ðeɪ wɜː pˈɜːtʃɪst fɔːɹ sˈɜːvɪs ɪnðə ɹˈɔɪəl nˈeɪvi ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti fˈoːɹ ænd sˈɜːvd bɹˈiːfli wɪððə tʃˈænəl flˈiːt bᵻfˌoːɹ ðeɪ bɪkˌeɪm ɡˈɑːɹd ʃˈɪps æt bɜːmjˈuːdə ænd hˈɑːŋ kˈɑːŋ.
They were purchased for service in the Royal Navy in 1864 and served briefly with the Channel Fleet before they became guard ships at Bermuda and Hong Kong.