Folios 403-404: John Watts, HMS Osprey, Sierra Leone River. Encloses papers referring...

Folios 403-404: John Watts, HMS Osprey, Sierra Leone River.

Encloses papers referring to 9 deserters from the Mercury which was lying in the river Pongo. He believes that John Whitehead [?Wilstead] is in fact John Crawley of HMS Hermione. He has sent the prisoners to Lieutenant John Sherriff on the transport Asia with orders to transfer them to a flagship as soon as possible. Describes the capture of the deserters.

Folios 405-406: enclosed with folios 403-404. John Sellers, Master of the Mercury from Liverpool lying in the Rio Pongo, requests assistance from the Navy in capturing 9 deserters.

Folio 407: enclosed with folios 403-404. Richard Bright JP, Sierra Leone, 19 December 1800, reports a deposition by Henry Skinner Master of the American Brig Sophia. Skinner states that while ashore he received a note from Philip Sloan, first mate of the Sophia, relating how men from the Mercury, Master John Sellars, had escaped whilst pretending to be in need of water.

Folios 408-409: enclosed with folios 403-404. Richard Bright JP, reports a deposition by Philip Sloane, first mate of the Sophia, reports that on 29 November 1800 he saw 9 men in a boat coming down the River Pongo and that they claimed to be from the Mercury. He relates how they escaped while pretending to be collecting an anchor.

Folios 410-411: enclosed with folios 403-404. Richard Bright JP at Freetown reports the deposition of Sergeant Thomas Barstoon of the Royal Marines on board HMS Osprey under Captain John Watts. On 13 December Barstoon heard James Wilstead, a prisoner on HMS Mercury and previously Boatswain of the Mercury, making statements about what had happened.

Folio 412: enclosed with Folios 403-404. Richard Bright reports the deposition of Benjamin Curtis concerning these incidents.

Folios 413-418: enclosed with folios 403-404. Deposition from William Rankin, providing a very detailed account of the prisoners. Many seamen are mentioned by name during cross examination..