Eclair, 1844
Notes:

Aug 1844 Infernal (1843) renamed Eclair.

28 Aug 1844 Commander W.G.B Estcourt, Lieutenants E.P. Halkett and T. Belgrave ; Paymaster T.R. Hallett, Gunner W. Huish ; Boatswain J. Warren ; Carpenter E. Crowther apptd. Captain's Log commences....would guess that vessel was also commissioned at Woolwich on this date.

7 Sep 1844 will form a part of the Royal Squadron at Woolwich on Monday morning on her departure for Scotland.

8 Sep 1844 departed Woolwich for engine trials and subsequent trip to Scotland.

13 Oct 1844 arrived at Plymouth, from Portsmouth, on Tuesday and with the Rhadamanthus, arrived today at Portsmouth, with the convict ship Stirling Castle in tow.

15 Oct 1844 departed Portsmouth with the Vulcan as escort for the Royal Yacht to Dover.

30 Oct 1844 left the harbour for Spithead, where the ship's company were paid.

31 Oct 1844 departed Spithead for the Coast of Africa, on anti- slavery patrols, and takes with her stores for other vessels on the station.

24 Jan 1845 off Gallinas with the Larne, Growler, and Sealark, when the Penelope arrived from Sierra Leone with provisions and stores, the Sealark being dispatched to her station off New Cestos.

6 Feb 1845, following the ill-treatment of black British subjects by the Chiefs and slave dealers in the various lands surrounding Sierra Leone and not having received any positive response the boats of the Penelope, Ardent and Eclair, proceeded to the Tucker's slave factory, which was found to be empty, and was burnt to the ground, along with anything of value remaining in the buildings. Further action against Tucker's residence was postponed, the tides not being helpful for the current operation.

15 May 1845 detained off the Gallinas the Spanish slave schooner Mariana, Ramon de Madariaga, master, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 27 May 1845 sentenced to be condemned. I appreciate that this is not in date order, however if you read on....all will hopefully become clear why I've chosen to allow the following sad events flow....from one to the next. 4 Aug 1847 the proceeds arising due for payment.

3 Apr 1845 whilst off Plantain Island, West Coast of Africa, Robert Chipp, R.M.A., was drowned in a boating accident.

Charles Dunn, Henry Hill, Henry Fielderson, and Thomas Williams, Able Seamen ; James Taylor, Ordinary Seaman ; Thomas Foster, Leading Stoker ; Richard Derrick, Stoker, are reported to have deserted at Sierra Leone, but no dates given.

John Week, was invalided home to England when the Eclair was at at Shebar, and Thomas Smith when they were at Sierra Leone, but no dates given.

Shebar was often reputed to be one of the most unhealthy places on the West Africa Station.

William Martin and William Newman were discharged to shore from the Eclair whilst at Sierra Leone, but no dates given.

