Folios 108-109: Francis Holmes Coffin, the Sea Fencibles, Folkestone. Encloses a...

Folios 108-109: Francis Holmes Coffin, the Sea Fencibles, Folkestone. Encloses a deposition from George Reid and John Miller concerning his charges against William Hall, whom he dismissed.

Folios 110-111: enclosed with folios 108-109. Deposition dated 24 August 1798 from George Reid and John Miller, employed at the signal station at Folkestone Cliff, sworn before Magistrates Edward Andrews and John Castle at Folkestone on August 24, 1798. Both men swear that William Hall, then the Midshipman in charge of the signal station, confessed to them that some months earlier he had assisted a French prisoner named Collins to escape by furnishing him with a boat and provisions, and that two months ago he had applied to Collins' father, who lives in France, to help secure the release of James May senior and his son James May junior, who were then English prisoners in France. They further swear that Sarah Goddard, who lives near the signal station, told them Hall asked her to conceal the prisoner in her cottage for several days, which she did upon the promise of payment.