Folios 102-103: Commander William Fisher, HMS Racehorse, Spithead. In reply to their...

Folios 102-103: Commander William Fisher, HMS Racehorse, Spithead. In reply to their letter of 12 October, enclosed, reports that he encountered the brig Jean of Leith and when she came to, ordered acting Lieutenant George Woods Sarmon to go aboard and impress any men who he thought fit for the Navy. There was no complaint that she was boarded without the necessary precautions, and the boat returned with four men whom he judged to have been at sea longer than their indentures indicated. Mr Sarmon was shortly after discharged from the Racehorse and is no longer available to consult. Felt he had to examine the brig closely because he had received intelligence of English-built merchant ships being fitted out as privateers, intended to join the rear of a convoy and look for opportunities of capturing vessels from it. This vessel in just that position, five miles astern of a convoy at daybreak. The brig appeared perfectly healthy and there was no breach of the quarantine law.

Folio 104: enclosed with folios 102-103. Admiralty letter dated 12 October 1807 to Commander William Fisher, HMS Racehorse, Jersey. Their Lordships enclose a letter from the secretary of the Board of Customs at Edinburgh, complaining of a breach of quarantine law by his impressment of two seamen out of the Jean of Leith, arrived at Inverkeithing Bay from Malta. Ask Commander Fisher to explain his actions.