Folios 321-322: Charles Wollaston, Swansea. Reports that with regard to the case...

Folios 321-322: Charles Wollaston, Swansea. Reports that with regard to the case of Arthur Sopwith, a Shipwright at Mersea Island, whom he assumed came under the description of a person liable to be impressed into service, pointed him out to Lieutenant Pettet of HMS Aimwell. On being impressed, Arthur Sopwith presented his case to the Admiralty and was discharged. He immediately brought an action against Charles Wollaston. The Board decided not to defend Captain Wollaston. The case was tried at Chelmsford Assizes and damages of £105 awarded to Arthur Sopwith. Captain Wollaston requests reimbursement of £196, which includes the prosecutor’s expenses.

Folio 323: enclosure with folios 321-322. Note stating that the report does not appear.

Folio 324: enclosure with folios 321-322. Statement dated 21 September 1804 from J. Jervis, Temple, advising that the Plaintiff [Arthur Sopwith] was not impressed by the Defendant [Captain Wollaston] but by Lieutenant Pettet, who had his own authority to impress men into service. The Defendant should therefore enter a plea of 'not guilty'.

Folios 325-326: enclosure with folios 321-322. Charles Wollaston, Swansea. Advises that a writ has been served upon him and he wishes leave of absence to see a Solicitor.

Folios 327-328: enclosure with folios 321-322. Letter dated 11 January 1804 by William Young Knight, Great Marlborough Street, London. Request to Captain Wollaston to provide a statement regarding the impress of Arthur Sopwith, together with the names of any witnesses involved in the case.

Folios 329-330: enclosure with folios 321-322. Letter dated 13 January 1804 by William Young Knight, Great Marlborough Street, London. Request to Captain Wollaston for a copy of the writ served upon him. He further states that as the Admiralty discharged Arthur Sopwith, and as he did not order Lieutenant Pettet to impress the man, then the action against him cannot be maintained.

Folios 331-332: enclosure with folios 321-322. Letter dated 28 February 1804 by William Young Knight, Great Marlborough Street, London. Letter to Captain Wollaston advising him that he has received a Notice of Trial in the action brought against him by Arthur Sopwith to be held at Chelmsford Assizes. He instructs Captain Wollaston to plead not guilty with Arthur Sopwith having to prove he was impressed into service under his orders. He further states that Arthur Sopwith must have laid before the court the necessary proof that he was not a seafarer in order to be discharged. Lieutenant Pettet states that although he was not under Captain Wollaston's orders he considered himself obliged to comply with the request of a superior Officer.

Folio 333: enclosure with folios 321-322. Letter dated 5 March 1804 by William Young Knight, Great Marlborough Street, London. Letter to Captain Wollaston enclosing a subpoena for Mr. Cook to appear as a witness at Chelmsford Assizes.

Folios 334-335: enclosure with folios 321-322. Letter dated 3 May 1804 by William Young Knight, 2 Hare Court, Temple. Request to Captain Wollaston to send his remittance for damages and costs as soon as possible as positive instructions had been received by Arthur Sopwith's solicitors to issue a writ of execution.

Folios 336-337: enclosure with folios 321-322. Letter dated 5 May 1804 by William Young Knight, 2 Hare Court, Temple. Second request to Captain Wollaston for a remittance in the sum of £196 otherwise Arthur Sopwith's solicitors will issue a Wwit of execution.

Folios 338-339: enclosure with folios 321-322. Undated petition of Arthur Sopwith, Shipwright, Mersea Island, signed by 15 Petitioners, who claim to be witnesses at the impress of Arthur Sopwith into service by Lieutenant Pettet