Messenger, 1830
Type: storeship/transport ; late Packet ;
Purchased : 20 Aug 1830 ; Disposal date or year : 1861
BM: 733 tons ; Displacement: 912 tons
Propulsion: Paddle
Notes:

20 Aug 1830 the former merchant vessel Duke of York, purchased into the service, and renamed Messenger ; the former merchant vessel George IV, purchased into the service, and renamed Hermes. Hermes and Messenger cost �24,977 : 9s : 4d. for the 2 vessels. This info appeared on page 101 of a report dated 5 Mar 1847, detailing the vessels purchased by the Admiralty since 1830 - Accounts and Papers for the House of Commons Vol. 37.

10 Jun 1830 departed Falmouth for the Mediterranean.

25 Jul 1830 arrived Falmouth from the Mediterranean Corfu (29 Jun), Malta (3 Jul), Off Algiers (8th), Gibraltar (13th), and Cadiz (15th).

16 May 1831 arrived Portsmouth from London, and departed for Falmouth.

10 Jul 1831 has towed the Salsette from Portsmouth into Whitebooth Roads.

12 Sep 1831 arrived Falmouth from the Mediterranean.

The appearance of a new island in the Mediterranean.-The following singular account is translated from the Messager des Chambres :- Towards eleven o'clock of the 10th of July 1831, Capt. John Corrao, commander of the brig Theresine, going from Trapani to Girgenti, in Sicily, at the distance of about twenty miles from Cape St. Mark, perceived at the distance of a gunshot a mass of water which arose sixty feet above the level of the sea, and presented a circumference of nearly 400 fathoms : a smoke proceeded from it, exhaling an odour of sulphur. The preceding day, in the Gulf of Trois Fontaines, he had seen a great quantity of dead fish and of black matter floating on the water, and he heard a noise like that of thunder, which the Captain attributes to a volcanic eruption. He continued his voyage to Girgenti, and all the time that he was occupied in lading his ship, he saw a thick smoke rise in incessantly from the same point, before which he arrived on the 16th, on his return from Girgenti a new spectacle was then presented to him, namely a tract of land, of the one circumference as the mass of water which he had remarked in his first passage. This island, (which we shall call Carrao, from the name of him who saw it formed,) is elevated about twelve feet above the surface of the sea; it has in the middle a kind of plain and the crater of a volcano, whence a burning lava is seen to pro�ceed during the night. The island is bordered by girdle of smoke. The sounding all around the island gives a depth of 100 fathoms ; its latitude is 37 degrees 6 minutes north, and lon�gitude 10 degrees 28 minutes from the meridian of Paris. Such is the rela�tion of Capt. Carrao himself, who en�tered the port of Marseilles the 30th of last July. This volcano has also been seen by several captains going from Malta and Taganroc to Genoa : the pilot of the latter learned from a fisherman, that on the day of the eruption of this volcano be had seen a brig perish, and also a fishing boat his companion ; and that he considered his own escape miraculous.

The lately formed Volcanic Island in the Mediterranean. Accounts by the Messenger steamer, Lieut. Aplin, arrived from the Mediterranean, state, that HM ship Ferret, is stationed on the north-west side of the new volcano, called Graham Island, to make known its situation to vessels which might not yet be aware of its existence, where she is to remain until relieved. The Island, up to the 20th of Aug. was in a quiescent state. Very little stones had recently been thrown out, though it had not ceased discharging steam in greater or less quantities. It appears by the report of Mr. Osborne, Surgeon of the Ganges, in the Malta Gazette of the 25 Aug that a terrific cauldron and agitation of the sea had appeared on the south-west side of then island, adjoining the principal crater, evidently the commencement of a new crater, and perhaps of a new island. Graham's Island had not increased much in size since our last report. It was about 180 feet high, and rather more than a mile in circumference. The sides had, however, closed up, and no water now ran into the principal crater from the sea. The water retained in the basin was 190� of Farenheit, and very salt, arising, as it is supposed, from the powerful evaporation. It is the general opinion that the island will shortly disappear, or be reduced to a bank just above water� mark, as the materials of which it is formed do not adhere, and are, therefore, constantly being rolled away by the action of the waves. They are almost entirely ashes, the pulverised remains of coal deprived of its bitumen, iron, scoria, and a kind of ferruginous clay or oxided earth. There is no appearance of lava, pumice-stone, shells, or other marine remains, usually found at Etna and Vesuvius.

