Folios 347-348: Joseph Pearce, Cheltenham. Acknowledges receipt of Mr Barrow's letter...

Folios 347-348: Joseph Pearce, Cheltenham.

Acknowledges receipt of Mr Barrow's letter of 5 October, asking him to send a list of the Master's Mates, Midshipmen and Volunteers who were serving aboard HMS Rifleman when under his command, and that he state why this was not done before, according to their Lordships' circular of 29 April 1814. He says in fact he did make the list and delivered it to Admiral Griffiths at Halifax in August 1814, as the admiral had directed. He encloses a new list compiled from memory as he does not have his Letter Book with him, but says the dates and characters of the young men given are accurate. He also wishes to draw their Lordships' attention to Mr Gerard, who has spent his whole service with Pearce, and hopes they will grant him the promotion he deserves - he has lately been discharged from the Prince at Portsmouth and is out of the service.

Folio 348A: enclosure with folios 347-348. List of Masters' Mates, Midshipmen and Volunteers serving aboard HMS Rifleman in August 1814. William Gerard, Master's mate aged 21, since March 1808, also served with Pearce in the Vulture and then the Royal Oak, and is highly deserving of promotion; John Dibbley, Midshipman aged 21, served with Pearce in the Vulture, Hope, and Rifleman since August 1808, but he cannot commend him; William D. Headley, Midshipman aged 17, served in the Rifleman from September 1810 and since then in the Royal Oak, and is 'very promising'; Henry Hope Johnstone, Volunteer aged 16, served in the Rifleman from June 1811 and since then in the Royal Oak and is also very promising.