Folio 286: Richard Buck, HMS Franchise, Spithead. Reports his arrival at Spithead...

Folio 286: Richard Buck, HMS Franchise, Spithead. Reports his arrival at Spithead and encloses a copy of the letter from the British Minister, Thomas Sydenham, which induced him to leave the Tagus and return to England. Advises that HMS Sabrina, Alexander Richard Mckenzie, Captain, and HMS Garland, Richard Plummer Davies, Captain, and HMS Pelorus remained in the Tagus. Advises that HMS Pelorus is attached to a convoy for conveying French prisoners from Lisbon and as HMS Sabrina and HMS Garland do not have an Assistant Surgeon on board, the Minister was received on board HMS Franchise.

Folio 287: enclosure with folio 286. Report on defects of HMS Franchise, dated 7 August 1814, at Spithead, signed by Richard Buck, Captain, and James Girven, Carpenter. Mentions as incident on 21 February 1811 with the John and Jane Transport ship, William Wishart, Master.

Folios 288-289: enclosure with folio 286. Letter, dated 22 July 1814, from Thomas Sydenham, Lisbon, to Richard Buck, HMS Franchise. Requests an immediate passage to England due to ill health on a ship which will give him the best and constant medical assistance. Mentions Lord Castlereagh and Admiral Fleming [ Rear Admiral Charles Elphinstone Fleeming], Commander at Gibraltar.

Folios 290-291: enclosure with folio 286. Copy of letter, dated 23 July 1814, from Thomas Sydenham, Lisbon, to Lord Castlereagh. Reports that he has to return to England immediately on the advice of his doctors and that he has applied to the Senior Naval Officer in Lisbon for a passage to England and encloses a copy of his letter to Richard Buck, HMS Franchise.

Folio 292: enclosure with folio 286. Letter, dated 25 July 1814, from Richard Buck, HMS Franchise, River Tagus, to Rear Admiral Charles Elphinstone Fleeming, Reports that Thomas Sydenham, HMS Minister at Lisbon, is required to return to England on the advice of his surgeon and will require constant medical attention during the voyage. Explains that as there are no Assistant Surgeons on the other ships at Lisbon and his vessel is the least effective from many defects and with the crew having 5 years' pay due in November next, that HMS Franchise will receive Thomas Sydenham. Captain Alexander Richard Mckenzie, HMS Sabrina also mentioned.

Folio 293: blank.

Folio 294: enclosure with folio 286. Duplicate of Report on defects of HMS Franchise, dated 7 August 1814, at Spithead, signed by Richard Buck, Captain, and James Girven, Carpenter.