Ranger, 1820
Type: Sloop ; Armament 28
Launched : 1820 ; Disposal date or year : 1832
Notes:

2 Feb 1822 commissioned by Capt. P. Fisher, at Portsmouth for service on the Sheerness Station.

7 Mar 1822, fitting to relieve the Egeria, at Newfoundland.

15 Oct 1822 at St John's, Newfoundland, was ready to sail with a convoy for Cadiz.

26 Dec 1822 arrived Plymouth Dock from Portsmouth.

27 Dec 1822 departed Plymouth Dock to join Sir E. Owen's squadron, thought to be bound for the West Indies.

22 Feb 1824 departed Portsmouth for Gibraltar to protect British trade from Algerine piracy.

14 Apr 1824 spoke with the Falmouth packet Prince Regent off Sardinia, whilst with a convoy for Gibraltar.

20 May 1827 departed Monte Video to look for boats from the Potosi.

19 Jun 1827 at Rio de Janeiro and may soon go round to Valparaiso.

26 Jan 1828 departed Valparaiso for Coquimbo.

5 Feb 1828 departed Coquimbo for Rio de Janeiro.

11 Apr 1828 departed Rio de Janeiro for England.

11 Jun 1828 arrived Portsmouth from Rio de Janeiro with specie.

14 Jun 1828 left Portsmouth for Chatham, to be paid off.

I wouldn't normally include the following.....but since the whole episode, warts and all, appears to have been recounted as it happened thought it might be interesting if only from that point of view.....with thanks of course to GoogleBooks. I've omitted the Protest by the various Portuguese officers, but have cut it in the interests of space, but am sure that if you Google a sub paragraph, eg "cruizing close to the Island" from this article you should soon find the whole thing if you want to see the original.
Instructions to Captain Walpole, of His Majesty's Ship Ranger, together with his Report, respecting the Interruption of the Landing of certain Portuguese Troops on the Island of Terceira.� 1828, 1829.
Instructions to Captain Walpole, 12 December, l828. By the Commissioners, &c.
Whereas a considerable number of Portuguese Soldiers, and other Foreigners, are about to sail, in Transports, from Plymouth or Falmouth, and it is supposed they intend making an attack on Terceira or other of the Western Islands; and His Majesty having been pleased to command that a Naval Force should be immediately despatched to interrupt any such attempt, you are hereby required and directed to take the Ship and Sloop, named in the margin,* under your command, and to proceed, with all practicable expedition, to Terceira ; and, having ascertained that you have succeeded in reaching that Island before the Transports above alluded to, you will remain yourself at Angra, or Praya, or cruizing close to the Island, in the most advisable position for intercepting any Vessels arriving off it; and you will detach the other Ships as you shall deem best, for preventing the aforesaid Force from reaching any of the other Islands.
In the event of the aforesaid Foreign Force approaching Terceira, or any of the other Islands, you are to cause whoever may be in command of it to be informed that you are instructed to prevent their landing at any of the Western Islands; and, should they persist, notwithstanding such warning, in hovering about, or in making any efforts to effect a landing, you are then to use force to drive them away from that Neighbourhood; and you will, in such case, keep sight of them, until you shall be convinced, by the course they may steer, and the distance they have proceeded, that they have no intention of returning to the Western Islands, or of proceeding to Madeira. You will, however, in this event, leave one of the Ships under your orders at the Western Islands, to act again, with regard to the said Foreigners, as before directed, in the event of their parting from you at Sea, and returning, or in the event of other Detachments of a similar description, from England, afterwards making their appearance amongst the said Islands.
In the event of the Foreigners in question proceeding towards Madeira, (after your turning them from the Western Islands) you are to pursue the same conduct towards them, in first warning them against making any hostile effort there, and afterwards, if necessary, in using force to prevent it, as before directed with regard to the Western Islands.
In case of your proceeding, as above directed, to follow the Force in question, or any part of it, until you are satisfied that they do not intend to return to the Western Islands, or to attempt Madeira, you are, after quitting such Force, to return to the Western Islands, to rejoin the Ship you will have left there, and to assist her in securing the remaining objects before explained.
And you are to continue on this Service until you receive further Orders.
Given, &c. 12th of December, 1828. G. Cockburn.
Benjamin. Clement, Esq. G. Clerk.
Captain of His Majesty's Ship Shannon.
(Transferred to the Captain of His Majesty's Ship Ranger.)
By Command of their Lordships. J. W. Croker.

