Folios 145-146: William Charleton, Regulating Captain, North Shields. He has been...

Folios 145-146: William Charleton, Regulating Captain, North Shields. He has been asked to report on the case of John Duncan, sailmaker, impressed at Sunderland on 27 October 1803. When he was brought for examination, Captain Charleton was presented with a bill of sale [showing that Duncan had recently purchased a ship]. He was uncertain what to do, since he did not think it was the Admiralty's intention that he should impress ship owners because they had previously been seamen, but he recalled that Lord Hawkesbury's Act required that a ship should be re-registered, or the registration should be endorsed, to reflect the sale of the vessel, and this had not been done in this case. He mentioned this to Mr Shafto, and attorney who accompanied Mr Martin, one of the petitioners for Duncan's release. He also wrote to Charles Ogle, the Collector of Customs at Shields, and he encloses Mr Ogle's reply which convinced him that he should keep Duncan in custody. He chose not to make the additional inquiries which Mr Ogle recommended. PS Does not think the registers of either the Collector or Comptroller of Customs would provide the endorsement Mr Shafto and Mr Martin are asking for.

Folios 147-148: enclosed with folios 145-146. Letter from Dr John Wasdale, 20 New Street, Spring Gardens, London, to the Admiralty dated 17 November 1803. Encloses a letter and documents which he wishes to draw to the Admiralty's attention.

Folios 149-150: enclosed with folios 147-148. Letter from John Martin, Sunderland, to Dr John Wasdale, 20 New Street, Spring Gardens, London, dated 31 October 1803. Writes on behalf of his wife's bother, John Duncan, who was formerly a sailmaker but has recently purchase a vessel from Mr Martin, as shown by the bill of sale dated 22 September 1803. Duncan was impressed at Sunderland on 27 October and sent to the tender at Shields, which has since sailed for the Nore. The Regulating Captain at Shields has suggested they apply to the Admiralty. He will put the documents concerning Duncan's impressment in a packet and send them to Dr Wasdale on the vessel the High Flyer, and suggests the Doctor wait personally on Sir Even Nepean to present them. The packet will consist of a petition from Daniel Duncan on behalf of his son, the bill of sale when the vessel was transferred from Thomas Robson to himself, the bill of sale from himself to John Duncan, a copy of the endorsement of the Register and an affidavit from him concerning the affair. He trusts that when these are laid before the Admiralty, they will order Duncan's release, as otherwise the vessel will have to lie idle while he is in the Navy. PS Captain Aughton is not ready to sail yet, but will be in a few days. He asks if Dr Wasdale could make sure to retrieve the bills of sale once they have been seen by the Admiralty.

Folios 151-152: enclosed with folios 145-146. Letter from Charles Ogle, Collector of Customs at Newcastle, to Captain William Charleton. Whenever a ship is told, a new certificate of registry is required. In the case of this vessel, the transfer was made while the ship was not in Sunderland, but if Captain Charleton applies to Custom House he can discover where the ship was in harbour when the endorsement [to the bill of sale ?] was made, as well as the number of voyages it has made since. He personally thinks the sale was a matter of collusion between the parties.

Folio 153: enclosed with folios 145-146. Letter from John Martin, sailmaker, Sunderland, to the Admiralty dated 2 December 1803. Asks that his petition be laid before the Lords of the Admiralty. Writes on behalf of John Duncan, who has been impressed at Sunderland but who purchased a vessel from him about a month ago. He sent all of the documents concerning this sale to Dr John Wasdale to be laid before them. It is a hardship for Duncan, as his ship will have to lie idle while he is in custody. Asks for Duncan's discharge.