Folios 247-248: James Cornwallis, HMS Sheerness, Jamaica. Reports arrival after stopping...

Folios 247-248: James Cornwallis, HMS Sheerness, Jamaica. Reports arrival after stopping at from Martinique on Rear Admiral Harvey’s orders. He sailed from Loango Bay on the coast of Angola 9th May having remained at anchor for thirty days to collect his convoy for the West Indies. Lack of provisions prevented him cruising on the coast having only completed six months provisions on leaving England, which was the order Captain Mackenzie gave him when he superceded him. He could not buy any on the Africa coast and used four months supplies. His first stop was the River Ambriz the southernmost part of the coast where the English trade. From there he traveled along to Loango bay in the northernmost part of the coast where the English have any trade. He sent his Officers on board vessels he found there to inform masters he would rendezvous at Loango bay and would convoy anyone ready and willing to accompany him. He sends a list of merchant ships on the coast [no longer present]. Everything was perfectly quiet when he sailed, enemy privateers had not been molesting the trade. Hearing Sir Hyde Parker was at Cape Nicola Mole lost no time proceeding there. Reports the Liverpool ship Molly, John Tobin, Master had captured a Spanish ship from Cadiz bound for the River Plata without having any letters of marque for reprisals against Spain. He would have taken charge of her had she not been plundered of her cargo sometime previously considering it little short of an act of piracy.

Folio 249: enclosed with folios 247-248. Copy, Thomas M. Russell, HMS Vengeance, Senior Officer at Fort Royal Bay, Martinique, 2 July 1797. To pursue Rear Admiral Henry Harvey’s orders and remain in this bay until further orders and complete his provisions up to four months and remain in constant readiness for sea.

Folio 250: enclosed with folios 247-248. Orders dated 7 July 1797 by Henry Harvey, Rear Admiral of the Red, HMS Prince of Wales, Fort Royal Bay, Martinique, to James Cornwallis. Orders to proceed with HMS Maidstone to Jamaica immediately with any ships bound for that island.