Report of Captain Walpole. H. M. S. Ranger, off Terceira, 14th February, 1829.
Sir, I Have to acquaint you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that, in the execution of their Lordships' Orders, dated the 12th of December last, I arrived off the Island of Terceira, with His Majesty's Ship under my command, (the Nimrod having parted company on the night of the 10th of January, in consequence of having lost a Man overboard, and did not rejoin me again until the 15th) and anchored at Angra, at 4 P.M., on the 13th of January, for the purpose of setting up the rigging, and to ascertain who were in authority there ; when I found it to be in possession of the Constitutionalists, and governed by General Carbarra, who had about 500 Infantry, and 200 Artillery under his command; but that the Country was principally in possession of a Guerilla Force, favourable to the Government of Don Miguel.
Having weighed from Angra on the 14th ; on the 16th, while cruiziug off the east end of the Island, with the Nimrod in company, 4 sail of Vessels (2 Ships and 2 Brigs) were discovered standing in for Port Praya, with the wind from the northward, which eventually proved to be a Portuguese Force, from Plymouth, of 652 Officers and Men, under the command of General Count Saldanha ; and, in bringing them to, I lament to state a Portuguese was killed, and another wounded, by a shot from the Ranger, arising from the temerity of the Count, who, at point blank range, appeared determined, at all hazard, to push into Port Praya, with the Vessel on board of which he was embarked, and I was compelled, in order to prevent him, to direct a shot to be fired at her, not, however, until no attention had been paid to two fired over him, and I was apprehensive he would effect his object.
My proceedings with the Count, to compel him, in pursuance of their Lordships' Orders, to abandon his intention of disembarking at Terceira, will be best explained by our Correspondence, Copies of which I beg, therefore, to enclose for their Lordships' perusal; and having, on the 24lh January, escorted him as far as latitude 43" 51' 0" north, and longitude 14� 37' 0" west, I considered I had completely fulfilled their Lordships' Instructions to me on that head, and, intending to resume my station, off Terceira, on the morning of that day, I addressed a Letter to the Count, in order to elicit from him the place of his destination, as we were not 500 miles from Scilly, with a strong breeze at S.W., as I was very desirous to forward an account of my Proceedings to their Lordships, by a Lieutenant of the Navy, in command of one of the 4 Vessels, that their Lordships might be in possession of them as early as possible, to meet those exaggerated statements which I was inclined to think might be published to the World ; but, as will appear by the Count's reply, I was prevented, and therefore determined, as I had fully executed their Lordships' Orders, to accompany him no further, which I apprized him of by Letter, and immediately made sail, but did not lose sight of him until the evening, and I was convinced he was still steering a channel course, with the wind westerly.
I have not, until this day, been able to reach Terceira again, in consequence of adverse winds, nor have I had an opportunity of communicating with their Lordships ; but I was fortunate this morning, in preventing the Trusty Schooner, of London, with about 40 Portuguese Officers and Men on board, from getting into Port Praya, and I have supplied her with provisions and water, to take her elsewhere.
His Majesty's Ships Shannon and Pallas are now in sight to leeward, and I shall lose no time in joining the former, and shall deliver over to Captain Clement an account of my Proceedings, and I hope they will meet the approbation of their Lordships, since leaving Portsmouth, on the 3rd ultimo.
I beg also to enclose a Iog of my Proceedings, a weekly account of the state and condition of the Ranger, and her defects.
I have, &c. Wm. Walpole, Captain.
The Right Hon. J. W. Croker.

(Sub-Enclosure A.)
Captain Walpole to Count Saldanha.
H.B.M.S. Ranger, off Port Praya, 16th January, 1829.
Sir, I have to request you will be pleased to acquaint me with your object in appearing off here with the Force under your Command.
I have, &c. Wm. Walpole, Captain.
Count Saldanha.

