Tartar, 1814
Type: 5th rate ; Armament 38
Launched : 6 Apr 1814 ; Disposal date or year : 1859
BM: 949 tons
Notes:

Cove 3 Jan 1814 Remains.

Portsmouth 3 Oct 1818 Undergoing repairs to her chain cable at Spithead.

25 Jan 1820 departed Sierra Leone 30 Jan 1820, detained in the Rio Pongos the Dutch slave vessel Maria, with 2 slaves on board when detained, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Netherlands Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone and sentenced to be condemned on 15 Feb 1820.

30 Jan 1820, detained in lat. 10� 10' N., long. 0� 40' W., the Spanish slave vessel Francisco, with 69 slaves on board when detained, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone and sentenced to be condemned on 8 Feb 1820.

21 Feb 1820 off Sierra Leone. The commanding officer, Commodore Geo Collier writes an excellent letter detailing his frustrations with the Mixed Courts of Justice, something that was going to take another 20+ years to resolve, with the re-introduction of the Vice Admiralty Courts making the Mixed Courts redundant. Just reading through the various correspondence from Sierra Leone, but more so from Havannah, Luanda, and Rio de Janeiro, where the Courts were rarely allowed to operate properly, due to the fact that most of those in power were deeply involved in the slave trade themselves, where the number of slave vessels managing to complete the journies meant that it was almost impossible to put an end to the business until a means was found to prevent the accumulation of the vast profits being made ; but as we know, 200 years on, it still continues in W Africa to this day, and even here in England, with many from Nigeria, Eastern Europe and Refugees being brough in.....but I digress as usual.

21 Feb 1820 the ship's company spent 24 hours raising a mooring cable, along with 2 anchors of 40 chains each which had become entangled with the cable, were often the cause of major problems for visiting shipping and are currently being taken ashore, before the Tartar departs Sierra Leone.

2 Mar 1820, detained in lat. 5� 0' N. long. 10� 10' W. the Spanish slave vessel Gazetta, with 81 slaves on board when detained, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and sentenced to be condemned on 18 Mar 1820.

7 Mar 1820 Cdre sent a letter (RoP) of this date to the Admiralty whilst off Cape Palmas.

20 May 1820 a letter from the Admiralty, in response to a letter from Commodore Collier of 28 Feb 1820, reminds, or rather re-aquaints the Commodore that Their Lordships have pointed out the impropriety of detaining, even under the circumstances he states, ships belonging to France and the United States of America. This followed the arrest of the French ships Catherine, and La Marie, detained whilst flying the French flag, which Commodore Collier suggests were really Spanish vessels and entitled to be detained. FO 84-8 Supplementary.

28 Aug 1820 arrived Portsmouth from Sierra Leone, via Isles de Los ; Barbadoes (28 Jun) ; Martinique (30th) ; Port Royal (14 Jul) ; Havannah (22nd) ; and Charleston 4 Aug.

11 Oct 1820 the Admiralty announced that the commanding officers of the following vessels now cruising on the West Coast of Africa, ie the Tartar, Capt Collier ; Pheasant, Capt Kelly ; Morgiana, Capt Wm Finlaison ; Capt Locke, Myrmidon ; Lieut R Nash, Snapper ; Lieut R Hagan, have been supplied with their instructions, should the right circumstances arise, authorising them to detain Portuguese or Spanish vessels in accordance with the several Treaties with foreign powers for preventing the Illegal Traffic in slaves with those countries.

Capt Collier of the Tartar observed that very early in 1821, so close to the British settlements as the Galinas, the schooner Carlotta was boarded by his Majesty's ship Myrmidon; the master and supercargo were then said to be on shore contracting for a cargo. * �The vessel was under the colours of Spain; but she had no papers whatever; and though there seemed no doubt that she, like very many others similarly circumstanced, was at one period of the year engaged in piratical cruizing, and in slaving, when it seemed to offer better prospects; and it was acknowledged by part of the crew that the object of the vessel was slaving (but this was qualified by stating, that the slaves were to be embarked south of the line); yet not having any slaves on board, although the want of papers would seem to found a reasonable suspicion of her being a pirate, it was not thought prudent to take her to Sierra Leone for adjudication. But as I considered it my duty to frustrate the evident intentions of the Carlotta, if possible, I took her in charge from Captain Leeke, and towed her to Cape Coast Castle, where, after receiving the depositions of the crew, I dismissed her. When no longer detained by me, she beat round Cape Palmas, back to the very spot where she was first met, confirming my original suspicion of her object. Her cargo being prepared, she embarked 260 slaves: and the very next day, in a tornado off St. Ann's, for want of timely precaution, upset; and, dreadful to relate, the whole of these wretched people confined in irons sunk with her. And I cannot help regretting that her master, (who was the whole time on board in disguise, though sworn by himself to be left on shore,) and two of her crew, contrived to reach Sierra Leone in a boat, where I found them � as humanity would induce, but as justice would forbid � lodged in the hospital, receiving all the comforts British charity would bestow upon those of better deserts. Art. 32. 16th Report of the Directors of the African Institution, read at the AGM, 10 May, 1822

23 Mar 1821 detained in the River Bonny 4� 26' N., by the boats of the Tartar and Thistle, the Donna Eugenia, of 154 tons, with 83 slaves onboard, was fitted out at Pernambuco for a slave trading voyage to Cabinda and Molembo, places situated on the south of the Equator; she was provided with the royal passport required by the slave trade restriction treaty, and with the usual official documents to enable her to engage in a legal traffic in slaves. She was armed with six twelve-pound guns, and manned with 25 men ; the papers exhibited in court pointed out Manoel Louis Silvera, native of Oporto, but residing at Pernambuco, as the owner of the vessel ; but there was nothing shown that proved his title to her. The vessel was to return to Pernambuco from Cabinda and Molembo by the way of Para, but on 19 May 1821, having been detained she was condemned by British and Portuguese Court of Mixed Commission, at Sierra Leone and the surviving 78 slaves, 5 having died en route for Sierra Leone, were emancipated. It should perhaps be pointed out that the Donna Eugenia fired on the boats from the boats of the Tartar and Thistle but claimed that she thought they were native canoes.

