Folios 298-299: James Nash, Regulating Captain, Leith Rendezvous. Reports he has...

Folios 298-299: James Nash, Regulating Captain, Leith Rendezvous. Reports he has nothing to add to his letter of 19 November about the Sea Fencibles, but notes that Captain John Cements of the Fencibles at Leith issues far fewer protections to fishermen than Captain William Shield at Harwich, and that the Harwich crews have not followed his policy of finding one man from each boat for the Navy. Lieutenant John Gourly has just returned from Orkney and Shetland with 72 men. Captain Nash hopes to shortly submit a complete register of all the fishermen and Ship's Carpenters on the coast of Scotland which the Lieutenant has been compiling. Encloses a letter from the Sheriff Substitute of the Orkneys.

Folios 300-301: enclosed with folios 298-299. Letter dated 15 November 1803 from Captain William Shield, the Sea Fencibles, Harwich, to the Admiralty. Having returned from Mutley, he is now able to enclose the names of the Harwich Sea Fencibles whom he reported in his letter of 13 November to have been impressed at Leith, and a letter concerning more men who have been impressed at the same place. Asks for their discharge.

Folio 302: enclosed with folios 300-301. List of 12 men from three Harwich fishing vessels, the Dove , Providence and True Heart, who were impressed at Leith by Lieutenant William Peake of HMS Escort on 9 November 1803.

Folios 303-304: enclosed with folios 300-301. Letter dated 10 November from Samuel Turner, owner of the fishing vessel True Heart, Leith, to John Hobdy, Harwich. Reports that crews have been impressed from both the True Heart and the Providence. He has applied to Admiral Bly [Vice Admiral Richard Rodney Bligh] for their discharge, but he will have to lay over at Burnt Island [?] as there is no chance of getting replacements. The pressed men are being sent to the Nore.

Folios 305-306: enclosed with folios 298-299. Letter dated 14 November 1803 from Robert Nicolson, Sheriff Substitute of Orkney, Kirkwall, to Regulating Captain James Nash, Leith. Acknowledges receipt of his letter enclosing one from Sir Evan Nepean which was delivered by Captain Graham and which he has forwarded them to the Gentemen of the County, who in reply say they hope to be able to raise even more men than was first proposed. Captain Graham will have to return, and to wait at Kirkwall while more men are collected from the outer islands.

Topics

Navy

Fishing

Armed Forces (General Administration)