A Report from Adm. Sir J. B. Warren, R.N.

ADMIRAL SIR JOHN B. WARREN, R.N., TO
 

FIRST SECRETARY OF THE ADMIRALTY JOHN W . CROKER

Halifax 16th Octr. 1813.

Sir,

It is with extreme regret I am under the necessity of communicating to you for their Lordships information that Commodore Rodgers has effected his arrival in the United States Frigate President at Newport, I had made the best disposition in my power to intercept his return into Port and I am sure that every Captain was anxiously vigilant to fall in with him- the following was the arrangement of the Squadrons employed on this particular service.

La Hogue and Tenedos -On the tail of the Banks of Newfoundland-

Poictiers and Maidstone -From Sambro lighthouse to Sable Island, thence in a S:E direction twenty Leagues and back by Cape Sable-

Ramillies and Loire -From Cape Sable, South East, along the edge of St. Georges Bank as far as Latde: 42°: '00 Sir Thos. Hardy having the Command off Boston Nymphe, Majestic, Junon and Was~Inshore Squadron under the Orders. of Sir Thomas Hardy, off Boston -The Nymphe is refitting being relieved by the Junon

Orpheus and Loup-Cervier. From the Tuckanuck passage to Block Island-

Valiant and Acasta and Atalante Sloop also Borer Gun Brig. From Block Island to Entrance of Long Island Sound and off New London

Plantagenett -Off Sandy Hook

Belvidera Statim Morgiana Off the Entrance of the Delaware.

Dragon, Lacedemonian, Armide, Dotterall & Mohawk At the Entrance of the Chesapeak.

I am entertained the most confident hope that Commodore Rodgers would not have been able to escape through all these Ships, but in steering for the Tuckanuck passage he fell in with the Highflyer Schooner Tender, which, on my way from the Chesapeak to this Port I had stationed upon Nantucket Shoals for the express purpose of watching that Channel, and in the event of seeing the President, to carry the information to the Squadron off Boston, & which from her very Superior Sailing and light draft of Water, she might have done in time to apprize his Majestys Ships.

The Orpheus having sprung her Mainmast was obliged to come into Halifax for a new one and I had no Ship to replace her so soon as she again, got ready and proceeded to her Station-

The Albion is now under Orders to reinforce the Orpheus and Loup-Cervier and the Narcissus just returned from Quebec proceedes to join the Belvidera off the Delaware. 

The Statim is here, but so very bad in her top sides, knees &c that I purpose sending her to guard Long Island Sound and assist in blocking up the United States Frigates United States, Macedonian & Hornet Sloop in New London for a short time and so soon as I can replace her on that Station to order her to the West In- dies to take home Convoy from thence The Victorious is refitting at Halifax very short of compliment and her Crew slowly recovering from Sickness, many having been Invalided- I have the honour to be Sir Your most obedient humble Servant.

John Borlase Warren

LS, UkLPR, Adm. 1/504, pp. 417-20.

Bully in the Alley

Acting Lt. Bromley, aged 19 years

Today continues the weekly series wherein we introduce to you some of the REAL Acastas, the men who served aboard at some point between the period from her launch in 1797 to her final year in service to the Crown in 1815. Stop back every Monday to meet an all-new and REAL Acasta!
 
BROMLEY.

Acasta Acting-Lieutenant, under Capt. Lane, 1797, aged 19 years

Sir Robert Howe Bromley, born 28 Nov. 1778, is only son of the late Sir Geo. Bromley, Bart., whom he succeeded in Aug. 1808, by the Hon. Esther Curzon, eldest daughter of Ashton, late Viscount Curzon, and aunt of the present Earl Howe.

This officer entered the Navy, 26 Dec. 1791, as Captain's Servant, on board the Lapwing 28, Capt. Hon. Henry Curzon, on the Mediterranean station; joined next the Lion 64, Capt. Sir Erasmus Gower, under whom he accompanied Lord Macartney's embassy to China; removed as Midshipman, in 1794, into the Triumph 74, lying at Spithead ; afterwards served in the Channel and off the Western Islands on board the Queen Charlotte 100, flag-ship of Earl Howe, Melampus 36, Capt. Sir Rich. John Strachan, and Latona 38, Capt. Hon. Arthur Kaye Legge, from 1795 to 1797 ; was then appointed Acting-Lieutenant of the ACASTA 40, Capt. Rich. Lane, employed in the North Sea; and, on 22 Jan. 1798, was there confirmed into the Inspector 16, Capt. Chas. Lock. Mr. Bromley was subsequently employed, on the Home and West India stations, in L'Aimable 32, Capt. Henry Raper, Pelican 18, Capt. John Thicknesse, and Doris 36, Capt. John Halliday.

