Folios 357-358: Thomas Walbeoff, [Regulating Captain], Poole. Acknowledges receipt...

Folios 357-358: Thomas Walbeoff, [Regulating Captain], Poole. Acknowledges receipt of the order to discharge John Roe, if the facts of his case are as they have been represented he does not know anything to the contrary and Roe has already been discharged. He was impressed, not as a Wareham boatman, but because he had been to Newfoundland.

Folios 359-360: enclosure with folios 357-358. Letter to the Admiralty from William Morton Pitt, Member of Parliament, dated 26 March 1805. Encloses a letter from the Town Clerk of Wareham, who does business for him. Pitt owns a business producing clay at Wareham which is used to supply the Staffordshire Potteries, During the last two wars he has always had protection for the men who navigate the clay boats from Wareham to Poole or to vessels in Poole Harbour. He had not applied for a protection in this war because there had been so little pressing, but will now be obliged to do so, He trusts that the reasons given in the enclosed letter will secure the release of John Roe.

Folios 361-362: enclosure with folios 357-358. Letter from Thomas Bartlett, Town Clerk, Wareham, to William Morton Pitt, Member of Parliament, Arlington Street, London, dated 25 March 1805. Reports that John Roe, one of the men employed to navigate the Norden clay boats, has been impressed and is at the rendezvous in Poole. Because he heard that Roe was about to be sent to Spithead he went to Poole last evening to see Captain [Thomas] Walbeoff, who has agreed to keep him at Poole until representations can be made to the Admiralty. This should be done quickly as the other boatmen will be afraid to venture to Poole. Nine boats are employed in carrying the clay to Poole, three for Mr Norden, three for Mr Killwood and three for W Brown, each boat with two men. The channel from Wareham to Poole is very intricate and known only to a few people, which makes their security very important, if they are liable to the press the clay trade will come to a halt. This was represented to the Admiralty in the year 1778 and ever since then the trade has been protected. In addition, reports that Roe is no seaman but only went to Newfoundland to dispose of a deceased uncle's estate, otherwise for 10 or 12 years he has been employed in the clay trade, he is a serving member of the Wareham Volunteers and was on duty at their quarters in Poole last winter. Roe keeps a shop at Stoborough and has a wife and family.