23 Apr 1845 William Mageary, A.B., died from fever.
24 Apr 1845 Watson, Thomas, Ordinary Seaman, ditto.
25 Apr 1845 Cory, Michael, Ordinary Seaman, ditto.
28 May 1845 Connor, William, Stoker, ditto.
29 May 1845 Forest, William, Royal Marine Artillery, ditto.
4 Jun 1845 Fielden, James, Captain of the Forecastle, ditto.
5 Jun 1845 Ward, James, Ordinary Seaman, ditto.
11 Jun 1845 Hill, Benjamin, Marine, ditto.
15 Jun 1845 Mills, W., Captain's Clerk, ditto.
7 Jul 1845 Startup, William, Ordinary Seaman, ditto.
27 Jul 1845 Davison, Mr., Passenger from the Albert, ditto.
27 Jul 1845 Moran, William, Stoker, ditto.
29 Jul 1845 Kirby, William, Royal Marine Artillery, ditto.
4 Aug 1845 Wright, William, Purser's Steward, ditto.
6 Aug 1845 Crossfield, George, Able Seaman, ditto.
9 Aug 1845 Hardman, William, Ordinary Seaman, ditto.
9 Aug 1845 Kirk, William, Royal Marine Artillery, ditto.
14 Aug 1845 Rice, William, Rope Maker, ditto.
17 Aug 1845 Guage, Henry, Caulker, ditto.
17 Aug 1845 Coe, Elick, Able Seaman, ditto.
20 Aug 1845 Motton, Richard, Boy of the 1st Class, ditto.
24 Aug 1845 Skinner, William, Able Seaman, ditto.
28 Aug 1845 Gardiner, William, Quartermaster, ditto.
28 Aug 1845 Keely, Garratt, Stoker, ditto.
30 Aug 1845 Connoly, Patrick, Stoker, ditto.
30 Aug 1845 Gibson, John, Quartermaster, ditto.
2 Sep 1845 Cahlin, George, Royal Marine Artillery, ditto.
2 Sep 1845 Crannage, Samuel, Marine, ditto.
3 Sep 1845 Athorn, John, Boy of the 2nd Class, ditto.
3 Sep 1845 Brennan, William, Captain's Coxswain, ditto.
3 Sep 1845 Brown, George, Ordinary Seaman, ditto.
4 Sep 1845 Thomas, William, Stoker, ditto.
4 Sep 1845 Mr. Symons, Naval Cadet, ditto.
4 Sep 1845 Harris, Henry, Boy of the 1st Class, ditto.
5 Sep 1845 Mr. Gorman, Master;s Assistant, ditto.
5 Sep 1845 Davis, Thomas, Leading Stoker, ditto.
5 Sep 1845 Hallett, Thomas R., Paymaster, ditto.
6 Sep 1845 Martin, Richard, Marine, ditto.
6 Sep 1845 Dillon, James, Boy of the 2nd Class, ditto.
6 Sep 1845 Garratty, James, Stoker, ditto.
7 Sep 1845 Powers, John, Able Seaman, ditto.
7 Sep 1845 Warwick, John, Midshipman's Steward, ditto.
7 Sep 1845 Gallagher, Michael, Able Seaman, ditto.
7 Sep 1845 Hancock, John, Royal Marine Artillery, ditto.
8 Sep 1845 Goodhugh, John, Able Seaman, ditto.
9 Sep 1845 Hartman, Charles, Doctor's Mate, ditto.
10 Sep 1845 King, Thomas, Captain's Cook, ditto.
10 Sep 1845 Shearman, Henry, Royal Marine Artillery, ditto.
10 Sep 1845 Claggett, William, Stoker, ditto.
13 Sep 1845 Lloyd, Thomas, Boy of the 2nd Class, ditto.
13 Sep 1845 Penn, William, Boy of the 1st Class, ditto.
15 Sep 1845 Sullivan, Michael, Stoker, ditto.
16 Sep 1845 Commander Walter G. Bucknall Estcourt, age 38, Commanding Officer, ditto.
17 Sep 1845 Steel, James, Able Seaman, ditto.
18 Sep 1845 Surgeon McClure, ditto.
18 Sep 1845 Lark, James, Marine, ditto.
19 Sep 1845 Long, John, Boy of the 2nd Class, ditto.
20 Sep 1845 Dillon, Nicholas, Able Seaman, ditto.
21 Sep 1845 Surgeon Machonchy, ditto.
21 Sep 1845 Wills, James, Quartermaster, ditto.
21 Sep 1845 McDermot, James, Stoker, ditto.

23 Sep 1845 departed Madeira.

25 Sep 1845 Monk, Charles, Stoker, ditto.
26 Sep 1845 Coleman, Thomas, Ordinary Seaman, ditto.
28 Sep 1845 Culver, John, Royal Marine Artillery, ditto.
29 Sep 1845 Fudge, Hamilton, Captain's Steward, ditto.

29 Sep 1845 arrived at the Motherbank, off the north coast of the Isle of Wight, from the west coast of Africa, flying the yellow flag with a black ball, indicating she was in quarantine, with 23 cases of fever on board, and 65 of her ship's company already dead, including officers and men.

30 Sep 1845 Thorp, William, Ordinary Seaman, ditto.

Earlier in Sep 1845 was reported to have been at Boa Vista, Cape Verd Islands, where the crew were reported to have suffered an epidemic resulting in the death of many of her ship's company.

