Folios 181-182: George Canning, 22 Arundel St, London. Sending 3 documents: 1. his...

Folios 181-182: George Canning, 22 Arundel St, London. Sending 3 documents: 1. his letter to Sir Edward Pellew, read publicly and approved on HMS Kite but now withdrawn; 2. note from Rear Admiral Laugharne, returning the letter; 3. Canning's memorial with further 'claims'.

Folios 183-184: enclosure with folios 181-182: the letter to Pellew, dated 17 June 1813, aboard HMS Kite, stating that his previous account of 5 June, written for Captain Chanell of HMS Orlando, and stating that their attempt to take two pirate ships at the gulf of Salonica had failed due to the pirates being concealed behind rocks and in holes, had subsequently proved to be not the case. The expedition had been under the command of Lieutenant Charles Williams, who was in the large cutter. He has since learned that Williams was guilty of misconduct, that he directed the men to land far too soon, contrary to his own orders from Canning. The men were out of their depth and their weapons were lost or rendered useless, many were killed and it ended in disaster. Canning credits the men in charge of the other boats, Mr Booth, Mr Clark, Charles Myrzen, Marine Corporal, John Antonio and John Steward of his own boatcrew, with keeping their heads and saving the lives of those who did return safely.

Folio 185: enclosure with folios 181-182. Cover letter from Rear Admiral John Laugharne, returning Canning's letter as requested.

Folios 186-187: enclosure with folios 181-182. Memorial of Canning's career to date. In 1802 he was made lieutenant; 1803 2nd of the Desiree; removed by Sir John Duckworth to be 1st of the Creole (foundered); 1804 4th of the Achille at the Battle of Trafalgar; then 1st of the Princess Charlotte, with recommendation to Sir Alexander Cochrane; in company with the Unicorn taking a convoy home, under the Aurelia and the Pheasant post Bermuda but lost the convoy after a long enemy chase; next appointed to the Brunswick for the expedition to Copenhagen under Sir Samuel Hood; superseded by his own application in 1808 and later that year appointed to the Centaur, joined Hood on his way back from the Baltic and accompanied him to the Hibernia where he remained till Hood left and Sir Richard Keats took over; June 1812 Captain Hardy retired from the Swiftsure and Captain Stewart of the Blossom was made Post, Canning was made Commander by Pellew but without confirmation from the Admiralty, being appointed to the Swallow; then received orders for the Kite and took command of her 28 July at Malta - though she was in great need of repair he took her straight on to Smyrna as ordered and was employed there for almost a year; various incidents and troubles occurred, some resolved well others not, ending in the expedition to take out the two pirate ships which resulted in many of his men being killed. He reiterates that if it had not been for the misconduct and 'mistaken zeal' of Lt Williams, who disobeyed his orders, the expedition would have been successful and he would now be receiving the approbation rather than the disapprobation of their Lordships. Having been superseded at Smyrna by Captain Mainwaring on 23 July 1813, he was offered the choice by Pellew of taking a lieutenancy in the fleet or returning to England, and chose the latter mainly for health reasons. Finally requests that his promotion to commander may now be confirmed.