Prompt, 1840
Type: Schooner ; late slave vessel
Purchased : 22 Jan 1842, although, per letter below, she seems to have been in service last July ;
Disposal date or year : 1847
BM: 61 tons.
Notes:

12 May 1840 slave brigantine Josephina detained by the Wanderer.

9 Jun 1840 slave brigantine Josephina condemned by the Vice-Admiralty Court at Sierra Leone.

7 Jul 1841 despite not officially having been purchased into the Service, it would appear that she was was already being used: HM Schooner Prompt, at Sierra Leone, Sir, I have the honour to inform you that about 14 days since the notorious fast sailing Slave Schooner "Juliana," sailed from this port under Spanish colours, her destination said to be the Havanna, touching at the Cape Verde Islands ; she had a number of Spaniards and others onboard for passage, who had been landed from the various prizes at Sierra Leone. My attention was particularly directed to the progress of this vessel from the time of my arrival, 7 weeks back, to the day of her sailing ; for from her having taken on her new lower masts, and being entirely and carefully refitted by Spaniards or Portuguese, I considered it very probable that the transfer (which afterwards took place) might then have been resolved on. The purchase of the "Juliana" at the sale of that vessel, after condemnation by the British and Brazilian Mixed Court of Justice, was Mr George Alexander Vidal, a merchant, residing at Sierra Leone, whose name figures in the similar transaction of the Slave Brigantine "Arrogante," owned by Pedro Martinez, of Havanna, for a full account of which I beg to refer you to Class B of Correspondence with Foreign Powers : page 36, 1039. 40. The "Juliana" appears to be an American built vessel and has often escaped both HM Brigantines Termagant [Ed : on which I note this officer served circa 1839-40] and Cygnet, by her superior sailing. I was present on two occasions when she escaped from the first mentioned Brigantine, there can be but little doubt to what account will eventually be turned ; indeed it appears very probable that she may land her passengers at that well known slave haunt, the Cape de Verdes, and come direct thence to the Coast, ready equipped. I have, in conclusion, to state that from some inquiries I made among the residents of Sierra Leone, respecting these transfers, I was given to understand that the master was by no means uncommon formerly, but that in consequence of the strong measures adopted by Government to put a stop to the traffic in slaves, it had been greatly discountenanced, and had been gradually been discontinued, with few exceptions, among whom perhaps, (if these examples may be taken as evidence), may be classed this same Mr Vidal. I have considered it my duty to make known to you these circumstances in hopes that some means may be found of preventing Sierra Leone from answering the purpose of a second Baltimore, but as the sale of this vessel must have been sanctioned by the Public Authorities of Sierra Leone. I do not, of course, mean to throw out any insinuations against the legality or propriety of this transfer. I have the honour &c., A.R Dunlap, Mate. Addressed to Capt William Tucker, HMS Wolverene, Senior Officer on the West Coast of Africa. (Ed. It might also be of interest to note that Mr Dunlap had been making waves ashore, as noticed in earlier examples of these Foreign Office papers, he having observed that some of the stores from Slave Vessels brought into Sierra Leone, were not all finding their way to be auctioned off, e.g. 5 pistols, and a quantity of plank used to make Slave Decks, and would appear to have been purloined by junior members of the Mixed Commission Court staff at Sierra Leone. Source : FO 84-385 2 Admiralty 1841 Sept-Dec p 394. [Ed : also note that his doesn't appear to have done Mr Dunlap any harm, as I see, according to correspondence per the British Mixed Court at Sierra Leone in 1843 that he was an act Lieut on board the Persian in 1842.

22 Jan 1842 the former slave vessel Josephina, was purchased into the service for �450 : 6s. 0d., and renamed Prompt, and included in a return to Parliament dated 5 Mar 1847, detailing all the vessels purchased into the Service by the Admiralty since 1830 - Accounts and Papers for the House of Commons Vol. 37.

1 Jan 1842 arrived Accra from a cruise and departed for Sierra Leone.

24 Mar 1842 arrived Gallenas with orders for the Pluto.

9 Apr 1842 reported to be at Sierra Leone when the Pluto departed for England.

19 Jun 1842 at Ascension when the Rolla departed for England.

11 Jul 1842 spoke with the Bonetta off Ilio Sestros.