Folios 54-58: Richard Runwa Bowyer, Regulating Captain, Lynn. Acknowledges receipt...

Folios 54-58: Richard Runwa Bowyer, Regulating Captain, Lynn. Acknowledges receipt of the letter containing one from Matthew Pearson, which he is returning. Thomas Nichols, who was impressed at Lynn, has been at sea for eight years but has never been a fisherman and served as Boatswain of the cutter HMS Swan. Nichols returned to Lynn aboard the Greenland ship the Experiment at the beginning of July, 1806, and got himself registered on this boat [the Success cutter] as a fisherman. The boat has not been used since May, 1805, when its previous Master was impressed. He believes Matthew Pearson, instead of taking the boat out himself, makes a practice of offering the boat's protection to anyone who is likley to be impressed. [Nichols ?] sails as a merchant seaman and has no protection from the Admiralty because he has not complied with the Act of Parliament respecting apprentices to fishermen. He believes Nichols intends to sail again on the Experiment next season.

Folios 55-57: enclosed with folios 54-58. Letter dated 26 July 1806 by Matthew Pearson, Dog Street, Lynn, Norfolk, to the Admiralty. Captain Bowyer's men have impressed Thomas Nichols, Master of the Success cutter which Pearson owns. Because of wounds he received in the King's service he is incapable of working and the cutter is his sole support. It was registered at the Custom House when it was built and has had four Masters since then. Nichols was appointed Master and his appointment registered at the Custom House. The impress cutter sailed today for the Nore and should arrive on Tuesday. He will not be able to procure another Master for the Success. Asks for Nichols to be discharged so that Pearson can support himself. PS the men who have been registered as Masters of the Success are John Frost, David Melton, John Pearson, Matthew Pearson junior, Matthew Pearson senior and Thomas Nichols.