Folios 151-152: James McDowall, HMS Ornen & Regulating Officer. Reports that it has...

Folios 151-152: James McDowall, HMS Ornen & Regulating Officer. Reports that it has become almost impossible to carry on the Impress service in Greenock. Recounts an incident on 23 January [1815] when Lieutenant Ecken had impressed 3 men, only for them to be rescued by Mr Robertson, his servants, and several other gentlemen when they shouted out as they passed Robertson's house. The same evening Lieutenant Eckert was waylaid by a mob who would have murdered him had he not made his escape into the White Heart [sic] Inn. There are only about 25 soldiers in the town which is at times completely in the possession of the mob.He felt it his duty to ask Lieutenant Ecken and his men to make a declaration before Mr H Crawford and Son, the Law Agents, respecting the rescue of the 3 seamen. He is sending this as well as a copy of his letter to the Chief Magistrate together with his answer which he feels is lame and evasive. He has had several verbal conversations with the Greenock Magistrates respecting their support of the Impress Service, without success. He also encloses Lieutenant Ecken's letter to him dated 24 January [1815], together with another asking him to solicit the Board to supercede him from the Impress Service. He also encloses a letter from W.H.Crawford and Son.

Folios 153-154: enclosure with folios 151-152. Copy of letter dated 27 January 1815 from James McDowall, HMS Ornen & Regulating Officer to the Board concerning the problems facing the Impress Service in Greenock.

Folios 155-158: enclosure with folios 151-152. Signed declaration dated 24 January 1815, Greenock, of Lieutenant Mark Ecken of the Impress Service regarding the incident on 23 January [1815], which includes the testimonies of his colleagues John Docharty, Midshipman, Niel McGill, Hugh Cayale, Alexander Armstrong, James Kelly, and George Watson.

Folios 159-160: enclosure with folios 151-152.Copy of a letter to James McDowall, Commander HMS Ornen and Regulating Officer Greenock from Lieutenant Mark Ecken, Impress Service, regarding the incident on the night of 23 January 1815 when 3 men were impressed but rescued by George Robertson Junior and his servants and other gentlemen as the Impress party passed his house.Later Ecken was attacked by a mob and if he had not taken refuge in the White Hart Tavern, would probably have lost his life. It is impossible for any Officer to do his duty on this Service without the assistance of the police, which the Magistrates do not seem inclined to give. Asks for McDowall to take effectual means to put a stop to these outrages without which the Impress Service cannot be carried on, on shore.

Folios 161-162: enclosure with folios 151-152. Copy of letter dated 13 February 1815 from the Admiralty Office, signed by John Barrons, to Mr Bicknell. Having laid before the Board the letter dated 27 January from Captain McDowall at Greenock concerning a violent assault on Lieutenant Ecken and the rescue of 3 seamen, he is commanded to transmit the said letter together with several papers on the subject. The Board direct him to take the opinion of the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General of Scotland as to what measures it may be proper to adopt in this case.

Folios 163-164: enclosure with folios 151-152. Letter from Alan Ker, Chief Magistrate, Greenock, to Captain McDowall dated 26 January 1815. He is not aware of the formation of any mob. Magistrates are disposed to afford every protection which is necessary in order for him to discharge the duty with which he is interested.

Folios 165-166: enclosure with folios 151-152. Copy of letter dated 25 January 1815 from Lieutenant Mark Ecken, Greenock Rendezvous, to J.W.Croker asking for the Board to appoint someone to replace him at Greenock as the population of the town has repeatedly threatened to murder him if he goes out at night. His eyesight is bad so he cannot be as much on his guard as he would otherwise be, and as the Impress Service requires.

Folios 167-168: enclosure with folios 151-152. Copy of letter from Hugh Crawford and Son, Law Agents, dated 26 January 1815, Greenock, to Captain McDowall. After Lieutenant Ecken's visit at his command, they wrote down his declaration and those of the other members of the Press Gang, and send them. They have been trying to discover who maltreated him that evening without success and if they don't discover anything within a few days, suggest a Reward is offered, and the Sheriff is acquainted with the outrage.

Folios 169-170: enclosure with folios 151-152. Copy of a letter from Alan Her, Chief Magistrate, dated 26 January 1815, Greenock, to Captain McDowall. Has received his letter and has been trying to enquire into the truth of the complaint Lieutenant Aitken [Ecken] has made without being able to find any real foundation. Knows of no mob, nor of the Lieutenant asking for assistance from the Peace [sic] officers. He needs to know more, and thinks a complaint to the Admiralty Board would be premature.

Folios 171-172: enclosure with folios 151-152. Copy of letter from James McDowall, Commander HMS Ornen and Regulating Officer, dated 24 January 1815, to Alan Ther, Chief Magistrate, Greenock, concerning the near murder of Lieutenant Ecken of the Impress Service on the preceding evening. Trusts measures will be taken to prevent a similar outrage in future.

Folios 173-180: enclosure with folios 151-152. Copy of the Declarations of Lieutenant Ecken and others respecting the rescue of 3 impressed men [made on] 24 January 1815 [to] H.Crawford and Son, Law Agents, Greenock.

Folios 181-182: enclosure with folios 151-152. Letter from Mark Ecken, Rendezvous Greenock, dated 25 January 1815, to Admiralty Board, requesting another Officer be appointed to the Impress Service at Greenock as he has received death threats, and his eyesight is poor.

Folios 183-184: enclosure with folios 151-152. Letter from Hugh Crawford and Son [Law Agents], Greenock dated 26 January 1815. Covering letter to Captain McDowall to accompany Lieutenant Ecken's declaration.

Folios 185-186: enclosure with folios 151-152. Copy of letter from James McDowall, Commander HMS Ornen, to Alan Her, Chief Magistrate, Greenock. As Lieutenant Ecken of the Impress Service was nearly murdered the previous evening, he trusts Her will take measures to prevent a similar outrage in future.

Folios 187-188: enclosure with folios 151-152. Letter from Lieutenant Mark Ecken, Impress Service [Greenock] to James McDowall, Commander HMS Ornen and Regulating Officer, Greenock, relates the happenings on 23 January [1815], and the fact that the police are not upholding his work. If they do not, then the Impress Service cannot carry on in Greenock.