Folios 268-269: Commander Benjamin Crispin, HMS Leveret, Harwich. Encloses a copy...

Folios 268-269: Commander Benjamin Crispin, HMS Leveret, Harwich. Encloses a copy of a letter he sent to the Lloyds underwriters. Reports that since he arrived at Harwich, one of the Pilots, Nathaniel Hunt, has entered into a combination with several of the pilots mentioned in his letter and has sworn an affadavit that Commander Crispin was not on deck when the Swedish brig the Two Brothers went aground on the bar, which is not true. Asks for directions how he is to proceed.

Folios 270-270A: enclosure with folios 268-269. Letter dated 23 December 1808 by Commander Benjamin Crispin, HMS Leveret, Harwich, to the Underwriterrs of the Swedish brig Two Brothers. Reports that while the Two Brothers was under convoy from HMS Leveret she was driven from her anchors in Yarmouth Roads by a gale on 18 December. She fetched up near HMS Leveret and, in his opinion, could have ridden there safely until the tide changed and she would have been able to recover her anchors. But the crew of a pilot boat which boarded the vessel the next morning persuaded the Master to abandon her anchors and steer for the port. She subsequently went aground on the bar, was gotten off again and made her way to the port. He understands the Pilots have claimed a fee of £500, which he does not think they should be entitled to, and in fact he believes they should be liable for any damage to the vessel.