as distinguished as those of the Royal Navy's own vessels. For instance, between 1796 and 1801, the hired armed cutter Telemachus captured eight privateers in the Channel. The crew from some vessels qualified for clasps to the Naval General Service Medal (1847). Noteworthy examples include: Hired armed brig Ann Hired armed cutter Courier Hired armed brig Pasley HM hired brig Telegraph In each of these cases, the clasp bore the vessel's own name. Hired armed lugger Aristocrat In this case the crew from Aristocrat shared the medal with two other vessels. Letters of marque Some of these hired armed vessels also sailed under a letter of marque, either before (e.g. Duke of York) or after their service with the Royal Navy (e.g., or London Packet). Arming of merchantmen With the resumption of war against France in 1803, the British government spent a great deal of money arming coastal vessels so that they might protect themselves against privateers. These vessels were neither letters of marque, that is, they did not have authorization to seek out and capture enemy vessels, nor were they hired armed vessels working for the Royal Navy. The government simply sought to augment the merchant fleet's defences. For example, in 1807, the Aberdeen Shipping Company had five vessels that had received 18-pounder carronades from the government; the company had also itself armed the London Packet. The Old Ship Company of Leith advertised that its smack had been armed by the government. Citations and references Citations References Brenton, Edward Pelham (1839) Life and correspondence of John, Earl of St. Vincent. (H. Colburn). Lavery, Brian and Patrick O'Brian (1989) Nelson's navy: the ships, men, and organisation, 1793-1815. (Naval Institute Press). Sinclair, Donald (1907) The History of the Aberdeen Volunteers: Embracing Also Some Account of the Early Volunteers of the Counties of Aberdeen, Banff, and Kincardine. (Aberdeen Daily Journal Office). External source National Archives: ADM 359/24A/54 - An Account of the Number of Hired Armed Cutters, Ships, Vessels and Boats employed in the Public Service on the 31st December 1793, 1794,1795, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1799, 1800, 30th September 1801, 31st December 1802, 1803 and 15th March 1804, with headings for vessels' names, the nature and force of guns and men, the time employed and when paid off. See also Armed boarding steamer Ocean boarding vessel