Linnet, 1835
Type: Packet brig ; Armament 8
Launched : 27 Jul 1835 ; Disposal date or year : 1866
BM: 361 tons
Notes:

Portsmouth 19 Sep 1835 was commissioned yesterday as a mail packet.

26 Sep 1835, Portsmouth, it is reported that the Linnet is to be armed with 4 12 pounder carronades and 2 brass Post Office guns.

Portsmouth 31 Oct 1835 went out to Spithead on Thursday : her ship's company will be paid an advance of wages, and she will sail for Falmouth shortly.

Lisbon 25 Jan 1837 departed for England.

Lisbon 26 Feb 1837 arrived from Falmouth.

11 Sep 1840 Granada, Mr. Pearce, master's assistant of the Linnet packet, who was left at Granada in charge of the merchant brig Penelope, of Greenock, the master of which had died, a victim to yellow fever a few days after having the command.

Circa 20 Mar 1841 arrived Falmouth, from the West Indies, leaving Cape Henri on 24 Feb.

3 Jan 1841 departed Falmouth.

22 Jun 1841 at Rio Janeiro.

30 Nov 1841 whilst bound for Rio spoke with the Ardent standing off same.

7 May 1841 departed Falmouth for Brazil.

12 Oct 1842 departed Falmouth for Brazil ; expected back at Falmouth 1 Mar 1843.

Jan 1848 Devonport,

20 Dec 1848 Falmouth.

11 Mar 1853, operations on the Sierra Leone river against a chief who was suspected of kidnapping a European and complicity in the slave trade - see p. 394 at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow See also letter from Commander Need to the Governor of Sierra Leone.
H.M.'s Sloop Linnet, Sierra Leone, March 11, 1853.
Sir, I have the honour to inform you that Kali Modoo is on board the Teazer. I arrived off Medina in that vessel, commanded by Lieutenant Rich, at 8 o'clock, landed with a strong party, and presented our letter to Kali Modoo, reading and explaining it carefully to him ; after a brief interval he declined complying with your demand but promised being at Sierra Leone on the morrow, but this promise was accompanied by an order to his followers to post themselves to the best advantage for resistance, and his manner was doubtful. At Lieutenant Rich's suggestion, the party were taken down to the boats, and the Teazer fired three or four shells over the place and the pinnace of the Linnet two ; the party then entered the town, and Kali Modoo was found submissive enough, but urged to be allowed to give his written promise to appear here to-morrow, as going then would appear to his people like being forced.
I am happy to say that no one was hurt by the shot, and without the alternative of burning the town, which would of necessity have entailed much injury on the innocent.
Kali Modoo has been properly humbled, and will, no doubt, in future, respect British power and British justice. I trust your wishes have been properly carried out, and
I have, &c. (Signed) Henry Need.

30 Apr 1853 operations up the Pongos river and capture of Spanish slave brig Bettona and a schooner - see p. 394 at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

30 Apr 1853 detained in the Rio Pongo a slave schooner, Name Unknown, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Sierra Leone and on 14 May 1853 sentenced to be forfeited, per 2 & 3 Vict., cap. 73.

30 Apr 1853 detained in the Rio Pongo the slave brigantine Paulina, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Sierra Leone, and on 14 May 1853 sentenced to be forfeited, per 2 & 3 Vict., cap. 73.

13 May 1853 received all papers for the northern division from Commander G.A. Seymour of the Firefly.

13 Apr 1854 departed Loanda on a short cruise.

30 Apr 1854 having departed the coast the commanding officer left the ship's boats close in shore off Black Point and they were able to detain the slave barque Mellidon, Charles Cabalier, master, which had gone to sea earlier and returned to the coast, the Bay of Cabinda, hoping to have misled the Linnet, but fell into the trap left for her and having earlier been pretending to be a U.S. vessel was detained without colours, or papers, and to be fitted out to carry 400 slaves. The Mellidon was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena, and on 25 May 1854 sentenced to be condemned. Her captain and mate appear to have escaped the trap, but were arrested at Ambriz, and are reported to have been put on board a Portuguese frigate, to be transported, in due course, to Lisbon. It may be of interest to note that the vessel was stopped some weeks earlier by the Philomel, on behalf of the USS Perry.

1857 Coastguard Vessel.

1861-62 Coast Guard Watch Vessel, per Parliamentary estimates etc.

1863 Renamed Coast Guard Watch Vessel 36.