Folios 439-440: Joshua Sydney Horton, Regulating Officer, Liverpool. Responding to...

Folios 439-440: Joshua Sydney Horton, Regulating Officer, Liverpool. Responding to the letter of 1 April. Richard Williams, born in Wales, was pressed by Lieutenant Evans on 28 March as an Able Seaman. He said he had been Master of a flat which was lost about 4 months ago. He was then out of a job and seeking work. The enclosed register was produced to claim him as Master of the Neptune, but it appears the name was added on the day after he was pressed. Richards has admitted that he knew of no plan or intention to appoint him as Master. John Gardner, born in Worcester, entered with Lieutenant Evans on 21 March as a Landsman Volunteer, substitute for Robert Jones. He declared he was not an apprentice. Michael Foley, born in Ireland, was pressed by Lieutenant Clarke on 25 March. He said he was Master of the Belinda, and was taken on shore at 9.30 at night. Hermann Selchius, born in Gothenberg, was brought from the Exchange to Lieutenant Clarke's Rendezvous on 25 March having been charged with defrauding the owners of the vessel. He was given up to the service by the Master of the ship. John Howland, said to be an American, was ordered to be discharged if matching the description on the enclosed document, [not present] as per the letter of 29 March. Captain Colquitt has reported that he was sent on board HMS Pheasant to Plymouth on 26 March as a Volunteer, at his own request. He returns the enclosures.

Folios 441-442: enclosure with folios 439-440. Letter dated 30 March 1809 from John and Robert Gladstone, Liverpool, to The Admiralty. Michael Foley, Mate of the Belinda of St Johns, Newfoundland, has recently arrived from there and has been pressed. He is alleged to have ben absent from his ship at a later hour than is allowed in the regulations for the port of Liverpool. As Mr Foley has only recently arrived he was ignorant of the regulation. As Mr Foley has an aged mother and several sisters dependent on him, and there has always been particular favour shown to ships employed in the Newfoundland trade and fishing, request his discharge.

Folio 443-444: enclosure with folios 439-440. Letter dated 30 March 1809 from John Williams, c/o George Robinson, White Lion, Dale Street, Liverpool to The Admiralty. Asks that the enclosed papers are taken into consideration in the case of John Gardner, an apprentice now on board HMS Princess, having entered as a substitute for Robert Jones, and having received £12 while a legal apprentice. Edmond Bennett, glove manufacturer, of Worcester, requires the service of his apprentice and requests his discharge.

Folio 445: enclosure with folios 443-444. Statement by Thomas Garden, Justice of the Peace, City of Worcester. Confirms that Edmond Barrett, of the Parish of St Nicholas, Worcester, swore before him on 13 March 1809 that he is a glove manufacturer and that John Gardner is bound as an apprentice to him by an indenture dated 1 February 1803, for a period of 7 years.

Folio 446: enclosure with folios 443-444. Statement by Edmond Barrett, Parish of St Nicholas, Worcester, sworn before Thomas Garden on 13 March 1809 that he is a glove manufacturer and that John Gardner is bound as an apprentice for a period of 7 years from 1 February 1803. he absconded on 12 March 1809.

Folios 447-448: enclosure with folios 438-439. Letter dated 30 March 1809 from Richard Gregson, 1 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool, to The Admiralty. Relates that on 28 March he gave the enclosed register [not present] to Mr Grey, the person appointed by the Collector of Customs at Liverpool, and asked him to endorse the name of Richard Williams on the register as the person appointed as master of the Neptune. The man was pressed that evening. The petitioner is the owner of the vessel and the loss of Richard Williams will be to the great detriment of the owner. Requests an order for his release. The man had the misfortune to lose the vessel of which he was Master about 2 months ago in a violent storm. he has not been at sea since then. He is a poor man with a family.