Folios 132-133: Wilson Rathborne, North Shields. Replying to Mr Barrow's letter of...

Folios 132-133: Wilson Rathborne, North Shields. Replying to Mr Barrow's letter of 24 January, with the excerpt from Captain Thomas Richbell's letter, he says he has made every effort to investigate 'the abuses' detailed but has not found any perpetrator. He is sure abuses do take place but thinks the extract magnifies them, as very few ships in the port of Sunderland carry a carpenter. Further, he believes that Lieutenant Liddle, at Sunderland, is a very zealous and efficient officer, who works hard to stop abuse and to raise men for the service - he has been very succesful in the latter even though the impress meets with more resistance there than at North Shields or Newcastle. Encloses a letter from Liddle.

Folios 134-135: enclosure with folios 132-133. Letter dated 27 January 1812 by Lieutenant John Liddle, assuring them he has done everything in his power to prevent corruption. He recently sent two midshipmen to the Nore and broke another for misconduct, and has discharged four men for the same thing since he has been in post. Goes on to give numbers of men he has raised for the service, far more per quarter than at any previous time - just this quarter he raised 16 men. Reminds them of the strong opposition in these parts - that the master of the Nimrod had offered Mr Swinney £5, then £10, to let the mate of that ship go free. He himself has twice had to bring people before the magistrates for insult to himself and the midshipmen. Adds that 'nothing will stop their impudence' until he manages to get some of them committed to the country jail.