Copy of a letter received by William Marsden, Secretary to the Admiralty from William Bligh, 30 May 1806 (Series 40.050) - No. 0001

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(Copy)

To The Admiralty

His Majesty's Ship Porpoise
Simon's Bay Cape of Good Hope
30th May 1806

Sirs,
I regret that in addition to my Statement and Charges against Captain Short up to the 1st of April, last his conduct has been such as to oblige me again to notice an irritating and provoking behaviour, together with a disobedience of my Orders up to the 15th Instant at this place as greatly adds to his former misconduct and demands my representing it to my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.

I had but just closed my Dispatches up to the above period and sent them by the Alexanders Transport Ship by way of Rio Janeiro (duplicates of which I now transmit) when Captain Short again began to send for  Mr. Jackson the Master of the Sinclair, and give him orders not to go before the Porpoise's Beam, to be particularly attentive to her motions, and be prepared for Action.

On the 3rd April I hailed Captain Short that as I might alter the Course without Signal, merely to steer with a full Sail, I requested he