Arethusa, 1781
Type: 5th rate ; Armament 28 x long 18 pdrs ; 2 x long 9-pdrs ; 14 carronades x 32-pdrs, total 44 guns (1794), but classified as a 38
Launched at Bristol : 1781 ; Disposal date or year : 1814
Complement: 277
Tons (BM) : 948
Notes:

23 Apr 1794, A squadron of frigates under Sir John Warren engages a French squadron of 4 frigates off the Channel Isles, capturing 3, which were added to the Navy List : the Babet, as a sloop, the Engageante, as a hospital-ship, and the Pomone as a cruising 40-gun frigate.

7 Aug 1794 Captain Sir J B Warren, K. B., Flora, with the frigates Arethusa, Diamond, Artois, Diana, and Santa-Margarita, put to sea from Falmouth in search of cruising French frigates.

On the 23d Aug 1794, the Flora and Arethusa, off the Pointe du Raz, chased two ship-corvettes, the Alert and Espion, both recently captured from the British, into the bay of Audierne, where they were run aground under cover of shore batteries, which were engaged until the masts of the latter went by the board. Although it would appear from subsequent events that the latter, if not both vessels, were recovered and refitted.

21 Oct 1794 the capture of the French 40-gun frigate R�volutionnaire by the Artois, when cruising in company with the frigates Arethusa, Captain Sir Edward Pellew, Diamond, and Galatea, off Ushant.

2 Jan 1795, following rumours that the Brest fleet had departed, the frigates Flora, Arethusa, Captain Sir Edward Pellew, and Diamond, were despatched from Falmouth to ascertain the truth. The Diamond entered the port of Brest at about 1400 on the 3rd, and departed the following morning having confirmed that the French fleet had departed, along with other intelligence.

25 Jun 1795, with the squadron at the landing of the [ill-conceived] Royalist expedition to Quiberon Bay, under Commodore Sir J B Warren, which returned to England in December with the remnants.

8 Jun 1796 St.-Vincent. The Arethusa, Captain Thomas Wolley, arrived with troops, to reduce the Island, which was achieved by 11 Jun.

Feb 1797 capture of the Island of Trinidad, along with the San-Damaso, 74, and induced the destruction of 3 Spanish ships of the line and a frigate.

Apr 1797 abortive attack on Porto-Rico.

10 Aug 1797 the frigate Arethusa, 38, was attacked by the French ship Gaiet�,20, which was taken and acquired for the Royal Navy.

4 May 1798 the rescue of Captain Sir Sidney Smith and others by the Arethusa, Niger and Argo from off off the mouth of the river Seine.

21 Oct 1798 drove on the rocks off Cape La Hogue a French privateer, Name unknown.

1 Jan 1799 Capt. T. Wolley.

16 Jan 1799 arrived Spithead having been on shore on the coast of France and was making so much water she came into the harbour to be repaired.

31 Jan 1799 Portsmouth, a court martial was held on board the Gladiator, on Lt. Moringcourt, of the Arethusa. The charge was, for inattention while cruising on the coast of France, in consequence of which the Arethusa got on shore ; the charge of inattention was proved, and the sentence of the court was, that he be reprimanded. Lieutenant Moringcourt is a very genteel man, and most excellent officer.

19 Mar 1799 at Spithead.

31 Mar 1799 Portsmouth, late on Friday evening the outward bound East India ships, with their convoy, the Arethusa, attempted to get under weigh, to proceed on their voyage, but it coming on suddenly a strong gale from the east, with a heavy sea, the greatest part of them could not get their anchors, but the convoy, and one of the ships which got her anchor in, stood out to sea, and have not since been heard of.

2 Apr 1799 arrived Portsmouth, this morning at St. Helen's, and departed this afternoon, with the remaining outward-bound East India ships under her convoy.

23 May 1799 arrived Plymouth, from sea, the Spitfire, reports that she chased and brought to on Monday last an armed ship from St. Domingo, with sundries, prize to the Arethusa, 36, one of seven sail who lay to to engage her, but on her nearing them bore away. The Arethusa spoke Rear Admiral Whitshed off Cape Finisterre last Friday all well, with the squadron under his command, five sail of the line and two frigates, at which period he had seen nothing of the French fleet.

28 Jul 1799 arrived Plymouth, from a cruise off the Ushant, the Fowey cutter, Lt. Danby. She spoke the Arethusa frigate, having on board the Duke of Kent, all well on Friday last off the Lizard.

23 Oct 1799 arrived Portsmouth, from Halifax, after landing the Duke of Kent. Has sent into harbour a Spanish prize brig, laden with wine and brandy.

20 Nov 1799 departed Portsmouth, with a convoy.

16 Jan 1800 a Court Martial was held on board the Gladiator, at Portsmouth, on Lieutenant Harford, first of the Arethusa, on a charge of throwing some tea at Lieutenant Askew, a young officer belonging to the same ship ; and the sentence of the Court was, that Mr. Harford should be dismissed his Majesty's service. The altercation which led to the assault happened one morning at breakfast. It is a public misfortune when private quarrels deprive the country of the services of any brave man. As a proof of the estimation in which Mr. Harford was held by the sailors, we need only mention, that a short time since, the ship's company of the Arethusa presented him with an elegant sword, and a pair of richly mounted pistols.

Circa Feb 1800 Lieut. Norman, late of the Cormorant, is appointed to the Arethusa.

