Folios 252-253: Sir Home Riggs Popham, HMS Stirling Castle, St Helena. Updating the...

Folios 252-253: Sir Home Riggs Popham, HMS Stirling Castle, St Helena.

Updating the Admiralty on his progress and orders: Sir Samuel Hood gave him orders on the 7th September to proceed to England from Saugor Roads once the Company's treasure was embarked but to call first at Trincomalee for his dispatches. At Trincomalee he was told that Hood had originally intended the Leda to take the convoy to England but that she had passed on to Bombay so he must detain the Stirling Castle for that purpose and they should accompany him to Point de Galle. There, Hood gave him charge of the convoy, with the Metcalfe, Baring, Fairlie, General Stuart, Ocean, Heddant, Devaynes, Sir Godfrey Webster, and the transport Albinia, also the David Scott and the Sibbald, which were hourly expected from Bombay, plus the Cornwallis. However, he was subsequently instructed to go to the Cape for wine and refreshments, and to take in six weeks' wine for the Cornwallis, then back to St Helena to join the convoy and proceed to England. He was given verbal permission to sail without loss of time provided any Man of War should be at St Helena to join the Cornwallis, using his own discretion about the state of the enemy etc. He believes the convoy will arrive at St Helena within the following week, and will assist them to complete their water as fast as possible to proceed to England. The letter comes via HMS Hussar.