Folios 293-294: John Gore, Winchester. Response to their Lordships' letter of 11...

Folios 293-294: John Gore, Winchester.

Response to their Lordships' letter of 11 December, saying they perhaps thought he was referring to the ship's standing rigging when he wrote before. In fact it is the running rigging that was made of remanufactured rope, not of good quality and has been in use 7 months and is not fit for sea. Aware that the Medusa might need to go to sea at short notice he therefore thought it his duty to ask for the rigging to be inspected while she remained at anchor. Having received the Admiralty instructions he says the only man aboard the ship with any idea of caulking is a Dutchman, but his knowledge is so very little that he would do the ship an injury. He applied to Commodore Sutton in the Downs about having her caulked and while the caulkers were at work on the Nemesis he attended to see how the work was done, but was so little satisfied by it that he mentioned his objections to the Commodore who fully agreed that it would be doing the Medusa a very material injury as a new ship, in want of a thorough caulking, to have it performed by a set of inexpert men and in such unfavourable weather. He therefore withdraws his application until a more favourable time, though not wishing to delay. Admiralty note says instruction for caulking at Spithead has been made.