While James Edward Alexander was in Burma, he saw the HMS Champion and supply us with the following notes.
P. 47: "Brigadier Smelt, who had give me the command of a detachment of Europeans, was kind enough to introduce me to Captain Stoddart, of his Majesty's ship Champion, who politely offered me a passage to Calcutta in his vessel, which carried Captain Snodgrass with the peace despatches. The Champion is reckoned the fastest sailing vessel in the British navy: she caries the gauntlet, which
p. 48: no other ship has as yet been able to touch.(1) She was built by Captain Hayes, on fixed principles of his own invention; she is very weatherly, sails on an even keel, and is exceedingly roomy: she carries eighteen thirty-two-pound carronades, the carriages of which are on the new construction; the lower platform not recoiling, only traversing; the upper slide recoiling. Two other experimental vessels, the Pylades (2) and the Orestes (3), were built at the same time as the Chempion, under the direction of Sir Robert Seppings and Professor Inman, but they have proved unable to compete with her. Nearly half our crew (which was a hundred strong) were in hospital. Almost all the men who had gone up the river suffered severely from the bites of musquitoes, which caused obstinate ulcers; some of them actually lost their limbs, owing to a mortification having commenced. These insects swarmed in the vessel fore and aft, so that I had not an over-comfortable birth, although I swing in the captain's cabin. We got on board about 4 p.m. on the 9th of January…on the 11th, the pilot left us, and we stood out to sea with a fair breeze.
Sources
James Edward Alexander. Travels from India to England; comprehending a visit to the Burman Empire, and a journey through Persia, Asia minor, European Turkey. &c. in the years 1825-1826. London, 1827.
J.J. Colledge/B. Warlow. Ships of the Royal Navy. The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy from the 15th Century to the Present. London, 2006.
D. Lyon/R. Winfield. The Sail&Steam navy list. All the ships of the Royal Navy 1815-1889. London, 2004.
Notes
1. According to Colledge the 18-gun sloop launched at the Portsmouth dock yard 31 May 1824, dimensions 110 x 31 and a builders measurement of 456 tons. October 1867 broken up at Portsmouth. According to Lyon of the Champion-class, containing one ship! Designed by Captain John Hayes. Dimensions 91'10 1/8"x 30"10½"x 7'8¾" and a builders measurement of 455 66/94 tons. She a crew of 125 men, ordered 20 June 1823, keel laid 31 May 1824 and completed 16 September 1824.
2. According to Colledge the 18-gun sloop Pylades launched at the Woolwich dock yard 29 June 1824, dimensions 110 x 30'5" and a builders measurement of 433 tons. Broken up May 1845. According to Lyon design made by Robert Seppings, but which was improved 20 June 1823. Dimensions 110'0"/90'1 3/8"x 30'4" x 8'2" and a builders measurement of 431 37/94 tons. Ordered 22 May 1821, keel laid March 1823, completed 4 September 1824. Of the Pylades-class, no sister ships.
3. According to Colledge the 18-gun sloop Orestes launched at the Portsmouth dock yard 1 May 1824, dimensions 110 x 36 and a builders measurement of 460 tons. Around 1905 sold. According to Lyon designed by Professor Inman of the School of Naval Architecture. Dimensions 110'0"/92'10 1/8" x 30'10" x 7'6" and a builders measurement of 459 37/94 tons. Ordered 22 May 1821, keel laid April 1823, launched 31 May 1824, completed 16 September 1824. Of the Orestes-class, no sister ships.
