Folios 206-207: John Townsend Coffin, HMS Shearwater, the Downs. Advises that he...

Folios 206-207: John Townsend Coffin, HMS Shearwater, the Downs. Advises that he boarded a Portuguese Merchant Brig on 29 July 1814 near Cape St Vincent, [exact co-ordinates given] who had the crews of 2 ships the Aaron, marked GA, Transport Brig and the Pritton, Merchant Brig from Cadiz, captured days before by the American Schooner Privateer Prince Chatteau, on board. Explains that the American ship had previously captured a Welsh sloop from Ireland bound for London and a Merchant Brig from Bordeaux to Newfoundland which were both scuttled and the crews landed. States that the American ship had been chased several times by HM Cruisers but the ships sails remarkably fast. Advises that he has learned from the Mates of the 2 vessels that the American Privateer intended cruising between Cape Saint Vincent and Cape Spartel during the summer. Advises that the crews amounting to 10 men and 2 boys have been victualised the whole amount having volunteered to work their passage.