Folios 309-310: James Nash, Regulating Captain, Leith Rendezvous. Reports that the...

Folios 309-310: James Nash, Regulating Captain, Leith Rendezvous. Reports that the enclosed insolent and threatening letter [not present] is from James Hay, formerly a Midshipman in one of his gangs. He and another man, Moneypenny, were dismissed from the Impress Service for extorting money from a man at South Queens Ferry. Hay was sent to the Nore, but Captain Nash was later informed that he was walking the quarterdeck of HMS Zealand, and so he wrote to Captain William Mitchell to explain the circumstances of his dismissal. Also encloses letters from Lieutenants William Malone and John Hadaway to explain the background. He had despatched Hay to Haddington in the cutter to bring back some volunteers from the militia, but the Midshipman returned by land, leaving the boat to be towed back back to Leith Roads.

Folios 311-312: enclosed with folios 309-310. Letter dated 16 November 1803 from Lieutenant John Hadaway, the Impress Service, Leith Rendezvous, to Regulating Captain James Nash. Reports he has examined the letter from James Hay on HMS Zealand and rejects the claims he makes in regard to his journeys to Dunbar and Haddington and his claim for travelling charges. The claim regarding his pay relates to money repaid to a supernumerary aboard HMS Gorgon.

Folios 313-314: enclosed with folios 309-310. Letter dated 28 November from Lieutenant William Malone, the Impress Service, Edinburgh Rendezvous, to Regulating Captain James Nash. Reports that he has read the letter from James Hay and rejects the claims made while Hay was under his command at South Queens Ferry. He also has testimony from two men in the press gang that Hay extorted 10 shillings from a shepherd at Cramond Bridge as a bribe to escape the press.

Topics

Public disorder

Army

Navy

Armed Forces (General Administration)