3 Feb 1800 arrived Portsmouth, the Arethusa, from a cruise.

10 Mar 1800 departed Portsmouth, the Endymion ; Arethusa, Captain Wolley ; and Champion, 24, with a convoy for the Mediterranean. The two former accompany them only a part of the voyage.

1 May 1800 captured the French privateer Gen. Bernadotte.

10 May 1800 arrived Portsmouth, the Arethusa, having parted company with her convoy for Bristol, &c. off the Scilly Isles.

12 May 1800 arrived Portsmouth, the Arethusa.

14 Jul 1800 departed Portsmouth, on a cruise.

18 Aug 1800 Plymouth, arrived from a cruise off the Coast of France.

21 Aug 1800 arrived Plymouth, from a cruise with the Triton, 32, from off Brest.

24 Aug 1800 departed Plymouth, destination unknown.

9 Apr 1801 went up the Channel, past the Isle of Wight, to the Downs, with a convoy of East India vessels.

11 Apr 1801 departed the Downs on a cruise to the Westward ; the wind blows hard N.E.

12 Apr 1801 at half past nine in the morning captured, after six hours chase, the French privateer lugger Le Braave of Boulogne, of 14 guns and 57 men, on her first cruise, perfectly new.

13 Apr 1801 the Arethusa, Capt Woolley, arrived from the Eastward with the French lugger privateer Le Braave, 14 guns, and 57 men, which he captured off Dunnose. The Braave is stated to have taken the Beaver, Michael Conner, master, of and for Hull, from Oporto, the crew of which, except the Captain and 2 Portuguese sailors were taken on board the privateer and sent to France.

23 Apr 1801 departed Spithead with the Earl Howe, Henry Dundas, Lord Thurlow, Preston, and Princess Charlotte, (East Indiamen), under convoy, for Madras and Bengal.

27 Jul 1801 was in sight when the Invention, French privateer was taken.

1 Aug 1801 arrived Spithead from a cruise off Madeira, after having accompanied the outward bound East India convoy before separating off Madeira.

25 Aug 1801 departed Spithead for Madeira.

29 Sep 1801 arrived Spithead, the Arethusa, Capt Wooley, from Madeira.

19 Oct 1801 departed Spithead for Madeira.

16 Dec 1801 sailed through the Downs to the Westward, wind NNW.

10 Feb 1802 arrived Spithead with Brigadier-General Clinton and suite on board, from Madeira.

7 Apr 1802 came into Portsmouth harbour this afternoon to be paid off and laid up.

18 Apr 1802 has, with the Princess Royal, Dido, Success, and Apollo been paid off at Portsmouth.

14 Jun 1802 arrived in the Downs from Portsmouth.

Circa 3 Dec 1803 S Curry Esq., Purser of the Arethusa, to be Secretary to V.-Adm Patton, commanding in the Downs.

Circa 29 Sep 1804 is ordered to fit for commission.

Circa 22 Dec 1804 departed Portsmouth harbour, under jury-masts, for the eastward, to be repaired.

May 1805 Deptford, fitting ; Captain James Brisbane

15-17 Dec 1805 Arethusa, Boadicea, and Wasp, with a convoy, sighted two French Squadrons : Wasp was detached to Rochefort, Ferrol, Cadiz, and Gibraltar and Boadicea to off Ushant to inform the local Flag Officers : Arethusa and the now divided convoy was chased, but escaped.

23 Dec 1805 the Arethusa, midway between Madeira and the Canary isles, fell in with a squadron under V.-adm Duckworth and informed him of the French squadron.

23 Aug 1806 Arethusa and Anson capture the Spanish 34-gun frigate Pomona, and destroy a number of gun boats. The Pomona was taken into the Service as the Cuba.

1 Jan 1807 the frigates Arethusa, Anson, Fisgard, and Latona capture of the island of Curacoa.

26 Nov 1808 captured the French privateer Gen. Ernouf on the Home station.

15 Mar 1809 ship's boats destroy shore batteries at Lequito ; a small chaloupe, laden with brandy, was found in the harbour and brought away.

16 Mar 1809 ship's boats destroyed the cargoes of two chasse-mar�es in the river Andero and restored the vessels to their owners.

20 Mar 1809 ship's boats destroyed : the guns at Baigno, the signal-posts, and batteries of the town of Paissance ; and captured a small vessel laden with merino wool.

Torbay Jan 6 1810 departed for off the Isle of Bas.

17 Mar 1810 captured the French privateer Levrette.

Portsmouth, Apr 11 1811 Has made the signal for convoy to the Cape of Good Hope.

Portsmouth Apr 23 1811 Has dropped down to St. Helen's, with the East India convoy.

Plymouth Sep 21 1811 arrived from the coast of Spain with a number of slaves saved from a Portuguese ship : the slaves are reported to have freed themselves and killed the crew. They are now accommodated on board the Prince Frederick.

Plymouth Sep 24 1811 Went up the harbour to refit.

Plymouth Dock, Oct 2 1811 Taken into dock.

Plymouth Dock Nov 9 1811 Moved from the Hamoaze into the Sound.

Portsmouth Nov 15 1811 arrived (Capt. Goffin), from Plymouth.

Portsmouth Nov 21 1811 departed, with Adm. Stirling on board, for the West Indies.

Portsmouth May 24 1811 arrived from Jamaica with specie for merchants.