Folios 143-146: John Cramer, HMS Concorde, [Plymouth]. Reports the safe arrival of...

Folios 143-146: John Cramer, HMS Concorde, [Plymouth]. Reports the safe arrival of HMS Concorde at Plymouth after a 47 day passage from St Helena. Encloses the orders received from Rear Admiral Sir Edward Pellew, also a petition from the different Commanders of the homeward bound East India ships under his orders, together with the reports of defects of HMS Concorde, surveyed first by a Lieutenant and then the 3 best Carpenters of the Indiamen, and lastly by the Carpenter and the mate of HMS Antelope, by order of Captain Bazeley, who arrived 2 days later. During the voyage round the Cape of Good Hope they encountered 2 or 3 very suspicious vessels and were unable to speak with them. As his ship was in a rotten and leaky state, and to safeguard the convoy, he felt it was important to proceed round the Cape. He felt that the repairs necessary to allow her to return home were best carried out at St Helena, especially as winter had set in at the Cape and he had all the Carpenters and workmen of the different ships in his convoy. Captain Bazeley would not interfere with the orders, although firmly of the opinion that the vessel was not in a fit state to return, and left him to put in the best repairs possible with the few materials available on St Helena. He is convinced that his ship would have foundered if he had attempted to return to India, and he judged it better to return to England, which he hopes meets with approval under the circumstances. He regrets to report the loss of the Ganges, an East Indiaman, which foundered off the Cape of Good Hope. The crew and passengers were all rescued. He encloses a printed copy of the report from the Commander concerning the loss. HMS Antelope and her convoy sailed from St Helena on 27 June, and a list of the convoy is enclosed. On 12 August he encountered an English brig, and was informed that war had been declared against the Danes. On the same day he encountered a Danish West Indiaman, named Tornebrisken, and he put an Officer and some men on board to bring her to Plymouth. The same brig passed through the homeward bound West India convoy 24 hours before he spoke with her. Since then he has spoken to General Schemer from the River Plate, who had dispatches on board from Rear Admiral Sterling, which he has taken and put in the charge of Captain Wooldridge, who has brought Sir Edward Pellew home.

Folio 147: enclosure with folios 143-146. Printed copy of the"St Helena", Saturday 20 June 1807. Report by T. Harington to Robert Patton, Governor, on the loss of the Ganges on 29 May 1807 off the Cape of Good Hope. Also an extract from the log book for the same date.

folio 148: enclosure with folios 143-146. List of the vessels in the convoy under Captain Bazeley of HMS Antelope.

Folio 149: enclosure with folios 143-146. Llist of the vessels in the convoy under Captain Cramer of HMS Concorde.

Folio 150: enclosure with folios 143-146. Report on the state and condition of HMS Concorde, by a Lieutenant and the carpenter of HMS Antelope.

Folio 151: enclosure with folios 143-146. List of the vessels spoken with by HMS Concorde under the command of Captain Cramer.

Folios 152-153: enclosures with folios 143-146. From the Commanders of the ships of the convoy under the protection of HMS Concorde to Captain Cramer, at sea, 12 April 1807. Request for the protection of HMS Concorde direct from the Cape of Good Hope to the island of St Helena, fearing the adverse weather around the Cape, and the presence of enemy vessels in the area. This is one of the most valuable convoys that has been sent to England in recent years and they fear the possible losses which would occur if there was an accident to one of the vessels.

Folios 154-155: enclosure with folios 143-144. H. Lindsay, Commander, the Lady Jane Dundas, at sea, to Captain Cramer, 12 April 1807. In addition to the letter signed with the other Captains of the convoy, wishes to report damage to his vessel which makes him reluctant to attempt a voyage around the Cape of Good Hope at the time of the year they would expect to arrive there.

Folios 156-157: enclosure with folios 143-144. T Harington, Commander, the Ganges, at sea, 6 May 1807, to Captain Cramer. In addition to the letter signed with the other Captains of the convoy, wishes to express his concern about the risk to HMS Ganges, due to damage which could not be repaired in Bombay.

Folios 158-159: enclosures with folios 143-146. R. Wardlow, Commander of the ship Asia, April 1807, to Captain Cranmer. In addition to the letter signed with other Captains of the convoy, wishes to express his concern about the planned voyage to The Cape of Good Hope at this time of the year. His vessel has touched on every port from Point Palmiras to Colombo, his cables have become very worn, and he lost an anchor when leaving Madras Roads, which he has not been able to replace.

Folios 160-161: enclosure with folios 143-146. Captain John Ferrier, HMS Albion, Bombay, 20 October 1806, to Captain Cranmer. Orders from Sir Edward Pellew, Commander-in-Chief. Orders are to complete provisioning with 6 months supplies, and to take charge of all the Company's ships intending to load on the coast of Europe, and to proceed with them to the different roadsteads appointed by the Governor for that purpose. Then to make haste to complete their loading and make them ready for sea and proceed to Gall Point to be joined by the ships from Madras and Bengal. To also take charge of those ships, and proceed without delay to the Cape of Good Hope. Having accompanied them there, the Commander-in-Chief directs that Captain Cranmer remains there for only 48 hours, to take on provisions, and then return to Madras. On receiving these orders, Captain Cranmer should establish from the Governor the time which the ships will be ready to proceed down the coast to load, so that he is ready for sea at the same time, and to ensure that all the invalids from Bombay are taken on board the Europe-bound ships. Footnote from Sir Edward Pellew, on board HMS Culloden, at sea, 17 February 1807, Captain Cranmer is directed to show strict compliance with these directions.

Folios 162-163: enclosure with folios 143-146. J.W. McCaul, Carpenter, and George Putney, Carpenter's Mate, on board HMS Antelope, St Helena, 23 June 1807. Report on the defects of HMC Concorde, ordered by Captain Henry Bazeley, HMS Antelope and senior officers. Copy of the order from Henry Bazeley to Mr McCaul and George Putney, 23 June 1807, to report on the defects on HMS Concord.

Folio 164: enclosure with folios 143-146. John Cramer, and Thomas Taylor, Carpenter, HMS Concorde. Report of additional defects on HMS Concorde since leaving St Helena.

Folio 165: enclosure with folios 143-146. John Collingwood, the Asia, Alexander Low, the Lady Jane Dundas, William Honeshewer, the Bengal, Carpenters of the Company of ships, St Helena Roads, 14 June 1807. Report on the defects of HMS Concorde, as ordered by Captain Cranmer.