Folios 272-274: Thomas Briggs, HMS Clorinde at sea. Reports his arrival off the Lizard...

Folios 272-274: Thomas Briggs, HMS Clorinde at sea. Reports his arrival off the Lizard that night with the transport ship HMS Norfolk, carrying a detachment of the 93rd Regiment bound for Plymouth. Advises he sailed on 2 March 1814 from Point de Galle with Convoy and anchored in Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope on 25 April 1814 where he received instructions from Vice Admiral Charles Tyler to unite the East India convoy with the China Fleet if he fell in with them at sea or at the anchorage of St Helena and then proceed with them to the Downs. Reports the China ships under convoy to HMS Phoenix arrived at St Helena on 26 May 1814. The convoy put to sea on 2 June 1814 with 47 sail including the Men of War. Reports that on 24 July 1814, he left the convoy to go in pursuit of an American Privateer, one of 2 schooners discovered between the islands of Corvo and Flores in the Azores. Due to bad weather he was separated from the convoy for 9 days but explains it was not his intention to leave the convoy as the weather was fair when he gave chase and that he has just learned from HMS Phoenix that the whole of his convoy are only 3 or 4 hours sail ahead of HMS Clorinde. Encloses a list of the convoy, a letter from Captain Charles Richardson, HMS Semiramis [items not enclosed] and his orders from Rear Admiral Charles Tyler. Notes that HMS Procris parted company from HMS Clorinde on 2 August 1814 but is expected in a couple of days.

Folios 274-278: enclosure with folios 272-274. Orders, dated 30 April 1814, from Rear Admiral Charles Tyler, on board HMS Medway, Simon's Bay, to Thomas Briggs, HMS Clorinde, Table Bay. Orders to escort HMS Baring, HMS Preston and HMS Norfolk, having on board the 93rd Regiment, to England as well as the East India Company ships which accompanied him from Point de Galle and any other trade ships in Table Bay bound for St Helena. Orders him to wait no onger than 3 days for the arrival of the CHina fleet and and then put to sea with HMS Semiramis, the transports, the India ships and any other trade. Directs him not to resort to the measure of towing to East India Company ships except in cases of great necessity as the Directors of the Company have reported material injury to some of their ships as a result of such a signal as well as to take care in issuing instructions for places of Rendezvous in case of separation and allow the Masters of such vessels to use their discretion in proceeding to the nominated ports.

Folio 277: blank.

Folios 278-280: enclosure with folios 272-274. Orders, dated 30 April 1814, from Rear Admiral Charles Tyler, on board HMS Medway, Simon's Bay, to Captain Phipps Hornby, HMS Stag, Table Bay. Orders to proceed to St Helena and if finding the China fleet there, to advise the Captain of HM vessel in charge of the fleet to wait the arrival and protection of HMS Clorinde and HMS Semiramis and if there is only one frigate to protect the fleet, he is to join the convoy to the Downs or, if there are 2 frigates, to return to Simon's Bay.