Source: A NAVAL BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY: COMPRISING THE LIFE AND SERVICES OF EVERY LIVING OFFICER IN HER MAJESTY'S NAVY, FROM THE RANK OF ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET TO THAT OF LIEUTENANT, INCLUSIVE. Compiled from Authentic and Family Documents. BY WILLIAM E. O'BYRNE, ESQ.
LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, PUBLISHER TO THE ADMIRALTY. 1849.

Fish in the Sea

The Acasta Cleans Up!

The London Gazette 

Publication date:29 April 1800 

Issue:15253

Page:417-419

A Prize Letter

Lt. Arthur Farquhar

Today continues the weekly series wherein we introduce to you some of the REAL Acastas, the men who served aboard at some point between the period from her launch in 1797 to her final year in service to the Crown in 1815. Stop back every Monday to meet an all-new and REAL Acasta!

Arthur Farquhar, Esq.

Acasta Lieutenant under Capt. Lane, c. 1798, aged approx. 26 years.

A Companion of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath; Knight of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order; and Knight of the Swedish Order of the Sword.

This officer is the sixth son of the late Robert Farquhar, of Kincardineshire, N. B. Esq.-by Agnes, daughter of James Morison, of Elsich, Esq. who was Provost of Aberdeen in the memorable year 1745, and who particularly distinguished himself at that trying period, by his firm attachment to the illustrious House of Brunswick.

Mr. Arthur Farquhar was born at Newhall, a small paternal estate in the above county, and educated there under a private family tutor. He commenced his naval career in Oct. 1787, and served his time as a Midshipman on board the Lowestoffe frigate, Hyeana of 24 guns, and Alcide 74; the two former employed as cruisers on the Channel, Mediterranean, Milford, and Irish stations ; the latter a guard-ship at Portsmouth, commanded by his earliest and principal professional patron, the late Sir Andrew Snape Douglas.

After passing the usual examination for a Lieutenant, Mr. Farquhar was induced to quit the royal navy, and proceed to the East Indies as a free mariner; but he had scarcely arrived there when a war broke out between Great Britain and the French Republic, which caused him to change his plans, and seek an opportunity of returning to the King’s service : it was some time, however, before he succeeded in accomplishing his intention.

The first man of war which Mr. Farquhar joined in India was the Hobart, a ship-sloop, commanded by Captain B. W. Page; from which he was soon removed into the Suffolk 74, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Rainier, commander-in-chief on that station. in the early part of 1796, we find him assisting at the capture of the Harlingen, Dutch national brig, of 14 guns and 45 men; also at the reduction of Amboyna and Banda, on which latter service he held the rank of Lieutenant, in a Dutch armed vessel under his command.

Mr. Farquhar subsequently served as a supernumerary Lieutenant on board the above mentioned brig, which had been purchased for government, named the Amboyna, and commissioned by Lieutenant Dobbie. His good conduct a commanding officer of that vessel, when attacked by a large party of Ladrones, near Macao, will be noticed in the memoir already referred to. He was afterwards appointed in succession to the Swift sloop of war, and Carysfort and Heroine frigates, in which latter ship he returned home, as first Lieutenant, under the command of the Hon. John Murray, in July 1798.

From this period, Lieutenant Farquhar appears to have been actively employed in the Superb 74, Aeolus 32, and Acasta 40, on the Channel, Mediterranean, Baltic, and North Sea stations, until advanced to the rank of Commander, April 29, 1802.

