Folios 184-185: James Tillard, HMS Sabrina, Lisbon. Acknowledges receipt of Admiralty...

Folios 184-185: James Tillard, HMS Sabrina, Lisbon.

Acknowledges receipt of Admiralty letter dated 31 December 1811, asking for his comments on a petition from Robert Neel, or Neal, praying that proceedings against him for disobeying signals while he was master of the merchant vessel Alert, may be stopped. Tillard says that on 18 September 1811, he directed the signal to be given for the convoy to pass within hail so that a muster could be taken, to ascertain which were the 6 or 7 ships that were missing. The Alert remained some way off, despite a gun being fired twice to draw her attention to the signal. Eventually she headed toward the main body of ships, led on by Captain Hancock in the Mercury, rather than toward the Sabrina. Several more shots were fired by the Sabrina and the Fervent, falling close to the Alert, and yet her master ignored them. Tillard felt it necessary to withdraw the convoy instruction from the master, by telegraph signal. Says he has never had such trouble from a convoy before, such wilful disobedience. Considering Neel's expressed contrition and the punishment he has already suffered, Tillard says he leaves it to their Lordships to decide whether to withdraw the case. Admiralty note on rear says to let the proceedings be discontinued.