17 Nov 1831 arrived Falmouth from Corfu (29 Oct), Malta (2 Nov), Gibraltar (10th), and Cadiz (11th).

20 Nov 1831 in Hamoaze.

21/22 Jan 1832 came into Hamoaze from Falmouth, having just returned from Corfu and Malta.

28 Jan 1832 departed Plymouth for Woolwich to be paid off.

May 1832 is reported in the Nautical Magazine to have been fitted out as a naval transport.

9 Jun 1832 the Supply storeship/transport being old and defective is either to be sold or broken up at Woolwich and will be replaced by the Messenger.

30 Jun 1832 arrived Deal from Woolwich.

13 Jul 1832 arrived at Portsmouth, from Chatham and Woolwich, with stores and tanks for Portsmouth and Plymouth. She also carries a detachment of Royal Marines for Plymouth.

15 Jul 1832 arrived at Plymouth, and having disembarked her passengers and stores etc., departed the following day for Milford with jury mast for the Royal William, which once installed, will enable the vessel to sail for Plymouth to be completed.

27 Oct 1832 arrived Plymouth from Ireland.

29 Oct 1832 towed the Onyx into Hamoaze.

17 Nov 1832 arrived Portsmouth from Plymouth.

18 Nov 1832 has detained and sent into Portsmouth the Maria, and Henrietta Clarisina, from Batavia to Amsterdam. Off Selsey Bill the two Dutchmen were in collision, following which the crews jumped overboard, to be rescued by the Conway's boats, and suffered much damage to masts and rigging etc. The Conway towed the Maria to Spithead, which the steamer Messenger towed the detained Dutch Henrietta Clarisina into Portsmouth Harbour.

5 Dec 1832 arrived at Portsmouth from the eastward, and departed to the westward.

16 Mar 1833 in Harbour at Portsmouth.

18 May 1833 departed Milford Haven for Cork.

6 Jul 1833 in Harbour at Portsmouth.

23 Sep 1833 Portsmouth.

27 Dec 1833 in collision, off the Nab Light, with the Thetis, pilot-boat, which sank : crew saved.

6 Mar 1834 arrived Plymouth from the Mediterranean, Lisbon and Falmouth.

21 Aug 1834 departed Plymouth for Milford.

14 Mar 1835 arrived Portsmouth on Monday from Woolwich, returning later that day, having brought down the furniture of the Herald yacht, which is to be fitted in the Jupiter, for her forthcoming passage to India.

2 May 1835, Portsmouth, is detailed to tow the late Gunnery Training ship, HMS Excellent to the River Thames to be sold for breaking.

16 May 1835 departed Portsmouth Wednesday last with the late Excellent, assisted by jury sails, under tow for the river.

27 Jun 1835 arrived Portsmouth from Pembroke.

Circa 3 Jan 1836 is reported to have arrived at Hull with stores and provisions for the Cove for her forthcoming passage to Greenland waters.

circa 5 Jan 1836 the Cove is reported to have departed for the Straits having been towed down the Humber by the Messenger.

30 Apr 1836 arrived Portsmouth from Milford and other ports with 150 volunteer seamen for the Asia, Hercules and packet Swift.

25 Feb 1837 departs Portsmouth on Monday for the North Coast of Spain, calling at Plymouth en route.

24-25 Apr 1838, Portsmouth, with the Dee and Lightning assisted the departure of the Hastings for Quebec.

23 Feb 1839 at Portsmouth.

20 April 1839 at Portsmouth.

18 May 1839 at Portsmouth.

23 May 1839 Portsmouth, went out to Spithead to meet the Hastings.

30 May 1839 arrived Portsmouth from Woolwich with officers and marines for the Revenge. She is under orders to go to Chatham to bring here the depot of the 82d Regiment, and then to convey the depot of the 60th Regiment from this garrison to Cork. Mr. King (master of the Messenger steamer) is turned over to the Avon, and Mr. Cater is to act as master of the Messenger.

3 Aug 1839 Portsmouth.

14 Dec 1839 Portsmouth.

1 Feb 1840 Portsmouth the Meteor and Messenger steamers towed the Pembroke into harbour on Thursday and with the Lightning, towed the Blenheim out of harbour yesterday.

14 Mar 1840 arrived last Tuesday at Cowes, and having transferred the troops from the Jupiter took them to Southampton and returned to Portsmouth.

16 May 1840 Portsmouth went to Woolwich on Wednesday, with the Marines of the Rodney.

16 May 1840, engine removed 1840, and has been replaced at Portsmouth by the Echo steam-vessel, and converted to coal depot.

20 Dec 1848 Coal Depot, Woolwich

1860 Coal Depot, Woolwich