Research
Note 3, HMS Surprise
ordnance and rating.
The decision over the armament of HMS Surprise was a particularly
long and arduous affair, beginning in early January 1798, and finally
being settled on March 10, 1798. The guns themselves were received
onboard HMS Surprise on April 21, 1798.
Due to the sheer number of letters exchanged in reference to the armament
of Surprise, the account below only outlines the most important developments.
January 12, 1798: Evan Nepean, Secretary
to the Admiralty, writes to the 'Respective Officers' at Plymouth
Yard.
...
You are also to fit her (Surprise) with
as few alterations as shall be necessary, proposing to us
what number and nature of Guns and compliment of Men it may
be proper to establish upon her (Surprise).
...
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January 16, 1798: Captain Hamilton
writes to Evan Nepean, illustrating his desire for carronades from
the outset.
Surprise in Hamoaze, 16th January 1798
Gentlemen
As the Guns of His Majesty's
Ship Surprise under my command were taken in the ship; and
are supposed to be unfit for the English Service.
I am to request you will be pleased to
order the Ship to be fitted for two and thirty pound Carronades
on the Main Deck and twenty four on the Quarter Deck and Forecastle.
I have the honour to be
Gentlemen
Your most obedient Servant
E. Hamilton.
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January 18, 1798: In the mean time,
Evan Nepean had received recommendations from Plymouth Yard to fit
Surprise with carriage guns, and responded accordingly.
... His Majesty's Ship Surprise may be established
with the following number & nature of Guns and Compliment
of Men:
| Upper Deck ____ |
24 Guns 9pdr |
|
| Quarter Deck ___ |
8 _____ 4 " and |
4 Carronades 12pdr |
| Forecastle _____ |
2 _____ 4 " ___ |
2 _________ 12 " |
| |
34 |
6 |
Compliment of 200 Men.
...
|
January 30, 1798: Obviously disappointed
with the decision to fit Surprise with carriage guns, captain Hamilton
writes to Evan Nepean again this time providing the 'carrot' that
fitting with carronades would require less work, implying that it
would get him to sea faster.
London, 30th January 1798
Sir
Be pleased to lay before my Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty, my request, that His Majesty's Ship Surprise
under my Command may be supplied with 32 pounders carronades
on the Main Deck, and 18 or 24 pounders on the Quarter Deck
and Forecastle as the ports will not require to be enlarged
for that purpose.
I have the honour to be
Gentlemen
Your most obedient Servant
E. Hamilton.
|
The idea that fitting Surprise with carronades would
mean less alterations to the gun ports and therefore get the ship
to sea that little faster appears to have struck a chord as a series
of letters were now written back and forth between Evan Nepean, Plymouth
Yard, Plymouth Stores, the Navy Board and the Board of Ordnance.
February 1, 1798: Evan Nepean writes
to the Navy Board.
1st February 1798
Gentlemen
Having laid before my Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty the enclosed letter from Captain Hamilton
of His Majesty's Ship Surprise, requesting that she may be
supplied with 32 Pound Carronades on the Main Deck and 18
or 24 Pounders on the Quarter Deck and Forecastle; I have
their Lordships Commands to signify their direction to you
to consider and report to me your opinion what may be proper
to be done on the occasion, their Lordships being inclined
to accede to the proposal provided you see no objection there
to.
...
|
February 1, 1798: The Navy Board replies
to Evan Nepean.
3rd February 1798
Sir
In answer to your letter of the 1st instant
enclosing one from Captain Hamilton of His Majesty's Ship
Surprise requesting she may be supplied with 32 Pounder Carronades
on the Main Deck and 18 or 24 Pounders on the Quarter Deck
and Forecastle, and signifying to us the directions of the
Rt Hon Admiralty to report what may be proper to be done on
the occasion, their Lordships being inclined to accede to
the proposal, provided we see no objection there to.
We desire you will please to acquaint their
Lordships, it appearing by Captain Hamilton's letter, that
the Ports will not require to be enlarged we see no objection
to her being supplied with 32 and 18 Pounder Carronades agreeably
to his request.
...
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Many more similar letters passed back and forth as everyone
concerned agreed that there were no objections to Surprise being fitted
with carronades and all of this culminated in a letter from Evan Nepean
to the Board of Ordnance requesting Surprise be supplied with 32pdr
and 18pdr carronades.
Due to the volume of letter and conflicting information provided over
the previous two months, the Board of Ordnance replied to Evan Nepean
requesting a final and definitive statement regarding the guns to
be supplied to Surprise.
March 10, 1798: Evan Nepean replies
to the Board of Ordnance.
10th March 1798
Gentlemen
In answer to Mr Crew's letter of the 8th
instant, relative to the Establishment of Ordnance intended
for His Majesty's Ship Surprise at Plymouth; I am commanded
by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you
that the Establishment of Carronades mentioned in their letter
of the 6th instant is meant to annul the former Establishment
by substituting Carronades of 32pds in lieu of Guns of 9pds
for the Main Deck, and that her Quarter Deck and
Forecastle should be armed entirely with Carronades of 18pds
regulating the numbers by those mentioned in their Lordships
letter of the 19th January last.
...
|
And so it appears that Surprise was to be armed as follows:
| Upper Deck ____ |
24 Carronades 32pdr |
|
| Quarter Deck ___ |
8 __________ 18pdr |
|
| Forecastle _____ |
2 __________ 18pdr |
|
| |
34 |
|
However, in February 1798, while the letters were being
exchanged with regard to the armament for Surprise, a standing order
was issued to Plymouth Yard that all Frigates carrying carronades
only were to be issued with two carriage guns to be mounted as chase
guns. The final Armament of Surprise, and the one depicted in our
kit is therefore:
| Upper Deck ____ |
24 Carronades 32pdr |
|
| Quarter Deck ___ |
8 __________ 18pdr |
|
| Forecastle _____ |
2 __________ 18pdr and |
2 Guns 4pdr |
| |
34 |
2 |
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