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} |} HMS ''Diligence'' was the name ship of her class of brig-sloops of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1795 and lost in 1800. She spent her career on the Jamaica station where she captured four armed vessels, one of them after a short engagement, and many small Spanish and French merchant vessels in the Caribbean inter-island and coastal trade. ==Career== Originally her name was ''Spencer'' but she was renamed ''Diligence'' within 1795. She was commissioned in November 1795 under Commander John West, who sailed her for Jamaica on 16 April 1796.〔 She remained on the Jamaica station and in January 1797 Commander Robert Mends replaced West. In early 1797 ''Diligence'' captured the ''Fogouse'', a privateer of six guns and 57 men. ''Diligence'' cleared the Bahama Straits on 3 March and the next day she was ten leagues SW of the Pan of Motonzas when she encountered and captured the ''Nativetas'' (or ''Natividad'') after an action that lasted three-quarters of an hour. ''Nativetas'' was about 500 tons (bm), was armed with 16 guns, and carried a crew of 50 men. She was carrying a cargo of logwood and had that day left Havana for Cadiz. In September ''Diligence'' was in company with and when ''Diligence'' captured a Spanish packet ship of six guns that was also carrying troops. In late 1797 or early 1798, the frigate ''Magicienne'', troopship , and ''Diligence'' captured the French privateer ''Brutus'', of nine guns. By late 1798, ''Diligence'' had also captured 13 merchant vessels. She took seven more in early 1799. Then she took a Dutch schooner, laden with provisions. Next, she captured another Dutch schooner, the ''Governor Lauffer'', of 90 tons (bm), two guns and 19 men. ''Governor Lauffer'' was carrying coffee from Jackamel to Curacoa. ''Diligence'' also captured the Dutch schooner ''Kleine'', which was taking dry goods and provisions from Curacoa to Acquain, and the French schooner ''Helene'', which was carrying coffee from Jackamel to Curacoa. ''Diligence''s boats cut out a French schooner in ballast from Maregot. In mid-1799 she captured more merchant vessels, mostly schooners. ''Polly'' was sailing under Danish colours but under "irregular" passes and had a crew of Dutchmen and Spaniards. She was carrying coffee from Curacoa to Saint Thomas. ''Foregat'' too was sailing under Danish colours, with a Spanish crew. She was sailing from Jacquemel to Saint Thomas with 30,000 pounds of coffee. A Spanish schooner that was coppered and designed like a Virginia pilot boat was carrying 45,000 pounds of coffee from Saint Martha to Curacoa. Lastly, ''Diligence''s boats destroyed a Dutch schooner, a French schooner, and a sloop-rigged boat in the Gulf of Venezuela. From November 1799 the frigate and ''Diligence'' captured or destroyed even more merchant vessels. One was the French schooner ''Constance'', of 17 men, which was carrying coffee from Lans de Naud to St. Jago. There were two French schooners of unknown names carrying coffee from Tuenice to St Jago. ''Trent'' and ''Diligence'' detained the ship ''Washington'', which was sailing in ballast from Curacoa to Baltimore. ''Diligence'' took several vessels by herself. One was the Danish schooner ''Margarette'', of 60 tons (bm) and ten men, which was carrying coffee from Jacquemel to St Thomas. Another was the Spanish schooner ''Del Carmen'', of 35 tons (bm) and 11 men, was carrying mahogany from St Domingo to Curacoa. ''Diligence''s boats cut out of Corro a Spanish sloop of 70 tons (bm) and eight men and two unnamed schooners of 30 tons, all laden with mahogany. ''Diligence'' captured the Danish schooner ''Mahomet'', of 140 tons (bm) and 14 men, which was carrying coffee from Aux Cayes to Curacoa. Then ''Diligence''s boats cut out the French brig ''Bon Adventure'', of 140 tons (bm) and her cargo of coffee from Lans de Naud Bay. The American schooner ''Harriott'', of 90 tons and 11 men, was carrying mahogany, coffee, and sugar from St Domingo to Boston. The Spanish brig ''Esperanso'', of 100 tons, was laden with mahogany when ''Diligence''s boats cut her out of the Macoris River, east of St Domingo. A Spanish felucca of 60 tons (bm) with a cargo of mahogany was cut out of the Romain River, near St Catherines. Lastly, ''Diligence'' captured the Hamburg brig ''Gluk Luke Peter'', of 160 tons (bm) and nine men, which was carrying coffee, cocoa, and indigo from La Guira to Hamburg. The Danish Schooner ''Margaretta'', which had been sailing from Jacquemel to St. Thomas's with coffee and cotton had fallen prey to a Spanish privateer; ''Diligence'' detained ''Margaretta'', and captured the privateer. The French schooner ''Artibonelte'' was sailing from Mole St. Nicholas to St. Marcs with provisions. The French sloop ''Gorade'' too was sailing from the Mole with provisions, but to Tiberoon. ''Diligence'' burnt the French schooner ''Christine'', which had been sailing from the Mole in ballast. When ''Diligence'' intercepted a French schooner sailing from Cap François to Port Dauphin with dry goods, the British took the cargo but let the vessel alone as she was of no value. However, ''Diligence'' detained the Danish schooner ''Betsey Loyed'', which was sailing from Baltimore to St Thomas, and the American ship ''Aurora'', sailing from Norfolk to Carthagena, with provisions, wine , raisins, and the like. Lastly, ''Diligence'' captured the Spanish schooner ''N.S. Montfretta'', which was carrying rice and tobacco from St. Domingo to San Juan.〔 From March 1800 captured more merchant vessels. She captured the Spanish vessel ''Diana'', which was carrying logwood, the Spanish sloop ''Ovier'', laden with dry goods, the French schooner ''Eagle'', which was carrying coffee, and the Spanish schooner ''Consualidad'', which was carrying mules from Porto Cavallo. ''Diligence''s boats cut the Dutch brig ''Minerva'' and her cargo of mahogany out of the Higuay (Higüey) River, and the Spanish brig ''Del Carpner'' and her cargo of mahogany. ''Diligence'' also captured the French schooner ''Rosario'', which was carrying coffee from Jeremie to Curacoa, and the Danish sloop ''Aurora'' sailing from St Croix to Aux Cayes. ''Diligence''s boats cut out a Danish brig and ship from the River Triest, both of which were carrying mahogany. ''Diligence'' and detained the American brig ''Resolution'', carrying coffee, hides, and cocoa, and ''Diligence'' and detained the Danish schooner ''Foresight'', carrying coffee from Acquin to St Thomas. In May 1800 Mends was promoted to post captain, and Commander Charles B.H. Ross replaced him as captain of ''Diligence'' in June.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「HMS Diligence (1795)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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