Folios 192-193: Joshua Sydney Horton, Regulating Officer, Liverpool. Responding to...

Folios 192-193: Joshua Sydney Horton, Regulating Officer, Liverpool. Responding to the letter of 6 February. Hugh Murray, born in Ireland, was pressed by Lieutenant Evans on 8 February as an Able Seaman. This followed information that he came to Liverpool on the John of Liverpool from Newfoundland. Evan Hughes, from Wales, was pressed by Lieutenant Clarke on 31 January. He had been protected as a Rigger for some time and was taken after violence towards the press gang. John Jones, from Wales, was pressed by Lieutenant Evans on 1 February. This followed information that he arrived on the Diana from the West Indies. John Fry, born in Falmouth, was pressed by Lieutenant Evans on 1 February, This followed information that he arrived on the Diana from the West Indies. Joseph Emerson, born in Cumberland, was pressed by Lieutenant Evans on 3 February. He was taken after violence towards the press gang, having hidden 2 men by locking them in the State Room of the vessel, allowing them to escape from the press gang. James Welch, from Scotland, was pressed by Lieutenant Baly on 10 January. He said he came from Demerara as Mate of the William but had no documents as proof. William Walker, from the Isle of Bute, was pressed by Lieutenant Baly on 2 February. He said he was Mate of the Perseverance of Greenock. He was found hidden in a crimp house in Crosby Street. James Jones, from Liverpool, was pressed by Lieutenant Clarke on 10 December 1808 as an Ordinary Seaman. This followed information that he had been employed on boats in the river. His case was covered in the letter of 29 December and the Admiralty replied on 31 December ordering his discharge on receipt of a Landsman substitute. The extreme poverty and distress of his family have prevented them from procuring a substitute. The enclosed application from the Public Office is made on their behalf.

Folios 194-195: enclosure with folios 192-193. Letter dated 4 February 1809 by Eleanor Hughes, c/o Thomas Jones, Cambrian Coffee House, James Street, Liverpool, to The Admiralty. Her husband Evan Hughes is a Rigger and Sea Fencible, was pressed when drunk and sent on board HMS Princess. He is the only support for herself and her children, and his aged parents. Requests his discharge. He has been protected as a Rigger under Mr Alexander Sharpe for almost 5 years.

Folio 196: enclosure with folios 192-193. Letter dated 4 February 1809 by Elizabeth Jones, 29 Wetmoreland Street, Liverpool, to The Admiralty. Her husband John Jones has had 2 sea voyages and has been pressed and sent on board HMS Princess. Requests his discharge on providing 2 seamen as substitutes.

Folio 198: enclosure with folios 192-193. Letter dated 31 January 1809 by Hugh Murray, on board HMS Princess. Has had no response to his first letter, so writes again requesting his discharge on the grounds that his widowed mother and 5 young children have no means of support in his absence.

Folio 200: enclosure with folios 192-193. Letter dated 4 February 1809 by Ann Fry, 6 Westmoreland Street, Liverpool, to The Admiralty. Request for the discharge of her son, John Fry, who was pressed at Liverpool on 2 February and is on board HMS Princess. Sh is willing to find 2 seamen in his place.

Folios 202-203: enclosure with folios 192-193. Statement dated 4 February 1809 by Joseph Scott, sworn before Thomas Golightly, Justice of the Peace, Liverpool. He is Master of the Snow Britannia and arrived from Cork on 2 February. His Mate, Joseph Emerson, was on board preparing the cargo for unloading when he was pressed and taken to The Rendezvous. He has been mate since the date on the enclosed certificate [not present]. The cargo cannot be discharged without him, and the merchants have threatened court action if they do not receive their cargo. Requests the release of his Mate on the grounds that he was on board doing his duty and should therefore be protected. This statement is countersigned by Thomas Golightly, who certifies that the Master appeared before him in person and that there were documents certifying that Thomas Emerson was the Mate.

Folios 204: enclosure with folios 192-193. Letter dated 3 February 1809 by Margaret Welsh, c/o Jonathan Kennedy, 11 Pownill Street, Liverpool, to The Admiralty. Request for the discharge of her husband, James Welsh, who is the sole provider for herself and 5 infant children, on production of 2 able-bodied Landsmen as substitutes.

Folios 206: enclosure with folios 192-193. Letter dated 3 February 1809 by C Rowlinson, 6 Matthew Street, Liverpool, to The Admiralty. Request for the discharge of William Walker, whose protection is enclosed [not present], on production of 2 Landsmen or one Able Seaman as substitutes.

Folios 207: enclosure with folios 192-193. Letter dated 4 February 1809 by John Topham, Public Office, Liverpool, to The Admiralty. Encloses an affidavit on behalf of James Jones, who was pressed in Liverpool and is on board HMS Princess. The application is made on behalf of his wife and 2 children, who have no means of support. He has never been to sea and this application would have been made earlier, but his wife is in extreme poverty and distress and did not know how to make an application.

Folios 209-210: enclosure with folios 192-193. Affidavit dated 4 February 1809 of Margaret Kenwick, Joseph Hayes, John Turner, sworn before James Gerard, Mayor, Liverpool. Margaret Kenwick, wife of Richard Kenwick, Sawyer; Joseph Hayes, Cooper; and John Turner, Dockwatchmen, all of Liverpool all swear that they have known James Jones, who was pressed and is on board HMS Princess, for years. He was brought up in the trade of a Sawyer and was then appointed Dock Watchman at Liverpool. He has never been to sea. His wife and young children have been left destitute.