(Sub-Enclosure B.)
Count Saldanha to Captain Walpole.
On board the Susan, I6th January, 1829.
Sir, My object in appearing here is to fulfil the Orders of Her Majesty the Queen of Portugal, and which prescribe me to conduct unarmed, without any hostile appearance, to the Isle of Terceira, the Men that are on board the 4 Vessels in sight, which Island has never ceased to obey and acknowledge, as its legitimate Sovereign, Her Faithful Majesty
Donna Maria II. As a faithful Subject and Soldier, I think it unnecessary to assure you, that I am determined to fulfil my duty at all peril.
I am, &c. Conde de Saldanha.
Captain Walpole.

(Sub-Enclosure C.)
Captain Walpole to Count Saldanha.
H.B.M.S. Ranger, off Port Praya, 16th January, 1829.
Sir, I Have to acknowledge the receipt of your Letter of this date, and to inform you that I likewise have an imperious duty to perform, and that, in pursuance of Instructions from my Government, I cannot allow you, or any part of the Force under your Command, to land here, or on any of the Western Islands, or Azores. I have, therefore, to desire you will not attempt a landing, or I shall be compelled to use the Force I have to prevent it; you must not, therefore, continue in their neighbourhood after this Notification.
I have, &c. Wm. Walpole, Captain.
Count Saldanha.

(Sub Enclosure D.)
Count Saldanha to Captain Walpole. On board the Brig Susan, off Port Praya, 16th January, 1829.
Sir, The imperious duty you have to perform, can be no other than the Orders of His Britannic Majesty, your Sovereign ; exactly of the same nature are the Orders and Instructions I have to put in execution. It is my Sovereign that positively determines me to disembark at Terceira; I am determined to perform my duty, and am ready to lose my life to see every one of the Soldiers of Her Faithful Majesty on board Neutral Vessels, unarmed, and only depending upon the right of Nations, in search of a part of the Portuguese Dominions that never obeyed the Usurper, but constantly have acknowledged the Sovereignty of Her Most Faithful Majesty, Donna Maria II. I am determined, I say, to see every one of them perish, in the fulfilment of my duty. The blood of the most ancient Allies of His Britannic Majesty has already been spilt; a Man has been killed, and another severely wounded, on board this Vessel; a great deal more may flow; you may again direct your fire against us; you may sink us, but you may be assured that left to myself, and not until made Prisoner, and sunk, Sir, under the batteries of Villa de Praya, I will do everything in my power to fulfil my imperious duty: allow me, Sir, to observe to you, that you are going to unload your artillery against 500 Portugueze unarmed, on board English and Russian Vessels: Europe, and your own Country particularly, will be still more astonished, than the Subjects of Her Most Faithful Majesty themselves; I beg you to consider also that we have not come to allow or commit any aggression; we are completely unarmed, to join our Brethren in a spot that never disowned the legitimate authority of the Queen my Sovereign; I consider myself obliged to declare that we have no provisions, and that, even in case my duty would allow it, we should be obliged to receive provisions. You have therefore, in your power, two decisive weapons to destroy us with; but the world will think it marvellous, and the Portuguese will see with indescribable sorrow, employed against them in their destruction, without a motive, without reason, m the most profound peace and harmony, when Her Most Faithful Majesty has so lately been received at Windsor Castle by His Majesty George IV., as the Legitimate Queen of Portugal, those same arms that so often fought, together with them, the common enemy in so many glorious battles.
Whatever your determination will be, you may be certain that I am going to make the most solemn Protest, that will be made public to Europe by the one that will survive me. Conde de Saldanha.
Captain Walpole.

(Sub Enclosure E.)
Captain Walpole to Count Saldanha.
His Britannic Majesty's Ship Ranger, off Port Praya, 16th January, 1829.
Sir, In consequence of your verbal answer to my last communication, I have now only to inform you, that if you do not make sail before 3 o'clock this afternoon, and quit the neighbourhood of these Islands, I shall be obliged, and am determined, to use force to compel you to do so. I have, &c.
I have, &c. Wm. Walpole, Captain.
Count Saldanha.

