HMS Pactolus (1813)

Cydnus-class frigates such as Pactolus were actually Leda-class frigates, but built of red fir (pine). Pine was cheaper and more abundant than oak and permitted noticeably faster construction, but at a cost of a reduced lifespan. The motive for the use of red pine – an inferior material for shipbuilding – was speed of construction. It was much quicker to build a ship with this material than one of oak; the drawback was that these fir-built ships were less durable than oak-built ships. Like all the 38-gun British frigates of the late Napoleonic wars period, she carried twenty-eight 18-pounder guns on the upper deck, fourteen 32-pounder carronades on the quarterdeck, and two 9-pounder guns and another two 32-pounder carronades on the forecastle. Under the re-classifications in February 1817, this resulted in her being re-classed from 38 to 46 guns. ==Service==

Pactolus was commissioned in September 1813 under Captain Frederick William Aylmer. He would remain her captain to the end of 1815. On 24 March Pactolus recaptured the Swedish ship Maria Christina while in company with and another warship. On 8 August 1814 Pactolus was part of a small squadron made up of herself, the brig Dispatch and the bomb vessel , all under the command of Captain Sir Thomas Hardy in . Pactolus was one of some seven ships that shared in the capture of the Spanish brig Patriota on 6 September. On 6 November Pactolus was in company with and when they recaptured the brig Recovery. On 7 December 1814 Pactolus captured the schooner Armistice, of 3 guns, 15 men and 143 tons. A privateer later recaptured Armistice, but then re-recaptured the schooner. Two days later, Pactolus captured the schooner Post Bay of 8 men and 73 tons. The British took possession of the forts of Verdon, Royan, de Lotisac, and Miche, which they completely dismantled. They took nearly 70 pieces of heavy artillery (mostly French thirty-six-pounders), including many mortars, all of which they completely spiked and whose carriages they rendered useless. On 22 July Bordeaux declared for the monarchy as French troops, which Hebrus had brought with her on two transports, took control. In January 1816 Captain William Hugh Dobbie took command of Pactolus for the Halifax, Nova Scotia, station. Pactolus was sent to the Halifax station for a 3 year tour of duty in 1816. She sailed to Bermuda, arriving on 15 June 1816. She was reported as being moored in Bermuda during June and July 1816. On 24 August 1816, she arrived at Halifax, from Bermuda. She and the accompanied , the flagship of Admiral Griffith, to spend the winter at Bermuda, setting sail from Halifax on 10 November 1816. She departed Halifax on 16 June 1817. In July 1817 Pactolus returned to Portsmouth. ==Fate==

Pactolus was paid off in August 1817 as being no longer seaworthy due to dry rot. The Admiralty sold her to Mr. Maund for £2,790 on 29 January 1818. ==Notes==