Captain Farquhar’s first appointment after this promotion was, Jan. 16, 1804, to the Acheron bomb, in which vessel he made a most heroic defence against an enemy of overwhelming superiority, on the 4th Feb. 1805, as will be seen by reference to our memoir of his gallant colleague, Captain Richard Budd Vincent…

Source: "Royal Naval Biography; Or, Memoirs of the Services of All the Flag-officers, Superannuated Rear-admirals, Retired-captains, Post-captains, and Commanders, Whose Names Appeared on the Admiralty List of Sea Officers at the Commencement of the Present Year, Or who Have Since Been Promoted; Illustrated by a Series of Historical and Explanatory Notes"
by John Marshall
Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, 1825

A Recipe for Chicken Pye

A reply to a mail packet letter received by HMS ACASTA while pressing hands at the Fair at New Boston. By the ship's cook to Widow Smith of the Penny Whistel Tavern. (A letter that was forwarded to the new ship's cook when it was found to be undeliverable to the ship's Steward in last year's mail packet)

M. Schwendau, Ship's Cook

Widow Smith

Penny Whistel Tavern

Portsmouth

Good Widow Smith,

I received your letter while ashore at New Boston and was delighted in having your recipe for Chicken Pye. I recall the Captain’s fondness of the dish and hearten that your shared such a prize fare with me. I will have to indulge in making it soon for the Captain's table after we are stowed a sail. It will be a grand addition to table for the officers. Such a noble pye will be an honor at the table. I truly give you thanks for the kind offer of your dish to entrust to my recipe book. 

While ashore I messed the Captain on a very fine Virginia ham. It reminded me of the hams from the Lancaster area. They are peculiar in the making of them here in the America’s, they have the luxury of using sugar in the cure. Much like the Gloster hams that are cured in molasses. It was truly a fine ham, so much so in size. The Captain shared it with the hands ashore on the press. We also enjoyed melons and the first harvest of apples. I do believe the men were much impressed with fare, as it was not just iron rations. Unfortunately the green's grociers offerings were sparse in their offer. Only offering carrots and onions at this time. 

I look forward to seeing you in the Penny Whistel again and telling of the new foods I have discovered here in the Americas. 

Your Most Humble Servant,

Michael Schwendau

~HMS ACASTA

How to Press a Cook

As written by the Acasta's cook (and real life 5-Star chef), Mr. M. Schwendau

July 18, '15

I must recount the experience today of preparing a grand meal for Captain Fryman, the officers and a few sailors of HMS ACASTA. They came ashore to celebrate wonderful news from the Admiralty they have been ordered home after this terrible war with those Yankee’s in America. Oh, how the spirits were high, the cheer in which they roamed with. Shortly after the bakers boy dropped off the day’s peel. I was asked by the Captain his self to prepare the best of foods we had in the larder, spare no expenses and no holding a quarter back! he said. At the time we had a few scrawny hens, a freshly butchered hog, and odd bits from the garden. With cheer my response was gracious and eager. I told him, he and his crew would feel no pains or have want when they were done, or else you can put me into a brine barrel. He bellowed with a deep laugh and sortied off from my kitchen at the house. As these men were full of cheer, I had to prepare something grand as I could so I laid in my larders stocks and put to it. The master of the house did tell me the Captain was his guest and to fill any orders he gave as if his own words, by his own mouth.

I first mixed a Lemon Corn meal pudding and slowly steamed it for a pudding, when done off the coals, I would give it hearty doses of brandy and serve it with strawberries from the milking pasture. Next, I dash and cleaned the hens. They were past laying and other than being a nuisance to me, I was glad to rid them to these fine men of the crew. I dressed them and even took time to candle off the bits of feather that didn’t come with the plucking. I would rub these down with herbs from the cutting garden and baste them with butter and their own juices. I then cut the loins out of the hog’s saddle and rubbed them heartily with a simple mix of salt, pepper, and ginger root and put them into irons. Shortly after gathering carrots, I happened upon some bleached flour. What a fine sight that was. I had forgotten about it in the back of the cupboard. I checked and sifted it for stones and weevils, and then mixed in a hand full or two of sweet suet, some of the sugar cone, cranberries from the winter drying room, and spices. This was put into my pudding cloth and set to steam away the afternoon and sing to me as it cooked. What a wonderful thing a pudding is, such an entertaining dish to the ears as well as the appetite. I stole out to the spring house and snatched up some cheese we hand hanging and found a couple of Country Pates from the last dance had here at the house and gathered the top cream from the milk pail to make custard. I went on with the other odds and ends of the meal, the side dishes were humble enough. But handled with care and given great attention to my knife work.

The day drove on and the heat of the hearth and the weather nearly had me. As my stockings were soaked as if I stood in the brook the whole day. Shortly after the night watch began to tinder and tinker with the lamps, I was done. I sent word to Captain his table was ready. The Officers and men, had on their best dunnage. What an honor for me to prepare for them. All of these men seem weathered and hard bitten by wind and wave, but warm and cheered as if already home. 

