Folios 159-160: Josiah Wittman, HMS La Suffisante at Plymouth. Advising that the...

Folios 159-160: Josiah Wittman, HMS La Suffisante at Plymouth.

Advising that the purser, Mr Thornton (who had exchanged ships with Mr Hall, on account of the latter's ill health as will be seen from their joint letter), has gone absent without leave. Wittman now finds from his officers that Thornton's standing is so bad that no one will offer surety for him or give him so much as a shilling's credit, that he cannot supply the ship with necessities - Wittman has accordingly, so that the service will not suffer, supplied the necessary items himself at his own expense, for the next three months. Thornton was promoted from a ship that Captain Grindal recently commanded, and on application to him, Grindal confirmed that Thornton was a 'worthless bad man', promoted unbeknownst to him, and indeed he and Captain Murray, late of the Colossus, had intended to write to their Lordships to prevent the promotion. Adds that since Thornton was made purser he has never been able to get him aboard to do his duty, even though some officers have seen the man in the streets, drunk, and 'with very improper company'. Ends by asking if they would please appoint someone else to the position.