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H.M.S. Investigator - Sheerness
March 9, 1801
On my arrival here, I find, that the Navy Board having ordered the four oared boat to be built in lieu of the five oared whale boat, is a mistake. The contractor has built such a boat, but without any orders, I therefore take the liberty of informing you, Sir Joseph, and requesting your interference with the Comptroller that we may be supplied with this four oared boat according to my letter of Feb. 19 to the Board; for it is impossible, or at least it will be less trouble to build another, than to alter the present one, for she is too long, and is disqualified in some other respects.
I fear that we shall scarcely be able to find a good master willing to go the voyage, the pay being so small. If the Navy Board would hold out some encouragement, such as the pay of a superior rate, or something else considerable which it might be convenient to them to give, I could get one immediately. Mr John Engledue the present master of the Iris frigate, would engage under such circumstances, and he is a man who might answer very well, but he objects to leaving a superior for an inferior pay; and with respect to pititage[?], he finds that Mr Whidbey got only fifty pounds upon that head in the Discovery, and that with the greatest difficulty. The voyage certainly requires, that we should have a master who is superior to the generality, and therefore I should think, that some superior encouragement would be but right. If this was submitted to Sir Andrew he would see the propriety of it, and probably comply so as that we might get this.