Folios 134-135: James Nash, Regulating Captain, Leith Rendezvous. Reports he does...

Folios 134-135: James Nash, Regulating Captain, Leith Rendezvous. Reports he does not think Lieutenant McDougall's plan for raising men is likely to be very successful, but he is willing to give it a try by suggesting the Lieutenant board one of the Custom House cutters in the River Clyde. Encloses a copy of a resolultion passed by the magistrates and gentlemen of Dysart and Kirkaldy offering a bounty to men who come forward. Lieutenant John Gourly tells him that the county of Fyffe [Fife] is about to pass a similar resolution. Also encloses a letter from a Magistrate about the impressment of fishermen, together with his reply.

Folio 136: enclosed with folios 134-135. Copy of a resolution dated 21 May 1803 and passed by "The Magistrates and respectable inhabitants of Dysart", offering a bounty for seamen who volunteer for the Navy.

Folios 137-138: enclosed with folios 134-135. Letter dated 11 May 1803 from George Robertson, Justice of the Peace, Benholme near Bervie [?], to the Regulating Officer of the Impress Service, Leith. Reports that Andrew Grove was impressed the previous day by HMS Clyde out of a fishing boat of which Andrew Simpson is Master. Seeks his discharge.

Folios 139-140: enclosed with folios 134-135. Copy of a letter dated 13 May 1803 from Regulating Captain James Nash, Leith, to George Robertson Scott, Justice of the Peace. Acklowledges his letter about the impressment of fishermen by HMS Clyde and reports he thinks many fishermen are hiding to avoid impressment, and he is getting no cooperation from the Gentlemen of the county in finding them. Unless he gets more cooperation, he will not interfere with his press gangs taking any fisherman they can find.

Topics

Public disorder

Navy

Fishing

Armed Forces (General Administration)