Folio 277: Velters Cornewall Berkeley, HMS Emerald, Spithead. Acknowledges the orders...

Folio 277: Velters Cornewall Berkeley, HMS Emerald, Spithead. Acknowledges the orders to proceed to Falmouth with any vessels bound for Portugal or Gibraltar and will send a list of these prior to his departure, which he expects to be tomorrow if the wind is fair. The Transport Agent has reported that the Ordnance storeship Acorn is still in the harbour, but he expects it to be ready this evening. The ship's company were paid yesterday and he is now waiting for the Clerk of the Cheque to pay bounty.

Folios 278-279: Enclosed with Folio 277: Charles Patten, the Transport Office, Portsmouth, to Captain Velters Berkeley, HMS Emerald, December 29, 1796. Lieutenant [Kent ?] reports he has received his sailing instructions. An order has come in today's post to unload the Swift in Portsmouth, so she will not be joining the convoy. He has given the Master of the Sally orders to go aboard HMS Emerald to receive his instructions. The Acorn had completed loading last night, but this morning Lieutenant Dickenson of the Ordnance called to say more stores will be put aboard the Acorn tomorrow. He says she will be ready to move out of harbour on the forernoon tide tomorrow. Two other Ordnance transports, the Minerva and Bilboa, will also be ready to proceed tomorrow.