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Date Posted: 03:15:45 11/17/01 Sat
Author: Bob Gregory
Subject: HMS "Arethusa"

I have a copy of the original ship log for the HMS "Arethusa" written by Marshall Little, Masters' Assistant for the period from July 24-Oct 26, 1865 when Captain J. MacDonald was mster. These logs deal primarily about an Admiralty race between the Arethusa, the Octavia and the Constance to determine the merits of the compound steam engine.

The Arethusa, 3,832 tons displacement, was built in 1849 and was one of the last 50 gun sailing frigates built for the British navy. It was designed by the famous Sir William Seymonds and was 180 feet long on the gun deck, with a beam of 52 feet, 9 inches. During the Crimean War, it saw action and was reputedly the last warship to be engaged in battle soley under sail. it encurred damage demonstrating the obsolescence of the wooden sailing vessel. Subsequently, the Arethusa and the Octavia, a sister ship were coverted into steam screw frigates in 1861 and armed with twenty two 32 pounder 56 cwt guns and ten eight-inch, 65 cwt guns. The "Constance" built to the same design in 1846 was altered in the same way in 1862. All these large frigates had complements of 500 men. The screw propellor, typical of the period , was primarily used to enter and leave harbours and was raised and lowered as required.

The race was conducted between the three essentially similar ships from Plymout to Madeira to determine the merits of the compound engine vs the single expansion engine. All three ships ran out of coal before completing the race but the Constance with the compound engine was 150 miles ahead of the other two with single expansion engines.

The Arethusa had a long history and became one of 18 disused battleships engaged as "Institutions for the Training of Boys". of the 18, 3 were reformatory school ships, the oterhs devoted to the education and training of officers and cabin boys. The Arethusa, stationed at Thames was described as a ship for the education of porr and even homeless boys of unblemished character fr a sea-faring life in the Royal or merchant navies. its student complement was listed as 300 boys.

At some point the 1849 Arethusa was replaced by a later Arethusa as a training ship.

That is all I know and I too wish to learn more. Love to see a scan of your certificate.

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