1st Oct 1845 A list of names of those who had died on board the Eclair was officially published on the outside of the Dockyard Gates.

Food and coal has been towed down to the Eclair in a lighter.

1 Oct 1845 Has departed the Motherbank, in the Solent, for the quarantine grounds at Standgate Creek, near Sheerness. 23 are reported to be sick.

2 Oct 1845 is reported to have arrived in the quarantine grounds at Standgate Creek, near Sheerness, and the sick have been removed to the Revenge and Benbow, which are in ordinary (reserve), whilst the survivors and Kroomen remain in the Eclair. Subsequently the white survivors were removed to another ship from the reserve.

3 Oct 1845 Walsh, John, Master at Arms, died from fever.
3 Oct 1845 Hails, Thomas, Marine, ditto.
3 Oct 1845 Langmead, Henry, Blacksmith, ditto.
3 Oct 1845 another surgeon has fallen ill.

6 Oct 1845 FitzGerald, William Henry, Sergeant, Royal Marine Artillery, died from fever.

9 Oct 1845 Assistant Surgeon Sidney Bernard, who volunteered his services to the Eclair when she was at Madeira, died on board the Worcester of the fever.

10 Oct 1845 Mr. Saunders, of Portsmouth, the pilot who brought the Eclair up from the Motherbank at Portsmouth to Standgate Creek has died of the fever.

12 Oct 1845 Lieutenant Charles Augustus Isaacson died from fever : following his death it was reported in some of the newspapers of the day that some difficulty was experienced by the Admiralty in recruiting officers for the West Coast of Africa, and on occasion it is said that the Admiralty resorted to subterfuge by detailing the vessels for the West Indies, and then lending them to the West Coast of Africa station for anti-slavery duties. In addition I gather that a little more care was taken when it came to detailing when and where vessels were to serve, rather than than putting them at risk from malaria and yellow fever during the rainy season, when even the slavers are reputed to have found something else to occupy them. But even so there were still reports of vessels suffering from the fever, about which, there appeared to be little understanding, despite the fact that quinine had been used to treat malaria for many decades, if not centuries e.g. the Romans are said to have used it during the 17th Century. However, the effectiveness of the drug can be harmed by keeping it in the wrong conditions and trials of it by some doctors may have suggested the drug was ineffective for this reason, and hence it wasn't until the latter half of the 19th Century that surgeons in the royal navy started to use the drug effectively, although there were many who were still sceptical regarding its use and effectiveness. Although in the present case it would appear to have been a particularly form virulent of Yellow Fever that may have been the cause of the outbreak ?

16 Oct 1845 No further cases have come to light and the sick are reported to be recovering. The Griffon has been brought alongside, into which will be put all the traps and stores from the Eclair whilst the vessel is fumigated and white-washed etc.

21 Oct 1845 Assistant Surgeon Coffey, who also volunteered his services at Madeira will be eligible to be promoted to Surgeon once he has passed the necessary examinations.

21 Oct 1845 Surgeon John Grant Stewart who volunteered his services to the Eclair has been promoted to the rank of Deputy Inspector of Hospitals.

21 Oct 1845 Assistant Surgeon William Rogers, of the Ocean, who volunteered for the Eclair, and contracted the fever, is now recovering from the disease, has been promoted to Surgeon.

28 Oct 1845 all are now reported to be well and will be given pratique once the fumigation and cleaning of the Eclair has been completed by the Kroomen, who, it should be remembered, are still living on board.

31 Oct 1845 the officers and crew have been admitted to pratique.

11 Nov 1845 steamed down to Sheerness.

13 Nov 1845 paid off at Sheerness, the Kroomen having been discharged to the Minotaur to await a passage back to the West coast of Africa. The vessel was to remain at her moorings with her hatches open for some time, with no shipkeepers on board.

3 Dec 1845 the Kroomen had joined the Alarm, for a passage to the West Coast of Africa.

2 Jan 1846 has arrived at Woolwich.

20 Apr 1846 a tablet has been placed in the chapel at the dockyard at Portsmouth in memory of the late Commander Walter G. Bucknall Estcourt.

Oct 1846 �clair renamed Rosamond.