[Page 1]
239
Sheerness Jan. 26. 1801
I take an early opportunity of troubling you again, Sir Joseph, with my wishes and wants. I trust to your goodness to excuse the intrusion.
Of the Investigators present company, there are 26 volunteers, 21 of whom, from their character, will apparently do very well for the voyage. There are now 19 Reliances left in the Jamaica, who are all volunteers; but some amongst them I object to. From the Terpsichore, there are 9 volunteers, most of whom I should wish to get; and indeed applications to go to the voyage are continual.
If an order to the port admiral here could be procured to discharge such men, being volunteers, as I might apply for, to go on the Investigator, in lieu of others to be dis-charged from her, there would be no further order required. If this cannot be done, I think of making out lists of people I wish to receive, and such as may be discharged in lieu, and as approved volunteers offer to apply to the admiralty in the usual form for the discharge. Perhaps, Sir Joseph, you may recommend other plans of proceeding; but be-fore any thing can properly be done in this business, it would be formal, that the new establishment for the Investigator
C