Folios 222-223: Daniel Woodriff, HMS Calcutta, Spithead. Had written to Sir Evan...

Folios 222-223: Daniel Woodriff, HMS Calcutta, Spithead. Had written to Sir Evan Nepean [Secretary of the Admiralty Board] from Symmonds Bay, [Simon's Town?], Cape of Good Hope, to inform him of the indisposition of Mr Richard Wright, late Master of HMS Calcutta, which required him to be sent to sick quarters at the port. Mr. James W Purckis, Chief Mate of the Maria Magdelena, a ship of the Dutch East India Company which was refirring at the port, came forward voluntarily to carry out the Master's role until a replacement could be found, despite the fact that he had already been offered the command of the Maria Magdelena, whose former Commander had died on the passage from Batavia. Commends Mr. Purckis's work while at Port Phillip, including assisting to buoy the channel and surveying the harbour, his punctuality in delivery of stores, and his conscientious carrying out of orders. When Lieutenant Houston was promoted to be Sub Governor of Norfolk Island (information transmitted on 23 July) he appointed Mr. Purckis to be acting Lieutenant of HMS Calcutta, and he now sends the order given to Mr. Purckis for approval.

Folios 224-225: enclosure in folios 222-223. Daniel Woodriff, HMS Calcutta, Sydney Cove, Port Jackson, New South Wales, 10 March 1804, to Mr. J. W. Purckis, acting Master of HMS Calcutta. Governor Philip Gidley King, Governor General of New South Wales, appointed Lieutenant John Houston on 4 January to be acting Lieutenant Governor of Norfolk Island to replace Lieutenant Governor Foveaux who has returned to England for health reasons. Mr. Purckis has a certificate dated 3 March 1802 signed by the Commissoners of the Navy that he has passed the examination to qualify as a Lieutenant in HM Navy, and he is therefore ordered to be promoted to Lieutenant of HMS Calcutta.