Letter received by Banks from William Bligh, 27 November 1805 (Series 40.009) - No. 0001

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Monday Night 27 Nov.1805
Lady Sinclair at Spithead
Wind S.E.

My Dear Sir

The Master of this Ship received his orders this day to follow the orders of the Apollo which ship I understand is going to the Mediterranean & to conduct us to the Latd 20º N & Longd 18º West. Captain Short, because I take my Passage in this Ship, receives the Admiralty Letters, & he has orders to proceed also under the Apollo's Convoy, & after parting with her to proceed according to directions which he will find on opening his orders wch are now sealed up & by suspicion I think we shall proceed to the Cape of Good Hope.  I feel some difficulties by being in this Ship where I cannot command in the outset, but as soon as we leave the Apollo I shall take upon me to direct a little, and I dare say that Captain Short will then be in better temper & not refuse me any little civility from the Porpoise wch today he did in not letting me have a Boat to convey my letters to an adjacent Ship when I thought we should have sailed though the Needles. I have power enough to command it, but as he seems to be rather a low weak person, I did no more than read my Commission  & directed him to keep company with us and requested he would com[mand]