crews of the other two armed vessels." ⁽²⁾

Letters from Capt.Bousfield and Capt.Robinson appeared in the Times on the 12th January. The letters were preceded by an introduction pledging the authenticity of the accounts, and claiming them to be “the best reply to the insinuations thrown out in the Sun, of Wednesday last, that all the ships which took part in that engagement had not done their duty”. The Times rubbished the account published by the Sun, on the grounds that it was based on a letter “purported to have been written on the 20th November, from Barbadoes, when it is well known that no later intelligence than of the 14th,  has reached this country from that island.” ⁽⁴⁾ Clearly the Times had forgotten their own  report  based on a letter dated the 20th November, printed two days earlier ! Perhaps the influence of Thomas Rowcroft, Alderman of London and influential shipowner and merchant, can be seen here – the letters from the masters of his ships must have been addressed to him, and both his and their reputations must have been diminished by allegations made against them. Who would want to ship their goods with a ship-owner who had not vigorously protected his cargo, or whose crews were being pressed into the Navy?

Capt.Robinson’s letter tells that the Penelope had had ten of her guns dismounted, and one man killed (a Mr.Lindo, whose wife was also aboard). Capt.Boulsfield reported that the Ceres had suffered two men burnt from an exploded cartridge, but none killed, nor anybody wounded by gunfire (although “the small shot and grape came on board us like hail ”) ⁽⁴⁾. Capt.Painpeny later wrote that it was the Ceres that dismasted his vessel. It is impossible to reconcile these accounts with the earlier report that these two ships “had no share in the action, keeping aloof during its continuance”. Both masters agreed that the action lasted about three hours, and that the privateer lost both bowsprit and foremast during the attempt to board the Thetis. Capt.Robinson reported that the Thetis had suffered two men killed and five wounded ⁽⁴⁾.

It seems therefore that the Thetis was close alongside the Bonaparte, since she had to repel boarders, but that the Ceres and Penelope did engage, possibly later and at greater distance than Capt.Charnley would have wished. After about two hours the Bonaparte lost her foremast and bowsprit and veered away, being pursued by the English ships for another hour. This running battle, in which “great slaughter” was visited on the French vessel ⁽¹⁾ended at half-past mid-day. The Bonaparte then lay to and prepared to defend herself. The English ships, being inferior in the number of men, did not attempt to press the attack further. They sailed away, arriving at Barbados the following day and reported the attack to the Governor ⁽¹⁾.

The Bonaparte tried to make Guadeloupe for repairs. She was found off the island of Marie-Galante by HBM sloop Cyane at 3 a.m. on the morning of the 11th November. Capt.Cadogan's report records that she was in a very shattered condition, without topmasts, foremast or bowsprit, and had 140 men aboard. The action was brief, lasting only thirty minutes before the privateer capitulated. She was taken into Antigua ^{(3, 8)}.

Capt.Bousfield took further steps to redeem his reputation, publishing a testimonial from the master of the Bonaparte, first in a Barbados newspaper, then in the Times after he had returned to England ⁽⁶⁾.

" Sir, Having arrived in England from Demarara only a few days ago, I have not been afforded an earlier opportunity of noticing the unjust, unprovoked, and absurd representations of the Master of the ship Thetis, of Lancaster, which have been published so repeatedly, respecting the action of the 8th of November last, off Barbadoes, with the Bonaparte privateer, and the Ceres, Thetis, and Penelope, which, in justice to the commanders and crews of the other two ships, require to be refuted. I am happy in having brought with me a letter from Barbadoes, which I received from the Commander of the Bonaparte privateer, which was afterwards captured and carried into Barbadoes.

Those persons who take any interest in this affair, are requested to compare the following letter of Captain Painpeny, with the partial and pompous account of the action, inserted by the authority of Mr.Charnley, in Felix Farley's Journal, and other public papers.

I am, Sir, your's &c.
Daniel Bousfield
Commander of the Ship Ceres
Lloyd's Coffee-House, April 27.

Translation from the Barbadoes Mercury of Dec.8, 1804, with the Editor's comments thereon.

