Folios 453-454: William McGuire, commanding gunboats, Waterford, Ireland. Enclosing...

Folios 453-454: William McGuire, commanding gunboats, Waterford, Ireland.

Enclosing letter from Lieutenant Augustus Markett, Senior Officer of the gunboats statined in the river Shannon.

Folios 455-456: Enclosure with folios 453-454: Lieutenant Augustus Markett, Camden, Kilrush, 9 January 1801, to William McGuire, commanding gun boats on the coast of Ireland.

Reports that on the 3rd January a large Dutch-built ship under Prussian colours anchored in Caragaholt Bay. He sent Lt John Alexander, commander of HM Gunboat Kingsmill, with the Duff and Shannon gunboats, to bring her up to Scattery Island for examination. There was then a violent gale, and the ship's cables had to be cut. She was then run ashore and will wait till the spring tides when she will be floated by taking out part of the cargo. Markett went to examine her when weather allowed, and her papers appeared to be Prussian, but from testimony of some aboard, and from papers such as bills of lading found in a ball of yarn aboard ship, Markett believes her to be Dutch. Has therefore seized the cargo and will await the decision of the High Court, and has signified the same to her commander, Captain Murk. Adds that some of her officers are also Dutch, and she was bound to China and Batavia from Embden.