Folios 477-478: John Draper, HMS Porcupine, Spithead. Reports his arrival, encloses...

Folios 477-478: John Draper, HMS Porcupine, Spithead. Reports his arrival, encloses a duplicate of his letter of 8 December 1796 about the condition of his ship and reports that it was not until 14 December that they were able to heave the ship out, examine the larboard [port] side and find similar damage to that on the starboard. This was repaired and the ship was warped from Hog Island into Nassau Harbour to get ready for sea. The ship was fitted out, but a lack of cordage delayed making her ready for sea until 2 February 1797 when they were able to get supplies from HMS Swallow, HMS Esperance and HMS Spencer. The ship was then moved to Sandy Quay Sound where she anchored to take on guns, water and provisions. On 28 February Lord Dunmore and his party came aboard and the ship sailed the next day. On 17 February HMS Lark struck on Tonny's Lock inside Nassau Harbour, he encloses a letter from Lieutenant John Spriggs explaining the circumstances. As soon as he saw she was in danger, he sent a sailing vessel to assist her and then the boats of all the Navy ships in the harbour.

Folios 479-481: enclosure with folios 477-478. Letter from Lieutenant John Spriggs, HMS Lark, Providence Harbour to Captain John Draper, HMS Porcupine, dated 19 February 1797. Reports that on 17 February he anchored with the transports carrying troops he had escorted from Nicola Mole. The Southeast wind prevented him from going further up the harbour, so he anchored in three fathoms and the Pilot assured him the ship was secure when he left her to meet Captain Draper. Later the wind shifted and she began dragging her anchor. He put out an additional anchor, but this also began dragging and the ship struck a reef, turned broadside and began pounding. With the assistance of boats another anchor was put out, but he decided against jettisoning the guns or her water for fear the heavy seas would carry her further up the reef. After daylight he put a fresh anchor out to windward and attempted to pull the ship off the reef, she floated but then struck again and after some effort with another anchor, he was able to get her afloat. She was then in danger of colliding with one of the transports because he was unable to veer enough cable, but managed to stay afloat until the morning of 19 February when it was possible to warp the ship and the transports further up the harbour. The damage to his ship is such that she will have to be hove down before she can be made ready for sea. Thanks his crew for their effort to save the ship and HMS Swallow, the Charlotte armed brig and Captain Fowkes for their assistance.

Folios 481-482: enclosure with folios 477-478. Letter from Captain John Draper, HMS Porcupine, Hog Island, Nassau Harbour, to the Admiralty dated 8 December 1796. Reports that since his last letter they have erected careening wharfs and hove the ship down, to find that the damage was worse than expected. He ordered a Master Builder from Nassau, his own Carpenter and the Carpenter of HMS Narcissus to survey the bottom. Encloses [no longer present] a copy of their survey. Because he could not secure suitable timber to repair the ship, he was obliged to take out the Narcissus' Bowsprit, but found it too damaged to use. Eventually a vessel arrived from America with suitable timber. HMS Swallow has now sailed with a convoy. He had been told that all of the supplies he needed could be found at Nassau, but this has proved not to be true. He hopes to be able to complete the repair, but cannot say when. When the ship can put to sea, thinks he will be obliged to sail to a port in America in order to get sufficient provisions for the journey home. As it is, he has been forced to put the crew on two-thirds allowance be bread because of the scarcity in Nassau. Because of Governor [Sir John ?]Wentworth's proclamation and the orders from Sir Richard King, he has detained four Spanish ships, La Providence, La Saint Andrew, Nuestra Senora de Regla and La Sally.