Folios 230-231: Edward William Campbell Rich Owen, Deal. Confirms received Admiralty...

Folios 230-231: Edward William Campbell Rich Owen, Deal. Confirms received Admiralty Letter of 29 April enclosing Petition from Sylvester Falconer. States that for a short time prior to the evacuation of the Isle of Walcheren by our forces the father of Sylvester Falconer, who is Scottish but living at Camveere where he keeps a shop, asked that his son might be received on one of HM's ships in any situation which would "place him above the Boatswain's lash". Confirms he took him on on board the Clyde where he has remained since, as a writer and acting occasionally as an interpreter. Believe he entered the service to avoid French conscription which it was thought would happen when we gave up the island. His conduct was not what it ought to be and he was unable to put him forward for anything. About month ago applied for his discharge because he said his parents wanted his support - this was a pretext and discharge was refused. However, gave him offer of being discharged to Monmouth to be a Clerk but he preferred to stay where he was and promised by his future conduct would atone for the indiscretions which had been pointed out to him. A reason for not discharging him was that he was fully acquainted with the system for watching the enemy in the Scheldt and persons from whom information is obtained. He has not received any bounty. Returns enclosures (not with letter).