Series 08.01: Letter received by Banks from Charles Clerke, 13 May 1772 - No. 0001

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Resolution in SeaReach.  May13th /72              28

Sir

The Interest you must necessarily have in matters I now trouble you with, flatter myself will render any kind of apology unnecessary so will proceed without farther preface.  We weigh'd anchor at Gravesend this morning about 10 'Oclock, with a fine Breeze from the Eastward, the wind from that quarter, laid us under the necessity of working down the Reaches which work, I'm sorry to tell you, we found the Resolution very unequal to; for whilst several light Colliers were working down with their whole Topsails, Stay sails etc one small Brig in particular with her Top Gallant Sails, these light Vessels so upright, that a marble would hardly rowl from Windward to Leeward, the Resolution I give you my honour, under her Reeft Topsails, Jibb & Main Topmast Staysail, heel'd within three streaks of her Gun Ports.  She is so very bad, that the Pilot declares, he will not run the risk of his Character so far, as to take charge