Folios 195-198: Rodham Home, HMS Africa, off the Start. He has arrived from Jamaica...

Folios 195-198: Rodham Home, HMS Africa, off the Start. He has arrived from Jamaica with the convoy under his charge. Prior to his sailing from Port Royal, Admiral Parker sent HMS Raisonable to strengthen the convoy through the Gulf of Florida. They anchored at Blue Fields. As well as the West India merchant ships, the convoy included the armed transport HMS Dover, 2 transports with Maroons from Jamaica bound for Halifax and other transports under the command of Lieutenant Conran Agent, carrying invalids from the army and the navy. They found that 5 vessels were missing having parted off Havana when they did not tack as signalled. HMS Raisonable parted as ordered by Admiral Parker at 30°N to join him at Cape Nicola Mole. He has removed Men from the merchant ships who had run from the navy and replaced them with his Men, securing 200 Men. Some Masters were reluctant to cooperate, having badly treated these Men. He escorted the Dover transport and the Maroons up the American coast to 35°N where they parted to head for Halifax to await instruction regarding the Maroons. The Thomas transport with the 16th Regiment on board, he sent to Portsmouth and the transports carrying invalids came with him to the Downs. He has brought home HMS Scorpion which was not included in Admiral Parker's orders. She had been sent from St Domingo for survey at the yard but was found to be unfit to last another season in the West Indies. Captain Gardner of HMS Iphigenia had written to him that his ship was taking in so much water that she could not go to England. He hopes his conduct is approved of. He is sending a list of all ships in the convoy and the names of his Men (not present) so that the Regulating Officer may prevent them straggling and return them to their own ship where he has an entire ship's company of disposable Men. The bottom of HMS Africa was damaged in Bermuda and at Chessapake last year and he asks for it to be examined and repaired. He is sending Admiral Parker's orders, the state and condition of the ships (not present), a list of the convoy vessels (not present) , a list of ships on which HMS Africa has sent Men (not present) and their destinations. There are no contagious diseases on board any of the ships.

Folios 199-201: enclosure with folios 195-198 dated 1 May 1796 from William Parker, Rear Admiral of the Red, Commander in Chief Jamiaica and St Domingo to Rodham Home, HMS Africa, signed by William Goddard. Orders for HMS Africa and HMS Iphigenia to escort a convoy of merchant ships from Port Royal, Negril and the Northside of Jamaica to England, including instructions on providing signals to the merchant ships. He is instructed to demand a list of crew members of merchant ships, as the sums of money available to attract sailors to enlist in merchant ships for the run to England has encouraged men to desert from HM ships, to remove any deserters from these vessels and lend them Men of equal quality for the voyage to England, which Men will be given tickets of leave and will be paid £3 per month by the merchant ships. These men will be delivered to the Regulating Captain nearest their port of arrival. Deserters who are discovered on the merchant ships are to be put onboard HMS Cormorant as prisoners to await further orders. HMS Cormorant and HMS Jamaica are to assist with the collection of ships from the Northside and escort them to Negril, then proceed to Port Royal for orders or cruise for the protection of the coast according to existing orders. On approaching England, he is to lead the convoy close to the track of cruisers so that Men may be obtained for the service from the merchant ships. HMS Iphigenian is to break off from the convoy and lead ships bound for the Bristol and St George's Channels, then proceed to Spithead, unless the enemy cruisers are in the vicinty, in which case ships are to be taken to Falmouth. He is to proceed along the English Channel with HMS Africa and ships bound for London and Eastern ports, to the Downs. Throughout the voyage he is to control the rate of sailing of the convoy to the slowest ship in order to keep them together. If any ship parts company with the convoy, this is to be reported so that they can be prosecuted.

Folio 203: enclosure with folios 195-198 dated 14 June to 27 August 1796. List of powder and shot used by HMS Africa in enforcing signals to each named ship of the convoy