(Sub Enclosure F.)
Count Saldanha to Captain Walpole.
On board the Susan, off Villa de Praya, 16th January, 1829.
Sir, In consequence of the verbal communication made to me by Captain Radford, I have only to add to my other Official Letters, that I consider myself your Prisoner, and will follow your Vessels wherever you will lead us; but again declare that, we have neither provisions or water.
I am, &c. Conde de Saldanha.
Captain Walpole.

(Sub-Enclosure G.)
Count Saldanha to Captain Walpole.
Sir, I am very sorry that you have only answered verbally to my Communications. Captain Radford has now communicated to me your order to sail immediately, steering S.W. and S.: if you consider me your Prisoner I will do what you order me, but you must furnish me provisions and water, and an order in writing to follow you, because I am answerable for my conduct, and I think I am entitled to respect from an English Navy Officer.
If I should have found it impossible, by any other course, to land at Terceira, my determination was to go back either to France or England; the intimation you now have made from your Vessel prevents my writing any more, and sending the Protest I am getting ready.
Conde de Saldanha.
Captain Walpole.

(Sub-Enclosure H.)
Captain Walpole to Count Saldanha.
His Britannic Majesty's Ship Ranger, off Terceira, 16th January, 1829.
Sir, My object in communicating with you verbally, was for the sake of expedition; I have now only to add, to what I have already stated to you, that you are at liberty to proceed immediately either to France or England, or wherever else you choose, so that you quit the neighbourhood of these Islands, and those of the Azores.
I have, &c. Wm. Walpole, Captain.
Count Saldanha.

(Sub-Enclosure I.)
Count Saldanha to Captain Walpole.
On board of the Susan, off Villa de Praya, 16th January, 1829.
Sir, I Have just received your communication, in which you do not mention that you consider me a prisoner of war, and you only answer what I accidentally mentioned was my intention to do, in case of being prevented by other motives from landing at Terceira, but if you consider me at liberty, I must execute my orders; if not, I refer myself to my first Communication, viz. "that only by force I will not put in. execution the orders of my Queen."
You have just fired again against us, and again I tell you that if I am not a Prisoner of war, I will follow my course according to my Instructions. Conde de Saldanha.
Captain Walpole.

(Sub-Enclosure J.)
Captain Walpole to Count Saldanha.
His Britannic Majesty's Ship Ranger, 16th January, 1829.
Sir, In answer to your Communication, delivered by yourself, I can only refer you to my former declarations, and must again positively assure you, that if you still persist in hovering about these Islands, it is my duty, and firm determination, to carry those measures you are already in possession of into full effect ; I therefore trust you will see the wisdom of quitting this neighbourhood.
I have the honour to be, &c. Wm. Walpole, Captain.
Count Saldanha.
N.B. The verbal communications referred to in these Letters did not differ in substance from their contents.
Wm. Walpole, Captain.

(Sub-Enclosure K.)
Count Saldanha to Captain Walpole.
On board the Susan, under sail, at latitude N. 39� 13', longitude W. London 26� 1'. 17th Jan. 1829.
Sir, According to my Official Communications of yesterday, I have the honour to transmit to you the enclosed list of the Portuguese on board the 4 Transports under your escort.
The Captain of this Vessel not being able to tell me positively the reason why we were fired at last night more than once, although he thinks it was in consequence of taking in top-gallant sails ; to prevent any further mischief, I beg leave to ask the cause, that I may give the necessary directions, in the intelligence that the general and only order I gave was to follow your Vessel in its course and movements.
I have further the honour to transmit the enclosed Document, which I consider absolutely necessary, and to which I referred in one of my Communications of yesterday: I was getting ready with all speed.
I have the honour to be, &c. Conde de Saldanha.
Captain Walpole.

(Sub-Enclosure L.)
Count Saldanha to Captain Walpole.
On board the Susan, under sail, Sir, 19th January, 1829, at 10 o'Clock.
Sir, The inclosed Papers have been sealed since the 17th, in the morning, but the rough sea and the strong winds have prevented me the honour of transmitting them to you.
As our situation is more embarrassing since the Nimrod left steering ahead of us on the 17th, at half-past 3 in the afternoon, and as we were fired at again the same night, I beg once more you will have the goodness to direct me your orders.
I have the honour to be, &c. Conde de Saldanha.
Captain Walpole.

