Despatches from Francis Humberstone Mackenzie, Baron Seaforth, Governor of Barbados...

Despatches from Francis Humberstone Mackenzie, Baron Seaforth, Governor of Barbados (dated June to December 1805) together with correspondence from 'offices' (Government departments and other organisations) and from individuals received during the year. Despatches are described at item level; other correspondence is not and correspondents and subjects are as follows:

Offices:

• Privy Council Office (forwards reports of illicit imports of US goods and stresses that only lumber and other essential provisions may be imported in American vessels when local circumstances make it essential [4 items]);
• Treasury (consents to petitions of Richard Edward and William Mason, and of John Cholmley Loach, returns papers in the case of the Orion and the Alexander transports and states that the Treasury cannot interfere, states that the office of Surveyor and Auditor General of the Plantations is vested in the representative of the late John Cornwall, requests approval of bills sent by Mr Ince and Lord Seaforth in respect of salary of the private secretary and stationery [2 items], urges amendment of local legislation concerning taxation of stores and provisions imported for the use of the colonial government, forwards report of the Comptroller of Army Accounts relating to the supply of British, Irish and Canadian provisions to the markets of Barbados, Lord Seaforth's complaints of the improper conduct of the officers of the Board of Customs, bill drawn by Lord Seaforth for the transportation of despatches);
• Transport Office (in response to Lord Seaforth's complaints sets out responsibilities of the agent for prisoners of war in communicating with local military and naval commanders, case of the seizure of the Orion transport and related matters);
• Admiralty (forwards opinion of the Law Officers that two recent cases of murder on board vessels lying off Barbados can be tried only in England)

Individuals:

• Thomas Hope Byde (suspension of John Straker from the post of deputy registrar of the Court of Admiralty [3 items]);
• Mary Shipley (asks for confirmation that Colonel Shipley is to be knighted);
• William Scott (case of John Straker);
• Unsigned letter (claims upon the estate of Elizabeth Blenman)

Topics

Internment

International

Taxation

Trade and commerce

Caribbean

Pay and pensions

Ireland

Navy

Crime

Armed Forces (General Administration)

Operations, battles and campaigns