HMS Cadmus

Mediterranean Station 1860 under the command of Captain H. S. Hillyer, C.B. 1860 North America and West Indies 20 Jan 1862 detained off the Island of St. Thomas the British slave brig Laura, late Ida Raynes, previously engaged in the slave trade, purchased at Havana, and condemned on 7 Jul 1862 by the Vice-Admiralty Court at Antigua on what, at the subsequent appeal, were stated to be merely circumstantial evidence to fit the case, and taking into account the history of the vessel, which was reversed on appeal and restitution ordered, with damages and refund of costs already paid by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Costs at Antigua £500, and cost of conveying seamen in charge of "Laura," from St. Johm's to England £2 : 4s : 0d. 1870 Devonport, Ship's Co borne in Indus 4 Jan 1871 the flying squadron, Narcissus, Immortalité, Cadmus, and Volage sailed from Plymouth Sound for Lisbon, Madeira, Barbadoes, and Jamaica, however they experienced very bad weather on sailing down the English Channel on Thursday and had to return to anchor in Torbay on the Saturday, sailing on the Sunday. 2 Apr 1871, for census, at sea. 8 Apr 1871 the flying squadron arrived at Jamaica and was joined by the Pylades. 22 Apr 1871 the squadron sailed for Havannah. 20 Jun 1871 sailed from Halifax, for Gibraltar. 20 Jul 1871 arrived at Gibraltar. 2 Aug 1871 The squadron joined by the Topaze and Inconstant : sailed for off Ushant with the Mediterranean Squadron : Pylades and Inconstant to remain at Gibraltar. 11 Aug 1871 arrived off Ushant and involved in exercises with the Reserve, Mediterranean and Channel Squadrons, and was subsequently joined by the Inconstant, with despatches. 11 Sep 1871 Portsmouth the squadron arrived from Queensferry, from which they sailed last Saturday, and anchored at Spithead, having been cruising in the North Sea following the earlier exercises. 4 Jan 1871 the flying squadron, Narcissus, Immortalité, Cadmus, and Volage sailed from Plymouth Sound for Lisbon, Madeira, Barbadoes, and Jamaica, however they experienced very bad weather on sailing down the English Channel on Thursday and had to return to anchor in Torbay on the Saturday, sailing on the Sunday. 21 Oct 1871 The Immortalite, Inconstant and Volage have given leave to their crews at Portsmouth, in alternate watches, the latter two being calked and refitted in dock, whilst the former refits alongside, whilst the Narcissus and Cadmus have gone to Plymouth to give leave and be refitted at Devonport.

Thanks to Navalis: November 1871 – commanded by Captain William Henry Whyte, at Devonport, had been in commission since December 1870 and was undergoing repairs and refit prior to joining the Flying Squadron (Narcissus – Volage - Inconstant – Cadmus – Immortalite ) under the command of Admiral Beauchamp Seymour. 17 November – moved to the Sound; embarked ammunition and sailed that night to join the DS off Portland 19 November – sailed Portland 24 - 29 Nov – at Vigo (whilst at Vigo a ‘serious affray’ took place between sailors from the squadron and local policemen; one sailor from Immortalite died and three from Cadmus were injured) 3 – 7 December – at Lisbon 10 – 11 December - Madeira 8 – 18 January 1872 – at Rio de Janeiro 14 - 27 February = at Capetown 22 April – arrived Bombay; here the Cadmus detached from the FS to proceed independently for China 6 May – sailed Bombay (as she sailed, masts and rigging was manned by the ships of the FS, who cheered as she passed) 12 – 27 June – at Hong Kong 4 July – arrived Shanghai 16 – 25 August – Nagasaki 19 September – Shanghai; she seems to have remained here until April? April / May 1873 – at Ningpo May/June 1873 – at Yokohama July – at Yokosuka; she was docked at this time (nb: 30 June 73 – at Yokohama - AB James Lock of Cadmus court-martialled for desertion; found guilty and sentenced to two years imprisonment) August – Shanghai September – Hong Kong, acting as Senior Naval Officer (late ’73) Japan again? Then by Nov 73 at Shanghai Jan – April 1874 – at Shanghai - Amoy – Ningpo – Foochow April – CinC China embarked May – June – visits to Nagasaki – Kobe – Yokohama (CinC struck his flag) 18 June – sailed Yokohama to proceed home 6 July – Hong Kong Late July – Singapore 5 – 14 September - Cape of Good Hope 3 October – Ascension Island 6 November – arrived Plymouth 7 Nov – inspected by Admiral Keppel 26 November – ship paid off into Reserve