Folios 427-428: Joshua Sydney Horton, Regulating Officer, Liverpool. Replying to...

Folios 427-428: Joshua Sydney Horton, Regulating Officer, Liverpool. Replying to the letter of 28 March. Robert Westray, born in Whitehaven, was pressed by Lieutenant Clarke on 12 March. He said he was the Mate of the Edward of Whitehaven, and was taken on shore, very drunk at 11 o'clock at night. William Ferguson, born in Greenock, was pressed by Lieutenant Baly on 13 March. He was taken on information that he had arrived in Liverpool in The Neptune. Francis Vaughan, alias Valn, was pressed by Lieutenant Evans on 12 January as an Able Seaman. When pressed he gave the name John Francis, and produced an affidavit sworn in Liverpool, witnessed by T Ludlow, that he was born in Malaga. T Ludlow denied any knowledge of him. He had no foreign Protection but before being sent from the Rendezvous he was claimed by the name of Francis Vaughan by his landlady. He admitted this was his real name, and that he was a native of Wales. Captain Horton believes that the name of Valn was an attempt to mislead the Board. He returns the enclosures.

Folios 429-430: enclosure with folios 427-428. Letter dated 25 March 1809 from Smith and Ledger, Liverpool, to The Admiralty. Writing on behalf of Robert Westray, Mate of the brig Edward of Whitehaven, pressed in Liverpool and now on board HMS Princess. He is a married man with children, and has always conducted himself well. The owners are anxious to retain his service. Request his discharge in exchange for a substitute. The vessel is about to sail for Newfoundland and will be greatly inconvenienced if he cannot go as Mate.

Folios 431-432: enclosure with folios 427-428. Petition to The Admiralty dated 26 March 1809 from William Ferguson c/o Alexander John Brown, 23 Grayson Street, Liverpool. The petitioner is a native of Greenock and arrived in Liverpool from Africa about 16 days ago in the Neptune. The ship was paid off on arrival and he was pressed from his lodgings on 13 March. He had no protection, and therefore has no complaint about the party who pressed him. He has a wife and 5 children and 2 aged parents to support. The owners of the Neptune have indicated that they would pay for 2 Landsmen substitutes for his discharge. Request an order accordingly.

Folios 433-434: enclosure with folios 427-428. Letter dated 22 March 1809 from Francis Vaughan [deleted and replaced with] Valn, on board HMS Salvadore, Plymouth. He was pressed in Liverpool and sent to Plymouth, but is a native of Malaga. He cannot speak English and had a lawful protection which has been kept from him by the Regulating Officer. He was promised a discharge on arrival in Plymouth but has had no news. Requests his discharge.