Folios 77-78: Graham Eden Hamond, HMS Victorious, Downs. He writes about a boy, Richard...

Folios 77-78: Graham Eden Hamond, HMS Victorious, Downs. He writes about a boy, Richard Cherry, now Borne who is on the books of HMS Victorious. He was apprenticed to his father at £2 a week. He has been run over by a cart and injured. He then ran away from his master to The Marine Society who sent him to HMS Victorious.

Folios 79-80: enclosure to folios 77-78. Letter from Elizabeth Cherry of 10 Turville Street, Bethnal Green, London to Mr W Pole of the Admiralty. She writes that her husband is in a poor state of health and is presently in St Thomas's Hospital. He is not expected to live. She has 6 children. Her son Richard Cherry was apprenticed to his father in the hope by this means he would both learn a trade and support his family. He has however, run away and is on board HMS Victorious. He is not only an indentured apprentice but he is not fit to go to sea as he had is ribs broken in an accident two years ago and can no longer do heavy work. She has asked Captain Hamond to discharge him, but as he cannot do that on his own initiative he has referred her to Mr Pole, she now asks the Admiralty to order her son's discharge. On the reverse of the letter are the signatures of various individuals from Bethnal Green attesting to the veracity of Mrs Cherry's account and to her good character