Folios 348-349: Ross Donnelly, HMS Maidstone, Spithead. Acknowledges the letter of...

ADM 1/1722/125

1800 Sept 18

Folios 348-349: Ross Donnelly, HMS Maidstone, Spithead. Acknowledges the letter of 16 September, and the request to explain his failure to follow the orders of Captain Parker for the protection of the trade in the river and Gulf of St Lawrence. He had intended to comply with the orders, but the Merchants of Quebec made representations immediately after Captain Parker sailed, expressing their wish to depart for England earlier than planned. The verbal request was followed by written applications; numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 are enclosed. It will be clear that the matter was not finally decided until 29 July, but he would have been in danger of ignoring the request had he cruised, as ordered, between then and 15 August, the day appointed for their departure. It has frequently been the case that ships have been detained longer than necessary in the naturally difficult navigation which is made extremely hazardous by the ignorance of the pilots. He has always tried to comply with orders from his superiors, and considers the good of the Service as his prime object. He hopes it is seen that he was acting for the best.

Folios 350-351: enclosure with folios 348-349. Lymburnem Crawford and 9 named merchants, Quebec, 16 July 1800. The signatures of this letter all have an interest in vessels due to leave in the convoy for Great Britain under the protection of HMS Maidstone. Eleven ships are being loaded with wheat and flour, and others with valuable cargoes for Great Britain and Ireland, all of which are expected to be ready by 10 August. Delaying beyond that date would likely lead to a very great or total loss to the interested parties due to the perishable nature of the cargoes, as well as depriving them of the benefit of the Act of Parliament passed in April granting a bounty on the importation of these goods for the relief of distress caused by shortages. Remaining for a longer period before departure would completely remove any benefit of the cargoes. They therefore earnestly solicit that the convoy is not delayed beyond 10 August.

Folios 352-353: enclosure with folios 348-349. Ross Donnelly, HMS Maidstone, Quebec, to Lymburnem Crawford et al, Quebec, 20 July 1800. Reply to the letter of 16 July received last evening, requesting that HMS Maidstone should sail on 10 August instead of 2 September. Would have pleasure in complying with the very fair and well-argued request of the Merchants and owners at Quebec and Montreal, but as there are very few names on the letter, and Governor Milnes's sanction seems also to be lacking, he would require that the circumstances be made more widely known either through the newspapers or otherwise, before he agrees to their request. He agrees that it arises from urgent considerations, but he would require to be informed of the general intentions of those vessels due to depart before reaching a decision.

Folios 354-356: enclosure with folios 348-349. Lymburnem Crawford and 8 named merchants, Quebec, to Ross Donnelly, 24 July 1800. Thanks Captain Donnelly for his polite and detailed response to their request of 10 July for an earlier sailing on 10 August. There are appear to be two points requiring clarification. 1. The number of names subscribing to their request appears to be very small. They contend that the shipping business of Quebec province is restricted to a small number of houses, and the whole produce of the province, including that of Montreal, comes down to Quebec as the only general shipping port. The signatures of the letter represent all the shipping houses in Quebec bar one or two, who have different circumstances, and the Merchants of Montreal who are also greatly concerned. 2. The second point was to publicise the request more widely, which appears to suggest lack of unanimity, and a misunderstanding of the numbers as alluded to above. The valuable cargoes will be greatly threatened, leading to losses not only to the Merchants and owners but also the honour of the British Government. There are other cargoes which could be delayed but the wheat and flour cannot.

Folio 356-357: enclosure with folios 348-349. Ross Donnelly, HMS Maidstone, Quebec, to Lymburnem Crawford et al, 26 July 1800. Has received the letter of 24 July. Has asked for further details as he will need to explain to the Navy Board the reason for departing from his orders. As they have explained that they represent the general shipping interests of Quebec and Montreal, he has no objection to them making the business as public as possible by advertisement or otherwise, to avoid any accusation of incomplete consultation. It will be vital for Captain Donnelly to receive a list of the vessels due to sail in the next convoy due on 2 September, and also the"small exceptions" so he may know the number of vessels that might be left behind if he sails earlier.

Folios 358-359: enclosure with folios 348-349. Kay Smithal, James McGill and 10 named merchants, Montreal, to Ross Donnelly, HMS Maidstone, Quebec, 24 July 1800. They have learnt from their friends in Quebec who are engaged in shipping large quantities of wheat, flour, potash and lumber, and other produce of that province, that the convoy for Great Britain of whichever vessels are ready to sail will not take place until 1 September. They insist that unless the date is moved to 15 August at the latest they will suffer similar losses to their Quebec colleagues, and ultimately the subjects of Great Britain and Ireland may well feel the effects of delaying the wheat and flour. These have been collected under the encouragement of an Act of Parliament in order to be shipped with minimal delay. They cannot guarantee how many vessels will be ready to sail on 15 August, but they believe that more than 90,000 bushels of wheat and 3,000 barrels of flour will be ready for that date, together with potash, lumber, and other articles with a value of £70,000. The difference in insurance between convoy or no convoy would be £3,000. In addition, there is a risk of keeping the wheat and flour on board, as it may be a total loss if damaged by the heat. Furthermore, even if the cargo arrives in good condition, the merchants would in all probability be deprived of the bounty offered by Government, which has encouraged high prices in Canada so that they can meet the needs of the subjects of Great Britain and Ireland. Because of this, they will be forced to dispatch their vessels by 15 August, with or without a convoy, and incur additional insurance costs besides the risk of falling into enemy hands. Therefore, they ask for the change in date, which will benefit all concerned.

Folios 360-361: enclosure with folios 348-349. Ross Donnelly, HMS Maidstone, Quebec, to James McGill and co, 29 July 1800. In line with the wishes of the merchants of Quebec and Montreal, the convoy will sail on 15 August.

Folios 362-363: enclosure with folios 348-349. list of ships preparing for the first convoy, Quebec, 28 July 1800. List of ships by merchant, with intended cargo and date it will be ready.

Folios 363-364: enclosure with folios 348-349. Ross Donnelly, HMS Maidstone, Quebec, to John Moore, 29 July 1800. Informs him that HMS Maidstone will be ready to sail with the convoy on 15 August, as requested, and he will notify the Custom House accordingly.

Cap D166

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