Folios 361-362: Home Riggs Popham, HMS Stirling Castle, Spithead. In response to...

Folios 361-362: Home Riggs Popham, HMS Stirling Castle, Spithead.

In response to their letter of 11 June, he includes for their Lordships' attention a copy of his letter to Rear Admiral Foote, which he hopes will persuade them that far from having any idea of giving up his ship after he had been ordered to go and fetch Russian troops, he had exerted himself to get her ready, even intending to sail with two condemned masts, one of them rotten to the spindle.

Folios 363-364: Enclosure with folios 361-362: Home Riggs Popham, HMS Stirling Castle, Spithead, 11 June 1814, to Rear Admiral [Edward James] Foote. Advises the Admiral that he rerceived his letter on the Hard at 12.00 and immediately took a wherry to set off. Encloses copies of his letters to the commissioner and Agent Victualler, to acquaint him with the state of the ship. The shipwrights had not finished their work but have been dismissed. As the mainmast is rotten to the spindle he hopes Foote will not be displeased if he fails to keep up with him when under press of sail, as he will be anxious to nurse the masts.

Folio 365: Enclosure with folios 361-362: Home Riggs Popham, HMS Stirling Castle, Spithead, 11 June 1814, to William Reeks. The purser not being aboard, nor expected till after dinner, Popham requests that Reeks supply 20 tierces of pork, 10 puncheons of rum, a proportion of sugar and flour for one thousand men for 14 days. He asks for a lighter of water immediately and an empty lighter to take away the empty casks. He says no time must be lost as the ship must sail the next morning.

Folio 366: Enclosure with folios 361-362: Home Riggs Popham, HMS Stirling Castle, Spithead, 11 June 1814, to Honourable George Grey. Reports he has been ordered to Cherbourg without a moment's delay, and though two masts are unfit for service, the tiller and wheel unshipped, and the gooseneck on shore with other iron work, yet he is determined to sail the following morning. Asks that the gooseneck be immediately sent off, with a new spindle and saucer for the wheel, and that the dockyard men may be allowed to work all night or until the tiller and wheel are fitted.