Folios 237-238: William Charleton, Regulating Captain, North Shields. Response to...

Folios 237-238: William Charleton, Regulating Captain, North Shields. Response to a request to state the case of Francis Watkins and whether when he was impressed on 5 January 1804 he was a bona fide Chief Mate of the ship Hebe. He encloses an affidavit from Ralph Haine stating that he holds this position however, until he received this he was not of this opinion as he had not signed the Ship's Articles.

Folios 239-240: enclosure with folios 237-238. Letter dated 12 July 1804 by A Alderson, 5 Winchester Street, Broad Street. Request for the discharge of Francis Watkins, late Mate of the ship Hebe. As the Master's affidavit which was returned, was not considered a sufficient document for his discharge, enclosed are two additional affidavits by two gentleman from the ship.

Folio 241: enclosure with folios 237-238. Letter dated 9 February 1804 by Ralph Horne, South Shields, Durham, . Affidavit stating he is Master of the ship Hebe, employed in the coal trade and based at Whitby and confirms that Francis Watkins was appointed Chief Mate on the ship until he was impressed on 5 January 1804.

Folio 242: enclosure with folios 237-238.Thomas Fishburn and Thomas Brodrick, Whitby, 7 July 1804. Affidavit signed by the owners of the ship Hebe stating Ralph Horne, Master of the ship, appointed Francis Watkins, Chief Mate from 11 April 1803. He was impressed on board ship on or about 5 January 1804 and is now detained on board His Majesty's ship of War. Confirms that Francis was the actual and only Chief Mate.

Folios 243-244: enclosure with folios 237-238. Letter dated 15 June 1804 by William Charleton, Regulating Captain, North Shield. Reports Francis Watkins, impressed at Shields on 5 January 1803 as initially detained as not having signed Articles as Mate on the ship Hebe. However he points out the mistake of the Admiralty in stating that he had reported the man as a volunteer, which arose as a result of a difference of names, being recorded on his records as Francis Walker.