Diligence, 1801
Type: Brig / Sloop ; Armament 14
Purchased : Feb 1801 ; Disposal date or year : 1812
Notes:

28 Mar 1801 arrived Sheerness the brig Diligence.

7 May 1801 departed Sheerness, the sloop Diligence, Capt Jones, for the Downs.

8 May 1801 remains in the Downs.

20 May 1801 remains in the Downs.

22 May 1801 the hired armed cutter Queen arrived yesterday afternoon in the Downs, from the Coast of Holland, and brings the following intelligence - that being off Flushing, with a view to watching the motions of the Dutch squadron apparently ready for sea, they early yesterday morning discovered a 64 gun ship, one frigate, a brig, and a number of gun-vessels under weigh from the above place ; but a squadron of H.M. ships from this station heaving in sight, the whole fleet run in, and brought up again. In consequence of this information Adm. Lutwidge has ordered to sea the Alonzo, Falcon, and Diligence, sloops of war, Locust and Ferreter, gun brigs, which sailed from the Downs last night ; this morning they are followed by the Autumn sloop, Mariner and Archer gun brigs. Should this force be fortunate enough to fall in with the enemy, although the latter be a superior force, little doubt can be entertained but that the issue of a battle would be a renewed proof of the invincibility of the British navy. The Queen spoke a Prussian brig from Flushing, from which they learned that the 64 gun ship and frigate were bound to the Texel, and the gun vessels to Dunkirk.

28 May 1801 arrived in the Downs with the Diligence, Eugenie, Ferriter, and Locust, from a cruise and remain.

29 May 1801 remains in the Downs.

10 Jul 1801 arrived in the Downs, from a cruise and remains.

9 Sep 1801 the Eugenie and Diligence, with seven gun brigs, several cutters, and luggers, under the command of Captain Somerville, departed for the Coast of France.

19 Sep 1801 arrived in the Downs the Eugenie and Diligence sloops ; Sulphur bomb ; Charger, Bold, and Ferreter, gun-vessels, and remain.

24 Sep 1801 departed the Downs a small squadron made up from the sloops Eugenie, Capt Somerville, in command ; and the Diligence ; the Bold and Ferriter, gun vessels ; and Lively, cutter, on a cruise off the Coast of France.

13 Oct 1801 returned to Walmer Roads with the above squadron from off Boulogne, blowing hard.

4 Nov 1801 departed the Downs for Sheerness. Wind WSW, squally, with rain.

6 Nov 1801 arrived Sheerness from the Downs.

12 Nov 1801 remains Sheerness, with 6 sloops and 14 gun-brigs, at the Nore.

27 Nov 1801 is reported to have come into Sheerness harbour to be paid off.

30 Nov 1801 remains with the Zealand and some 20 other vessels at the Nore.

6 Dec 1801 a Court Martial was held at Sheerness, on D. Sparrow, Serjeant of Marines, of the Diligence, for embezzlement of marine clothing, and some of the mens' wages, with which he was intrusted ; which being proved, he was sentenced to be reduced to the ranks, to receive 100 lashes on his bare back, and to have the amount of the clothing and wages deducted from his wages.

14 Dec 1801 departed Sheerness the York, Capt Ferrier ; with the Heldin frigate, Capt Parker ; and Diligence sloop, Capt Jones, for the River.

14 Jan 1802 the Diligence arrived in the Downs, from Sheerness.

15 Jan 1802 departed the Downs for Spithead.

25 Jan 1802 arrived Spithead the Hound, Captain Sarradine ; Alonzo, Captain Cathcart ; Autumn, Captain Richardson; and the Diligence, Captain Jones (sloops of war), from the Downs.

6 Feb 1802 departed Spithead for the Downs to be paid off.

7 Feb 1802 arrived in the Downs, for the River.

10 Feb 1802 departed the Downs for Sheerness.

14 Feb 1802 arrived Sheerness, the Hound, Autumn, Diligence, and Alonzo from the Downs.

15 Mar 1802 arrived Sheerness, from Yarmouth.

16 Mar 1802 a Court Martial was held on board the Beschermer, lying at the Nore, on Lieutenant Gilchrist, of the Diligence, for neglect of duty, &c. The charge being in part proved, he was dismissed his Majesty's service, and put at the bottom of the List.

15 Apr 1802 remains at the Nore with the Amphion, &c.

5 May 1802 passed through the Downs from Sheerness to Portsmouth.

20 May 1802 passed through the Downs from Portsmouth for Sheerness.

21 May 1802 arrived Sheerness the Diligence, Capt Jones.

28 May 1802 departed Sheerness with 80 of the Phoebe's crew, to be put on board the Latona, lying at Greenhithe.

31 May 1802 arrived Sheerness from the Thames.

3 Jun 1802 Capt Kerr apptd to the Diligence vice Capt Jones. Wind S.E., blows hard.

2 Jul 1802 departed Sheerness up the Medway.

17 Feb 1803 paid off and re-commissioned at Deptford.

15 Mar 1803 the Diligence, Capt Kerr, arrived Sheerness from the Thames and is ordered to the mouth of the River to impress men from the ships coming up.

22 Jun 1803 arrived Sheerness from the downs the Leda, Ethalion, Diligence, and Mariner.

21 Aug 1803 departed Plymouth for the River [Thames] the Resolution, 18, and the Diligence, 14, with a convoy of all the Dutch East Indiamen (droits of Admiralty), captured before the declaration of war against Holland, and from thence the escorts to Sheerness. I should also note that there was no Resolution, 18, around this period, so regret can only put it down as a misidentification.

23 Aug 1803 the Diligence departed Sheerness for N Yarmouth.

4 Sep 1803 departed the Downs for Sheerness.

8 Sep 1803 the Diligence, Capt Ker, arrived Sheerness, and departed again with a convoy of 30 vessels for the Baltic.

14 Nov 1803 passed through the N Yarmouth Roads a convoy from the Baltic under the command of the Diligence, dropping off vessels for Yarmouth and picking up those heading for the Downs and the River &c.

28 Nov 1803 arrived in the Downs from Plymouth.

16 Feb 1805 to Mediterranean.

May 1805 North Sea Convoy.

10 May 1810, Yarmouth, on Wednesday, the Diligence sails with a convoy for the Baltic, with the Gluckstadt, Alban cutter, and Starling.

3 Aug 1811 Came into Plymouth with convoy from Lisbon, put back from the Channel by an unfavorable wind.

12 Jan 1812 arrived Yarmouth from the northward.

15 Jan 1812 departed Yarmouth for the westward.

16 Jan 1812 arrived Deal from the Baltic.