(Sub-Enclosure M.)
Captain Walpole to Count Saldanha,
His Britannic Majesty's Ship Ranger, Sir, at Sea, 19th January, 1829.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Letters and Parcel; and in accordance with what I have already stated to you, I have only to acquaint you, that you are at liberty to proceed wherever you please, provided you do not return to Terceira, or go to the Azores. With reference to the guns fired on the occasions you mention, they were merely signal ones, to point out the necessity of your Vessels keeping together, as from the rockets fired on each night in question, and of your Vessels appearing to have altered their course, I was apprehensive they might part company.
Your Protest shall be forwarded to my Government by the first opportunity; and as it is my intention to escort you to a certain distance, I beg you will shape your own course, keep your Vessels together, and I trust the progress towards your destination will not be interrupted by any further Correspondence.
I have the honour to be, &c. Wm. Walpole, Captain.
Count Saldanha.

(Sub-Enclosure N.)
Captain Walpole to Count Saldanha.
His Britannic Majesty's Ship Ranger, at Sea, 24th January, 1829.
Sir, I shall feel obliged by your informing me whether it is your intention to proceed to England, as I have Despatches from the Vice-Consul at Terceira, as well as myself, to forward to the British Government.
I have the honour to be, &c. Wm. Walpole, Captain.
Count Saldanha.

(Sub-Enclosure O.)
Count Saldanha to Captain Walpole.
On board the Suzana, at Sea, 24th January, 1829.
Sir, I am astonished at your question. What, Sir? you came to Terceira to make us Prisoners; you have escorted us these 8 days; you have prevented me fulfilling my orders; you have endangered the lives of so many faithful Subjects of the most ancient Allies of your Sovereign; you have made us consume our scanty provisions ; you have positively obliged me not to separate my Vessels ; you have used over me the discretion of a Conqueror ; and at the end of all this, you ask me where I am going? I do not know, Sir, where to ; the only thing I know, is, that I am going wherever you will lead us, according to my positive assertions in every one of my Official Letters.
I have, &c. Conde de Saldanha.
Captain Walpole.

(Sub-Enclosure P.)
Captain Walpole to Count Saldanha.
H.B.M.'s Ship Ranger, at Sea, 24th January, 1829.- Noon.
Sir, I am both surprised and confounded at the contents of your Letter just received;�after my repeatedly declaring to you, in my Correspondence, that you were at liberty to pursue your own course and destination.
I have now to inform you, that your conduct has determined me to escort you no further. I have, &c. Wm. Walpole, Captain.
Count Saldanha.

Jun 1829 brought down stores from Antigua to aid the Barham being hove down for repairs, following her grounding.

6 Sep 1829 by the Druid at Portsmouth, had arrived from Jamaica, it is reported that the Ranger was gone to Bermuda.

3 Jul 1829 arrived Havannah from Jamaica.

4 Oct 1829 left Bermuda for Jamaica.

12 Nov 1829 left Jamaica for St Jago de Cuba.

11 Nov 1830 departed Barbadoes for the Leeward Isles.

27 Nov 1830 arrived St. Kitt's.

11 Apr 1831 arrived at Bermuda from Jamaica.

19 May 1831 departed Bermuda for Halifax, to protect the fisheries in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Capt. Walpole, in command.

5 Jun 1831 departed from Halifax on a cruise.

9 Sep 1831 departed Halifax, for Bermuda and the West Indies, Capt. W. Walpole, in command.

2 Nov 1831 arrived at Barbadoes from Bermuda.

21 Nov 1831 arrived Tortola from St. Thomas's.

22 Nov 1831 departed Tortola for Nevis.

5 Jan 1832 was at Barbadoes when the Winchester arrived.

2 Apr 1832 departed Bermuda with General Sir H. Turner and family, governor of Bermuda, for England.

19 Apr 1832 arrived Plymouth from Bermuda.

7 May 1832 paid off into Ordinary at Plymouth.