In-letters and orders received by the Navy Board

Extract of a letter from George Camocke First Lieutenant of the LOYAL MERCHANT Hired ship at Cadiz relating how he went aboard Rear Admiral Nevil's ship with Captain's, Purser's and Muster Master's book which he claimed showed irregularities concerning the recording of the desertion of twenty men; and complaining that although the Admiral looked at the books he took no action. Then follows a reference to the Court Martial of the Lieutenant and the Boatswain of the YORK on the 12th May and the view taken by the Flag Officers that action over the matter of fraud could not be decided except in England. The opinion was expressed that the Muster Book presented at the Court Martial was a forgery. Concern is expressed that the official version of events would reach England before Camocke's stating that he would sail for home in the SUCCESS of LONDON with the first favourable wind. A list of the twenty deserters appears on the reverse containing the dates and places at which the men deserted, including Cadiz, Gibraltar and Kinsale.