Folios 381-382: Thomas Walbeoff, [Regulating Captain], Poole. Acknowledges receipt...

Folios 381-382: Thomas Walbeoff, [Regulating Captain], Poole. Acknowledges receipt of the order of 21 May 1805 to report on the case of John Harcourt. It appeared that Harcourt would have been at sea for four years on July 13 1805 although the enclosed indenture seems to show that it would be less than three years on July 30 1805. The indenture was dated July 30 1801, so he caused the books of the distributor of stamps to be examined and found that Benjamin Lenthorne had purchased an indenture stamp on July 25 1801 but had not purchased any stamps in 1802. He is satisfied that the indenture had been forged by erasing the word"one" and substituting the world"two". The word"two" appears to have been written with different ink. As to his certificate of age, Harcourt's father is clerk of the parish and probably has access to the baptismal register. The young man acknowledged to him in the presence of Lieutenant [Andrew] Tullock that he was 18 years old in April 1805. The NB at the bottom of the indenture proves the question.

Folios 383-384: enclosure with folios 381-382. Letter from George Garland, Member of Parliament, Great Queen Street, Westminster, to the Admiralty dated 23 May 1805. He has just been informed that the indenture of John Harcourt, an apprentice to Messrs Lenthorne and Warne of Poole, must be sent to the Admiralty. He left both the indenture and Harcourt's certificate of age with the Secretary when they met several days ago, asks that they be laid before the Lords of the Admiralty, he will call at the Admiralty tomorrow to learn the result.

Folios 385-386: enclosure with folios 381-382. Letter from George Garland, Member of Parliament, Great Queen Street, Westminster, to the Admiralty, undated. Encloses the indenture and certificate of age of an apprentice of Messrs Lenthorne and Warne of Poole who was recently impressed. Also encloses a letter from Benjamin Lenthorne to Mr Garland on the same subject, asks whether the bearer can receive any reply.

Folio 387: enclosure with folios 381-382. A certificate from M W Joliffe, Minister, of Poole dated 9 July 1804 that the register of baptisms of the Parish of St James, Poole, shows that John, the son of Maurice and Mary Harcourt, was born 26 April 1788 and baptized on 30 April.

Folios 388-389: enclosure with folios 381-382. Letter from Benjamin Linthorne, Poole, to George Garland, Member of Parliament, London, dated 16 March 1805. His son has written to Mr Garland about an apprentice, Harcourt, who has been impressed. Harcourt's father, the Clerk, has been to Portsmouth and found his son had been drafted from the receiving ship to HMS Triumph. The Captain informs him that the only way of securing his release would be to forward his indenture to the Admiralty. He encloses the indenture [no longer present] as he hopes it will have more weight in Mr Garland's hands. Asks if the matter can be dealt with quickly as the ship is due to be paid off on Monday. PS Encloses Harcourt's certificate of age.