Ok, here's some TROVE mentions of the
Rapid in South Australia.
3 May 1836 -
Rapid sailed with passengers fro the new settlement of South Australia
http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/fh/passengerlists/1836Vansittart.jpgJune 1837 - an interesting letter from a disgruntled farmer re the lack of surveying being done in S A. He mentions a Mr Kingston returning in the
Rapid.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/317496433 June 1837
Rapid had arrived safely with the Surveyor General, Colonel Light. Three other ships also arrived at the time and seemed also to carry surveyors 'including a strong party of labourers'. The article reads (to me) as though these ships travelled together and appear to have been all involved in Government or Commissioners exploits.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/31749635July 1837
Comment re the Rapid being sent back to England
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/31749665November 1837
Political comment that the Rapid had been sent 'home' with a cargo of oil when it should have stayed in S A as a survey vessel.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/3174973219 June 1838
Arrived the Commissioners brig
Rapid, Lieutenant F FIELD RN, Commander, from England 26 February.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/71684596August 1838 -
Rapid still in harbour
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/31750094June 1838
The Rapid carried passengers and cargo - nothing specified
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/31749976September 1839
mention of a "whaling brig
Rapid" - I'm assuming this is not the same ship
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/71685528Arrived 22 November 1838 - Commissioners' brig
Rapid from the wreck of the
Parsee with the passengers and their luggage
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/71684920The
Parsee was travelling between Hobart and S A
July 1838
In harbour: Brigs: Rapid, from London 130 tons, a surveying vessel.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/716846628 September - mentioned again as in harbour - surveying vessel
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/716847698 Dec
Rapid is "surveying the harbour"
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/71684952Sorry this is a bit long but it would seem to me that the brig
Rapid was being used by the Colonization Commissioners for South Australia, which group had been set up by Act of Parliament in UK. The
Rapid certainly seems to have been back and forth 1836-1837, and was commanded by an officer RN, so it is possible that James LEWIS was aboard for any or all of the voyages.
There's a model of the Rapid in SA.
http://historysa.com.au/collections/port-adelaide-collection/model-brig-rapidThis article does not include a James LEWIS on the 1836 voyage.
http://boundforsouthaustralia.net.au/ships/passenger-lists/rapid-passenger-list.htmlNone of which helps us find a connection - such a long way from St David's
Judith