Research Note
8, mast sizes.
As with the ordnance and rating of Surprise, as discussed in Research
Note 3, separating
fact from fiction and determining the correct mast sizes turned up
some interesting information.
From the outset Captain Hamilton put forward his opinion that the
masts and yard on Surprise, as captured, were too small. However,
Evan Nepean, Secretary to the Admiralty, requested information from
Plymouth dockyard regarding the dimensions and condition of the masts
and yards aready carried. After receiving this report the Admiralty
decided that the sizes of the masts and yards, with the exception
of the bowsprit, were acceptible.
March 03, 1798: Evan Nepean, Secretary
to the Admiralty, writes to the 'Respective Officers' at Plymouth
Yard:
...
We have received your account of the dimensions & state
of the Masts & Yards of his Majesty's ship Surprise, and
direct & require you to cause them to be put into good
condition agreeable to their present dimensions, except the
Bowsprit which you are to cause to be replaced.
...
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March 04, 1798: Evan Nepean, Secretary
to the Admiralty, again writes to the 'Respective Officers' at Plymouth
Yard to clarify his previous letter:
...
These are to direct and require you, not withstanding former
orders, to soppy his Majesty's ship Surprise with the yards
and topmasts of a 28 gun ship, keeping her present lower masts,
except the bowsprit which you are to provide in proportion,
agreeable to Captain Hamilton's requests.
...
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Unhappy that his request for increasing the masts of
Surprise has been declined, Captain Hamilton again wrote to the Admiralty
requesting that the current main mast be used as his fore mast and
the main mast be replaced accordingly:
March 22, 1798: Evan Nepean, Secretary
to the Admiralty, again writes to the 'Respective Officers' at Plymouth
Yard approving Captain Hamilton's request providing that the Plymouth
Officers also approved:
...
In addition to former orders. These are to direct and require
you to furnish the Surprise with a new main mast and supply
the present main mast for a fore mast if it will answer the
purpose and can be done without detaining the ship and that
you are of opinion she is equal to such alterations.
...
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Consequently, Surprise was re-masted, using the main
mast as a fore mast and a new main mast was fitted in proportion.
The dimensions of the original main mast (now to be used as the fore
mast) was approximately equal to the dimensions of a 36 gun ship fore
mast, it would be safe to assume therfore that the proportional main
mast fitted was that of a 36 gun ship.
Followers of the Patrick O'Brian novels will doubtless recognise this
information, the fact that Surprise carried a 36 gun main mast is
a recurring theme throughout the novels and is mentioned countless
times as a 'distinguishing feature.
There is also another reference to Surprise carrying a 36 gun main
mast from the series of books 'Tha Naval History of Great Britain'
by W.M. James. William James, born in 1780 and died in 1827, was a
naval historian whose series of books 'The Naval History of Great
Britain' were originally published between 1822 and 1824. In Volume
2 of this work, on page 360, wiliam james states:
...
Although a ship of only 579 tons, the Surprise was fitted
with a 36 gun frigate's main mast, but with the fore mas and
mizzen mast of a 28. This was a plan of Captain Hamilton's;
and, thus rigged, the Surprise appears not to have been complained
of as a sailer.
...
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It would be forgivable, therefore, to believe that this
was the true mast and yard arrangement of the Surprise however ...
our continued research has shown this not to be the case!
After being re-fitted and masted at Plymouth, Surprise set sail in
April for sea trials, arriving at Sheerness in May. Captain Hamilton
immediately writes to Sheerness dockyard and the Admiralty to inform
them that the new arrangement was unsuitable. Not receiving an immediate
reply, Captain Hamilton again writes to the Admiralty requesting that
the masts be reduced back to the original configuration:
May 27, 1798: Captain Hamilton repeats
his request to reduce the masts and yards of Surprise:
...
Having wrote to you on the 23rd instant, for their Lordship's
information, of my arrival here with His Majesty's Ship Surprise
under my command, and not receiving an answer.
I am to request you will be pleased to inform their Lordship's,
that the Surprise waits their orders to proceed into Harbour
and that the only alterations requisite are the undermentioned
list.
Fore mast to be got out and placed aft for
a main mast, new fore mast & fore yard, sails etc. in
proportion, and an additional quantity of ballast, which I
think will make the ship sufficiently stiff to carry any sail
necessary. The present rigging will do again, and if their
Lordship's give orders for the ship to be taken in hand, she
may be ready for sea in ten days time.
...
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Although written in a calm manner, Hamilton has clearly
omitted the fact that the ship had just had her masts and yards increased.
Unknown to Hamilton, Evan Napean, Secretary to the Admiralty, had
already penned a scathing response to Hamilton's original letter to
which Hamilton was referred:
May 25, 1798: Evan Napean, Secretary
to the Admiralty, orders the masts and yards of Surprise to be reduced...:
...
In answer to your letter of 22 inst. enclosing a
letter from Captain Hamilton of H.M.S. Surprise, stating that
the masts & yards are considerably too large and heavy
for the ship and signifying to us the directions of the Rt
Hon Admty that we consider and report to you what may be proper
to be done on the occasion, we desire you will please to acquaint
their Lordship's that the increase of Masts to the Surprise
by moving the main mast forward and giving her a new main
mast in proportion ... was done at the express request of
Captain Hamilton and as he has now experienced that the ship
is not equal to carry the increased masts, we are of opinion
that the fore mast should be removed back to the place from
whence it came and become the main mast of the ship and a
new fore mast should be made to pole with that & that
she should be supplied with the topmasts and yards of a 24
gunship.
...
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In this letter, Evan Napean has made it clear exactly
who was responsible for this delay in Surprise being able to put to
sea for service and has seen fit not only to reduce the masts and
yards of Surprise but to reduce them down to those of a 24 gun ship
(as opposed to the original recommendation of a 28 gun ship), presumeable
by way of punishment.
Consequently, Surprise was re-masted to this new configuration in
which she stayed and as depicted by our kit.
The continuation of the idea that Surprise carried an
overly large main mast may be because the main mast, as finally fitted,
was still out of proportion to the fore and mizzen masts - the main
mast having the topmasts and yards of a 28 gun ship while the fore
and mizzen were of a 24 gun ship.
Hamilton's request, in his letter dated May 27, 1798,
for extra ballast had still gone unanswered and on June 12 he again
wrote to the Admiralty with his reques. Unfortunately, by this time
the Admiralty appears to have had enough of Captain Hamilton's 'ideas'
as borne out by Evan Napean's response:
June 14, 1798: Evan Napean, Secretary
to the Admiralty, orders the masts and yards of Surprise to be reduced...:
...
We have received your letter of the 12th instant, requesting
that his Majs Ship under your command may be supplied with
ten tons of additional ballast in consequence of
her masts and yards having been reduced; and acquaint you
we cannot order any more ballast to be supplied until the
vessel has been tried with her present masts and yards.
...
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Further details will be added to this section as photos
of the prototype model are released.
Page 4 of 4 
