MILTIADES had only a raised quarter-deck which allowed a main-rail the entire length of the ship. This made her a very handsome vessel, the line of the sheer being unbroken from stem to stern. The lower quarter-deck did give her some difficulty in the "roaring forties", since it was often awash from the rough seas.

Her skipper was Captain Perrett from the stocks. He was a very jovial captain and stayed with his ship until 1885. She had a very steady and uneventful record in the Australian trade. Despite her being considered a wet ship, she rarely got in trouble while under the Red Ensign. She was heavily rigged, with double topgallant yards on all three masts. Her best outward passage was 63 days from pilot to pilot, and 70 days from anchorage to anchorage when bound to Melbourne in 1873. During this passage she had 24 hour runs of 305, 310 and 345 miles. This was easily the best passage of the year.

In 1874 MILTIADES did get into some trouble. While making her only outward passage to New Zealand she missed stays through a sudden shift of the wind while beating up the Gulf of Auckland between Tiri and Rangitoto, and ran unto a mudspit off Galle Point. She had 470 emigrants on board and had made a very good passage out up to this point. When grounded, Captain Perrett fired his signal guns and a rocket. This gained the attention of a small coasting steamer, LADY BOWEN, which assisted her in getting off the mud with the able help of the rising tide. The steamer was subsequently awarded 1,625 pounds for her assistance, although many thought this was an extortion.

From Auckland MILTIADES went across to Melbourne, loaded in the wool fleet, and made the best passage home of the entire fleet. She arrived in London on January 20th, 1875, 77 days out. Her next passage to Port Phillip took 81 days due to many weather problems, not the least of which was ice encountered near Crozets. In 1876 she made the excellent run out of 70 days, in 1877 she was 74 days out. In 1878 she had some problems in the "roaring forties" and was pooped. Captain Perrett was washed on to the main-deck and had his head cut open; boats were stove in, panels burst and doors broken. Nevertheless, she reached the Otway only 75 days out. In 1879 she had a bad passage, being served with very poor winds, and took an 88 day passage. But she again came back in 1880, having a very fine run of 70 days from the Lizard to the Otway.

In 1881 she was 78 days to Melbourne from the Start, and 95 days coming home. On this return trip Captain Perrett again narrowly escaped being killed by an invading sea. In 1882 the outward run was covered in 73 days from the Lizard, overhauling and beating the renowned MERMERUS by a week.

In 1883 Captain Perrett handed over the ship for a one voyage to Captain Spalding. He made the passage out in 78 days, but had a poor return wool passage, arriving in 108 days from Geelong. In 1884 Captain Perrett again took command and had fine passages of 71 days out and 74 days from London River to Port Phillip Heads.

In 1885 Captain Harry Ayling took command, and under him the beautiful green clipper continued to maintain her reputation, especially on the homeward run. In the Spring of 1888 she made her first passage to Sydney, arriving out in 83 days, but in 1889 she again made passage to Melbourne, arriving in 82 days. Her best homeward passage from Sydney was in 1894-95, taking 83 days from the wool port.

In 1896-97 MILTIADES crossed the Pacific and loaded a cargo at San Francisco for London. She had a very poor passage home for some reason, taking 148 days to arrive in London. In 1897 she took 2,700 tons of general cargo from London, arriving in Hobson’s Bay on September 20th. While the ship was coming in, on the 18th, Captain Ayling had a severe fall and broke a thigh-bone. The actual passage took 91 days, spoiled by a month of light winds.

In 1898 the MILTIADES made a run of 83 days to Sydney, the crossed the Pacific, Loaded grain at Astoria, and made the passage back in a very respectable 107 days. Her last voyage under the Red Ensign was made in 1901, now being under the command of Captain Gambell. She made very respectable runs of 89 days from London to Sydney, 60 days from Newcastle, N.S.W. to San Francisco, and 108 days from San Francisco to Queenstown.

The old clipper was then sold to M. Maresca, of Castellamare. She did not last long under the Italian flag. She was partially dismasted in March, 1905 and was condemned to be broken up. A fine clipper which was once the pride of the London and Melbourne came to an unnoticed, forgotten and obscure end.