Folio 11: Thomas Manby, HMS Africaine, Downs. Stating the circumstances of Edward...

Folio 11: Thomas Manby, HMS Africaine, Downs. Stating the circumstances of Edward Donkin, Peter Limen, and John Smith, who were taken aboard his ship on 16 March last, at the Nore. When they were impressed he says they had no papers to prove they were mates, nor do their age or abilities entitle them to this rank, and nor was there any distress in the vessels as plenty of men were left in each to fulfil every purpose of navigation - also an admiral was in sight, to whom they were told they could make any complaint. He feels justified in keeping them in order to maintain the Africaine.

Folio 12: attached to folio 11. Statement 23 March 1803, from the owners of two trading vessels, saying that on the 16 March, the William & George and the John Hannah, loaded with perishable foods, were on route from Woodbridge to this port when they were boarded near the Nore by a crew from L'Africaine who impressed the mates of both vessels though they were both short-handed. They ignored protections granted by the magistrate at Woodbridge, and left both ships in a very perilous situation in bad weather, so with difficulty they managed to get to this port. The delays will prove costly and the impressment sets a bad example given the importance of the coastal trade. Asks that their Lordships will give orders for the two mates to be released immediately. Signed by Stanard Ryland, Wm Prest & Co., Browne, Byles & Browne, Danver [?] & Williams, Rovill[?], Reeves.

Folios 13-14: enclosure with folio 11. Sworn statement dated 22 March 1803 from Woodness Davison of Sunderland, master of the Defiance, employed in the coal trade, to say that as his ship was passing the Nore on 16 March, an officer from the Africaine boarded them and impressed the chief mate, Edward Donkin. On folio 14 [attached] Woodness Davison's petition giving the same details of impressment and requesting to be discharged.

Folio 15: blank.