French corvette Moineau (1794)
Moineau was the former merchantman "Spartiate", which the French Navy requisitioned to serve as 16-gun corvette on the Île de France station between 1794 and 1797. Career. In May 1794, the French Navy brought "Spartiate" into naval service as "Moineau". She then served in the naval station of Île de France, carrying out missions to Batavia. In June 1796, the French Directory's executive agents Baco and Burnel, arrived at Mauritius with the naval division under Sercey and set out to abolish slavery, in application of the decree of 16 Pluviose Year II on the  abolition of slavery. This alienated the colonists and Governor Malartic; a militia stormed Baco and Burnel's quarters and forcibly put them aboard "Moineau". Malartic then ordered Commander (and "capitaine de frégate") Tayeau, the captain of "Moineau", to carry Baco and Burnel to Batavia. Once "Moineau" was at sea, Baco and Burnel ordered Tayeau to bring them to France. "Moineau" then sailed for Rochefort. Upon "Moineau"s arrival, Tayeau was commended for his action. On the way back to France, "Moineau" first stopped at Foulepointe, a French factory on the coast of Madagascar to reprovision. Next, near the Cape of Good  Hope, "Moineau" encountered "Lady Shore", which was sailing to Bengal on behalf of the British East India Company. "Moineau" captured "Lady Shore" on 19 July. After stripping her of much of her cargo, Tayeau let her go on 22 July, permitting her captain to take her into the Cape. Fate. "Moineau" was returned to her original owner in 1797.