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[Page 1]
Royal Hospital,
Plymouth
7th Feby 1801
Sir Joseph,
Observing a few days since in the newspaper that the Investigator (later Xenophon]) is appointed to go out on discoveries - and being well informed of your guidance, inspection, and abilities in affairs of the above importance (not knowing who is appointed to the command of the above ship) have presumed to address you, humbly requesting you will be pleased to excuse the intrusion. I belong to His Majesty's ship Revolutionnaire, and was sent here sick towards the latter end of last month, a few days previous to her sailing for Cork - have officiated upwards of five years onboard the said ship in instructing young Gentlemen as well in common navigation as in equal and double altitudes and other applicable methods for ascertaining the latitude; also the lunars by Maskelyne's, Dunthorne's, Lyons's and MacKay's methods; together with the use and practice of the globes, and other astronomical and mathematical instruments.
My health now in a fair way of establishing induced me to offer myself as an assistant in the nautical and astronomical line to go out in the Investigator. Should I be so fortunate as to merit your attention and approbation - I do not entertain a doubt but your application