Folio(s) 81-88C. Outline plan submitted to the Admiralty for raising an auxiliary...

Folio(s) 81-88C. Outline plan submitted to the Admiralty for raising an auxiliary force of Sea Fencibles to defend the coastline against French invasion, received from Lord Spencer, [First Lord of the Admiralty].

Sea Fencibles are to be enrolled from seamen and fishermen who reside along the coastal areas. They are seen to be a valuable resource as they will be the first to experience invasion and will feel it is their duty to act in defence.

There follows a detailed plan of how it is envisaged that this will take place, including the setting up of districts controlled by a commander, the remuneration to be paid to the Sea Fencibles, and the provisions and weaponry needed.

Attached is a draft form of enrolment for the Sussex Sea Fencibles.

Also attached is a provisional list of 78 places, from Bristol to the Firth of Forth, listed by county, at which the county captains will site their commanders:

Somerset: Bristol, Bridgewater [Bridgwater] and Minehead.

Devon: Ilfracombe, Barnstaple, Saltash district, Plymouth district, Kingsbridge, Dartmouth, Teignmouth and Exmouth.

Cornwall: Padstow, St Ives, Penzance, Helford Harbour, Falmouth, St Maws [St Mawes], Fowey, and Cawsand.

Dorset: Sidmouth [Devon], Lyme [Regis], Weymouth, St Albans Head district, Wareham district and Poole district.

Hampshire: Christchurch, Lymington, Isle of Wight (2), Southampton (2), Gosport and Portsmouth.

Sussex: Chichester, Arundel, Shoreham, Brighton, Seaford, Eastbourne, Hastings and Rye.

Kent: Hythe, Folkestone, Dover, Deal, Margate, Whitstable and Faversham.

Essex: Malden [Maldon], Colchester and Harwich.

Suffolk: Ipswich, Orfordness, Thorpwell [Thorpeness] and Lowestoffe [Lowestoft].

Norfolk: Yarmouth, Foulness and Lynn [Kings Lynn].

Lincolnshire: Boston Deeps to the Humber (3).

Yorkshire: Hull, Flambro' [Flamborough], Bridlington, Scarborough and Whitby.

Durham: Stockton, Hartlepool, Sunderland and to South Shields.

Northumberland: Newcastle, Sheilds [North Shields], and Tinmouth [Tynemouth].

Berwick (4) including the Firth.

There is an estimated monthly manpower cost of £7170 8s 0d allowing for a listed number of post captains, commanders and 18,800 men.