Folios 617-618: Robert Hall, HMS Malabar, Yarmouth Roads. In reply to Rear Admiral...

Folios 617-618: Robert Hall, HMS Malabar, Yarmouth Roads. In reply to Rear Admiral Rowley, he states that Christopher Preswick was drafted from HMS Zealand as a volunteer Ordinary Seaman. It is impossible that he is under 18 years of age with which statement the first Lieutenant and Purser agree. He was taken out of a merchant ship at Gravesend but he says he was only visiting a friend. He stated he had only been a short time at sea but Captain Bell of HMS Zealand would not have rated him Ordinary if he were a Landsman. He was allocated to the foretop where he proved not to be deficient.

Folio 619: enclosure with folios 617-618 dated 27 April 1805. Petition of George Wilkinson, Merchant, of Stepney Causeway, in the parish of Stepney, Middlesex. On 10 April he applied for the discharge of Christopher Prestwick, who was on board HMS El Corso and now onboard HMS Malabar, but it was refused as it was believed that he was over 18 years of age and had volunteered. He encloses an affadvait as to age and a letter from Christopher Prestwick.

Folio 620: enclosure with folios 617-618 dated 10 April 1805 copy affidavit of George Wilkinson, Merchant of Stepney Caussway, in the parish of St Dunstan's, Stepney, Middlesex, sworn before Richard Williams, Justice of the Peace for Tower Hamlets. He swears that Christopher Preswick, his nephew and Apprentice, was impressed when going on board the Eurydice, Captain Crompton commanding, recently arrived from Surinam. He states that he is under 18 years of age having been born in October 1787.

Folios 621-622: enclosure with folios 617-618 dated 24 April 1805 from Christopher Preswick, on board HMS Malabar at the Nore, to George Wilkinson, 2 Stepney Causeway, Stepney, London. He is writing again as he has not had a reply. He is onboard HMS Malabar which is going to Yarmouth. The Captain wants him to enter but he has refused.

Folio 623: enclosure with folios 617-618 dated 27 April 1805 Affidavit of Miriam Clarkson, Shop Seller, 20 Wapping Wall, in the parish of Shadwell, Middlesex, sworn before J.Mellor, Justice of the Peace, Tower Hamlets. She states that Christopher Preswick is her nephew and was born in Whitby Yorkshire, and will be 18 years of age in October 1805. He is an apprentice to George Wilkinson, Merchant, of Stepney Causeway.