Folios 212-213: Commander Malcolm Cowan, 58 Gloucester Place, Portman Square, [London]....

Folios 212-213: Commander Malcolm Cowan, 58 Gloucester Place, Portman Square, [London]. In 1805 the Admiralty ordered a trial aboard HMS Standard of a Foretopsail made with horizontal cloths. In 1807 a complete set of sails made in this way for a gun brig, although this order was later cancelled. Captain Thomas Harvey of HMS Standard made a report to the Navy Board on the Foretopsail, but it does not reflect the greater strength and durability which making sails in this way should provide. He encloses a report from the First Lieutenant of HMS Standard on the sail, as well as other reports from ship owners and Masters in the merchant service.

Folios 214-215: enclosed with folios 212-213. Extract of a letter from Edw Harper, ship owner, Hull, to Commander Malcolm Cowan dated 2 November 1807. Reports favorably on the Topsail with horizontal cloths, used aboard the packet Cognac for more than two years. He subsequently had other sails made for the ship with the same construction and found them both easy to reef and resistant to wear. Will equip all his ships this way. Thinks they would be particularly valuable in a gale. 7 April 1807. Extract of a letter from George Brown, ship owner, of Liverpool, to Commander Malcolm Cowan. Has used the Topsails with horizontal cloths on the Lark brig and the Lochniel sloop, thinks they will last longer than any other sail.

Folios 216-217: enclosed with folios 212-213. Copy of a certificate from Richard Todd, sailmaker, of Sunderland. He has made several sails with horizontal cloths and finds them much stronger and they set better. He has now made some for his own ship, the Barbara and Anne. 17 January 1808. Copy of a certificate from F Stafford, Master of the Hero, and James Brown, Master of the John, both of Sunderland. Both their ships have patent sails and they are so pleased with them they will use this pattern for future sails. They set flatter and are much stronger. 1 May 1807. Extract of a letter from Anthony Harper, ship owner, of Liverpool, to Commander Malcolm Cowan. Has tried a Jib and a Topgallant made to Commander Cowan's pattern and will recommend them to all other ship owners. 6 December 1807. Report from James Lamb, Master of the Good Intent, Sunderland, to owner Mr D Trotter. Has a Topsail and a Jib made to the new pattern and likes them very well. 30 April 1807. Report from John Ditchbourne, Master of the Durham of Sunderland. The ship's owner, Cuthbert Vaux, ordered a Foresail made to the new pattern and he finds it better for both reefing and for setting close to the wind. 27 December 1807. Copy of a certificate from Hugh Williamson, Master of the Lark, Liverpool. The Lark, a Dublin packet, had a Foresail and Main Staysail made to the new pattern, and he find them stronger, they stand nearer the wind and can be reefed easily.

Folios 218-219: enclosed with folios 212-213. Extract of a letter from D Trotter, owner of the Good Intent of Sunderland to Commander Malcolm Cowan dated 30 January 1808. Reports that Master F Stafford had more sails with horizontal cloths made for the Hero and a Mainsail, Topsail and Foretopmast Staysail for the John. Several of them were made by Sailmaker Mr Randolph, who at first objected to the new method but now approves of them. Another Sailmaker, Mr Todd, says that any sail can be made this way and has made several for his own ship. He himself has had a Topsail and Jib made this way for the Good Intent and encloses [see Folios 216-217] the Master's certificate. Captain John Ditchbourne of the Durham reports that in a heavy wind his Foresail made this way is easy to reef. Mr Grayson of the Speedwell says he intends to have all his new sails made this way, as does Mr Bowser. Several Captains sailing out of the port of Lynn like the new sails.

Folios 220-221: enclosed with folios 212-213. Extract of a letter from Charles Adam Lennock, First Lieutenant of HMS Standard, to Commander Malcom Cowan dated 30 November 1808. Reports the Topsail in the Admiralty trial was easy to reef and withstood 18 months of constant wear. It can also be set flatter than any sail he has ever seen.

Folio 221: enclosed with folios 212-213. Commander Malcolm Cowan. Gives details of the construction of the Foretopsail for HMS Standard, with a detailed pencil drawing of the sail and notes of its features.