23 Mar 1821, detained in lat. 4� 26' N. off the River Bonny the Spanish slave vessel Anna Maria, with 491 slaves on board when detained, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone and sentenced to be condemned on 16 May 1821.

3 Apr - 2 Jun 1821 Om the West Coast of Africa. Some extracts from the log reflecting some sightings of tornados or water spouts.

9 Apr 1821 detained in the River of the Old Calabar the Portuguese slave Gaviao, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Portuguese Court of Mixed Commission, Sierra Leone and was liberated on 5 Jul 1821 and �1520 13s. 9d. awarded by the Crown to or on behalf of captors, in satisfaction of expenses etc., arising from the seizure of vessels alleged to be engaged in the Slave Trade.

9 Apr 1821 detained in lat. 4� 32' N. long. 8� 34' W., the Portuguese slave vessel Constantia, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Portuguese Court of Mixed Commission, Sierra Leone and sentenced to be condemned on 5 Jun 1821. This case became the centre of much discussion, as it was considered by many, that the evidence showed clearly that the vessel should have been condemned, whereas she was returned to her master, with damages, with accusations being made, not for the first time around this period, that some of those involved in the Mixed Commissions appeared to be supporting the slave trade, and that others within the Mixed Commission system weren't prepared to stand up for what they thought was right. Of course, this apparent attitude presented by the Commissions didn't go down too well with those in the RN who were cruising for slave ships, and perhaps felt that the Commissions weren't being as supportive as they should have been : but I guess that is going to be the problem when the Commissions included members who were of the same nationality as those standing in the Dock, where it was sometimes apparent they would seek out any small item which might tip the scales of justice ! Which perhaps makes Palmerston's Act, replacing the Mixed Commissions with the Vice Admiralty Courts again the more understandable? This case came to light again in papers ordered by Parliament circa 1846/47 when it asked for a return of all sums of money paid by the Crown to or on behalf of captors, in satisfaction or indemnification of expenses or damages arising from the prosecution or seizure of vessels alleged to be engaged in the Slave Trade �.. from 1807.

9 Apr 1821 the Thistle and Tartar detained the slave vessel Gaviao, which on being sent for adjudication was restored to her master with costs of �1520 13s. 9d.

13 Jun 1821 at Sierra Leone writing a letter to the Commissioners of the Mixed Court at Freetown. Gentlemen, Gov Grant in reply to an urgent request I have made, as to the best way of disposing of the crew of the condemned slavers, bought in on HM Ship under my command from the Bight of Biafra, in formed me that he considered it proper on the subject connected with the slave treaties to refer my letter to you, and in return he sends me, with the copy of the letter you had sent him in reply, his decision that the foreigners should be landed without further trouble to myself. I am yet to learn on what authority it was, that either of you Gentlemen, have in the letter to the Governor, given publicity to so marked a misconstruction on you part of any paragraph in my official letter to you, or indeed why you should have thrown any sarcasm upon my stile of writing, or upon the motives which induced me either yourselves or the Governor, except it be for the purpose

17 Jun 1921 departed Sierra Leone to Barbadoes, Martinique, Jamaica, and Havannah.

9 Sep 1821 arrived Portsmouth from West Africa and the West Indies and anchored at the Motherbank, in quarantine. Captured four slave ships during her recent visit to the West Coast of Africa.

12 Sep 1821 Will depart Portsmouth shortly for Plymouth, to be paid off.

13 Mar 1825 arrived Panama from Peru.

28 Sep 1825 departed Valparaiso for Rio de Janeiro and England.

Jul 1830 Receiving Ship.

20 Dec 1848 Receiving Ship, Chatham.

30 Sep 1859 Chatham. Completed breaking up, per Parliamentary estimates etc. 1861-62.

Extract from Log of H.M.S. TARTAR, on the West Coast of Africa.

Hour.	Courses.	Winds.	Remarks.
3 Apr 1821.
-	-	-	At single anchor in the north-west bay of Fernando Po.
Noon	-	Light breezes	Noon. Light breezes.
P.M.	-		P.M. Ditto weather.
4	-	-	At 4, completed watering 110 tuns; in launch.
8	-	Light breezes	At 8, light breezes; threatening in the north-east, indicating a tornado.
12	-	-	Midnight. Came on a tornado ; veered round the compass.
4 Apr 1821.
A.M.	-	-	A.M. Tornado still continues.
4	-	Calm	At 4, calm, with thunder and lightning ; sent a boat to haul the seine, &c.
30 Apr 1821.
P.M.	-	-	-
7.35	-	-	P.M. At 7.35, came-to, with small bower ; Cape Coast Castle N � E ; moderate and cloudy.
10	-	-	At 10, heavy rain.
11	-	NE	At 11, a tornado from the north-east.
1 May 1821.
P.M,	-	-	-
3	-	SE	P.M. At 3, came on a heavy tornado from the south-east.
7 May 1821.
P.M.	-	-	-
1.30	-	ENE	P.M. At 1.30, came on a heavy tornado from east-north-east ; split the jib.
2 Jun 1821.
P. M.	-	-	-
2.30	-	Eastward	P.M. At 2.30, a heavy tornado from the eastward.