As there appears to have been some misrepresentation of the late action of the ships Thetis, Ceres, and Penelope, with the French privateer brig Bonaparte, the following letter will remove whatever unfavourable impression may have been made towards the Masters of the Ceres and Penelope, who, it is now established, equally shared with the Master of the Thetis in the honour of the contest with the enemy; and evinces, on the part of the Captain of the Bonaparte, a liberal, brave, and generous mind :-

Bridge-Town, Barbadoes, Dec.5, 1804.

"Capt.Painpeny, late Commander of the French brig the Bonaparte, to Capt.Daniel Bousfield, Commander of the English ship, the Ceres.

"Sir, - I have been astonished at the account given against you, of the engagement we had together : the manner in which you conducted yourself obliges me, upon my honour, to inform the public of the facts. On my arrival here, I was surprised to find that the Captain of the Thetis took to himself all the merit of having fought with me. It is true that, during the height of the action, he was the nearest ship to me, but that was from necessity, as it was him that I attacked first, and which I did because I saw that he was the best armed of the three : he commenced the fire, which was soon followed up by you and the other Letter of Marque. The courage you have all three shown, cannot be too much admired. Your manoeuvres convince me that they were the result of reflection and experience; and the national character which you have manifested, certainly merits the eulogium of the public.

"You fire was tremendous for me, and I can with truth affirm, that it was you who did me most damage, and who dismasted my vessel, which was the reason that I was unable to capture the Thetis. A single ship then has not all the honour of the fight, but certainly all three. In short, Sir, I thank the accident that has procured me the pleasure of your acquaintance, and to express the satisfaction that I feel in my heart on writing this letter. I leave you full liberty to make it public among your countrymen. In proving my particular esteem for your person, it will no doubt, at the same time, insure you the public approbation, and preseve you from those malicious tongues who shall dare attack your respectable character.

"I have the honour to be, with consideration and esteem, Sir, your obedient servant,
(Signed) "Painpeny".⁽⁶⁾

Sources :

1. The Times, Monday, 17th December 1804, page 3 – based on a report carried by the merchant ship Diana, which left Barbados on the 14th November and arrived at Portsmouth on Friday, 14th December.
2. The Times, Thursday 10th January 1805, page 4 – citing a letter received at Cork, dated Barbados, 20th November.
3. The Times, Thursday, 10th January 1805, page 2 – citing a report from Barbados, dated 16th Nov. 1804. Reports capture of the Bonaparte.
4. The Times, Saturday, 12th January, 1805, page 3 – letters from Capt.Bousfield and Capt.Robinson, sent by the Burton, of Liverpool, dated 10th November.
5. The Times newspaper, Wednesday, 1st May 1805, page 4 – letter from Capt. Bousfield, including letter from Capt.Painpeny.
6. Lloyd’s Register of Shipping 1803 – information from John Stevenson.
7. Departure of convoy reported in the Times, 8th September 1804.
8. The London Gazette, 5th February, 1805, page 6 – letter from Capt.Geo.Cadogan of the Cyane reporting his capture of Le Bonaparte.

1. More details of the encounter  can be found in The Naval Chronicle for1804, volume 13 pages 155 - 156. It includes letters from the captains of the Ceres, Penelope and Thetis describing their parts of the action, with a list of those killed and wounded.   All of the ships are described as being merchant men – information from David Hepper.
2. Possibly Lancaster Maritime Museum has further information.
3. Sun newspaper, 9th January 1805, and Felix Farley's Bristol Journal, probably a similar date.
4. Prize court details - see List and Index Society's book, Number 194 entitled: "High Court of Admiralty: prize papers (HCA | 32/931-1345) index, 1803-1817. List of records" at the National Archives. This will provide a full list of ships, arranged by year, and then alphabetically, and provide the full HCA 32 series identifier. The HCA records provide affidavits and interrogatories with crews of ships, and sometimes the documents seized during capture.  Follow up with the Assignation Books which will detail the nature of proceedings, and then seek out the HCA judgements - this is where the status of "lawful prize" is determined - information from Chris Maxworthy.
5. Lloyd's Library for details of any patriotic awards made to Capt.Charnley.
6. Lancaster Gazette newspaper  (published 31 Dec.1803-30 June 1894 ) at Newspaper Library, Colindale.