LETTERS.

371

-®T. 46 .]

value one hundred pounds,) by calling upon him for anyother voucher than has already been transmitted to yourBoard, as I consider it would be injurious to his Majesty’sService, in the event of a similar misfortune happening, andam perfectly and most fully satisfied that his charges barelycovered his actual disbursements.

On the subject of transmitting you the names of the De-serters alluded to in your said letter, and for which eighteendollars five reals are charged, it is impossible to comply withyour request, as their names most likely were not known toMr. Gayner, or the people who brought them to him ; and Imust here beg to observe to you, Gentlemen, that those poorsufferers, more than probable, were not Deserters, but lookingabout them for some friendly retreat after their misfortune,which I trust the Sea-Officers of your Board, who are verycapable of judging its extent, as well as the hardship of charg-ing any sum whatever against their wages, admitting it waspossible to ascertain their names, will perfectly agree with me.

The stores saved from the late Hindostan, were not worthaltogether ten pounds, although great exertions, as I under-stand from Captain Le Gros, were used by Mr. Gayner forthis purpose; they have consequently been charged to thedifferent Ships which received them, and will be accountedfor by the Officers into whose charge they were delivered inthe proper and usual manner. A list of them was not calledfor, as they consisted chiefly of the ends of a few burnt Sparsand other trifling articles, and were kept by the Ships whichreceived them on the spot, except a Yawl that was afterwardssupplied to the Cameleon.

With respect to the distance and manner the Express cameto me with an account of this misfortune, I desire to acquaintyou that Mr. Gayner hired a Vessel, at the request of CaptainLe Gros, for which the sum of three hundred dollars was tobe given, and sent her from Rosas off Toulon in search ofme -, and I further desire to observe that this sum was by nomeans equal to the service required, and length of time theVessel was in search of the Squadron.

I have transmitted to Mr. Secretary Marsden, a copy ofyour said duplicate letter, together with that of my answer;likewise Mr. Gayner’s Account, and Captain Le Gros’s

b b 2