A few of the hands gave me help in carrying the repast out to the porch. They spoke a few words and like a mighty broadside, there went in with all hands, as if boarding a ship. The meal was not hardly started, when I was summed by the Captain his self. Huzzah to the cook he said, and the crew replied back, Huzzah. It warmed me through and through. Then before all, the sailor called Apple asked the Captain, if they should press me for crew? Then before all he laid the press of a shilling before me. I gladly accepted. For I hope to get home to the mountains in Austria and to be with my family. This was by far not my finest of meals, but one of the finest of times.

vs. Curlew

from the London Gazette

A Tooth Drawing

Meet Mr. Brigstocke

Today begins a prolong'd weekly series wherein we introduce to you some of the REAL Acastas, the men who served aboard at some point between the period from her launch in 1797 to her final year in service to the Crown in 1815. Stop back every Monday to meet an all-new and REAL Acasta!


BRIGSTOCKE.

Acasta Midshipman under Captain Kerr, May 1811

Thomas Robert Brigstocke entered the Navy, 8 Oct. 1807, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Marlborough 74, Capt. Graham Moore, in which ship, after escorting the Royal family of Portugal to the Brazils, he attended, as Midshipman, the expedition to Flushing, and was employed, on the evacuation of Walcheren, in destroying the basin, arsenal, and seadefences. He removed, in May, 1811, to the Acasta 40, Capt. Alex. Robt. Kerr, employed in the Bay of Biscay, Channel, and off St. Helena; rejoined Capt. Moore in the Chatham 74, on the North Sea station, in June, 1812...

Source: A NAVAL BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY: COMPRISING THE LIFE AND SERVICES OF EVERY LIVING OFFICER IN HER MAJESTY'S NAVY, FROM THE RANK OF ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET TO THAT OF LIEUTENANT, INCLUSIVE. Compiled from Authentic and Family Documents. BY WILLIAM E. O'BYRNE, ESQ.
LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, PUBLISHER TO THE ADMIRALTY. 1849.

The Damned Lice

By Ship's Carpenter Jas. Apple

I remember once the damned lice came inside our walls and spread from landsman to the lieutenant without discrimination. I myself having hair well past my rigging belt was thought by most, prime to git corrupted by this pestilence, but as it turned out my head and neck was as fallow as a coal hodd. 

I always kept my quew as best I might by keeping it brushed and platted. And we had a tar named Hobbs who had grew up around the docks and had worked on whalers, and who's hair was almost as long as mine, who had a fair amount of whale oil that he used on his head and said would he share with me if I would plat his hair while on blockade and of course did. 

One of the fellows as I recall was told that if he put creosote on his hair thinking it would keep the lice from nesting. And after his watch he slathered more than a bit on his hair and when he fell asleep he soon woke up and set to thrashing about and got all hung up in his hammuck, saying his head and neck was on fire. He ran all about bellow decks and found some leather fire buckets with sea water in them and poured that on his head and when that ran down his back, it scalded him like a hog and he set to screaming waking up most and we all had a good laugh at his expense.

I had fashioned a few pairs of pincers from some brass wire that I had and that helped with the bugs and eggs on some but ultimately many chose to shave the head for some relief and as a result the Doctor had many a Jack and Joe on the sick and injured list with sunburn and blisters.

And so is life at sea

Sailors Wanted

The ACASTA is looking for quality reenactors

to portray English sailors circa 1800-1812

Our organization seeks to educate via a series of first person activities designed to demonstrate the real lives of sailors as they go about their business etc. Landing Parties, Surveying Crews, Recruitment Drives, Press Gangs, Shore Leave... these are but a few of the activities that our crew will undertake whilst encamped at an event. 

Be sure to read the ABOUT US page

If these sound like a good fit for you, then you may have what it takes to be an Acasta! Email Albert Roberts today to find out more about joining the crew at:

Some Images of Acasta sailors at work (and play):

Want some cheater's hints at how to get in good with the officers? 

Here's what we're looking for in new members. Someone who is motivated to learn and share their knowledge, someone who knows about the position that they're portraying, someone who can act in the manner befitting the station that they portray. First-person and acting skills (no 'Monty Python' accents need apply). And don't forget to salute!

In addition here is the 'Visual Guide' for what we want our sailors to look like: