Folios 226-227: James Colnett, Burnham [on Crouch]. Encloses a report of the progress...

Folios 226-227: James Colnett, Burnham [on Crouch]. Encloses a report of the progress made. He leaves tomorrow for Bradwell, Mersea Isle and St Osyth, and will forward a further report.

Folios 228: enclosure with folios 226-227. James Colnett. Hand-drawn chart of the area from the north side of the Thames estuary to the River Crouch.

Folios 229-233: enclosure with folios 226-227. James Colnett, Burnham, 14 August 1796. Detailed description of the area included in the chart (folio 228), including suitability for landing troops, and possible positions for gun boats and signal stations. Points out that the area is used by Dutch oyster fishermen who know the area intimately. One vessel is called The Two Good Friends, captained by Jacob Spanderman, the other is called Four Sisters, master Peter Kurk. This information came from Mr Reive, the Excise Officer, who has given great assistance and accompanied Captain Colnett for the whole time. Notes that in the area on the south side of the River Crouch there are some 200 desperate and abandoned men employed by farmers, some of whom he is sure are sailors. He has marked on the chart every place mentioned in his report. He would have laid down the shoals off the coast, but they are constantly shifting and will require time and a dedicated vessel: one of General Banthem's dispatch schooners would be suitable, and recommends Mr Wilson, who sailed with him last year and is a Master in the Royal Navy, and has sounded every inlet and creek between the River Thames and Great Yarmouth and up to Norwich. A battery has begun about 3 miles below Burnham, but there is currently nobody working on it.