Folios 219-220: Pitt Burnaby Greene, HMS Bonne Citoyenne, Rio de Janeiro. He reports...

Folios 219-220: Pitt Burnaby Greene, HMS Bonne Citoyenne, Rio de Janeiro. He reports an incident that has occurred involving 3 young boys who presented themselves on his ship, when he was ashore whilst in Pernambuco. They boys asked for protection as they were being starved and maltreated by the masters of the two trading vessels on which they were serving as apprentices. The vessels concerned were The Liberty where two of the boys were apprentices, William Cartwright and Peter Small. The third boy Thomas Quay was on board the other trade vessel The Favourite. Captain Greene instituted enquiries both among members of the crew of those vessels and their masters, whom he called upon, and what he discovered confirmed the boys' accounts. The Master of the Favourite admitted he only had a Mate and the boy on board and furthermore said he was certain if he had the boy back he would run again. Captain Greene also remarks on the hostility of merchant seaman to the Royal Navy. He secured copies of their Indentures. He then sought the advice of the British consul in Pernambuco, Mr John Lempriere as to the legality of the Indentures. Captain Greene being anxious to ensure he did nothing that was improper or illegal if he offered protection to the boys. Mr Lempriere examined the documents and pronounced them legally defective in a number of ways. Accordingly, he and Captain Green considered them nul and void and of no effect. On this basis Captain Greene has taken the three boys on board, especially as they vounteered themselves and it is the duty of the navy to protect those in the Merchant Service who seek it. Furthermore, given that the Indentures are defective they have no legal force and finally, the practice of issuing defective Indentures is a common practice for protecting holders from the impress and is designed to prejudice the Navy and should not be tolerated.

Folios 221-222: Enclosure to folios 219-220: An indenture dated 3 January 1811 between Thomas Quay with the consent of his father John Quay a blacksmith, both of Liverpool and Jonathon Ratcliffe, merchant also of Liverpool.

Folios 223-224: Enclosure to folios 219-220: A copy of a report from John Lempriere, Consul. Signed and sealed under his Office at Pernambuco on 16 January 1812. The document certifies to the fact that he has been asked by Captain Pitt Burnaby Green of HMS Bonne Citoyenne to scrutinise the Indentures of William Cartright and Peter Small which were agreed with Thomas Hawkes and George Cartwright Hawkes together with the Indenture of Thomas Quay made with Thomas Ratcliffe. It is his opinion that according to the Act of Queen Anne these documents are legally defective in a number of important ways. He comments that two of the two boys had broken down in tears and sworn they would not return to their ship The Liberty and have asked to remain of HMS Bonne Citoyenne to which they had appealed for protection and which they had boarded voluntarily. Attached are certifications that the account in the document is a true copy of the certifications he has made on the cases after carefull enquiry.

Folios 225-226: Enclosure to folios 219-220: An Indenture dated 7 May 1811 between William Cartwright son of Betty Cartwright and Thomas Hawkes and George Wright Hawkes, Merchants. All of the county of Lancaster.