Sir

I concluded there was some mistake about your asking for all your men, as I well recollected what had passed when I had the pleasure of seeing you; I am allso perswaded that you will remember that I declared against disabling the Blonde as she is wanted for immediate service, which cannot be dispensed with I therefore must hope you will not pursue your object of having 50 of her men, which would totally disable her, as she has allready left 62 in Canada: besides in our business in this office we must adhere to rules, and if one Captain is allowed 50 men on his changing his ship,² another has a right to the same indulgence; all your young gentlemen, and 8 or 10 seamen who go under the description of your followers will be suffered of course to go with you; but so great a draught as you propose cannot be agreed to without real prejudice to the service, I therefore flatter myself you will see that it is impossible for me to comply with the whole of your demand without establishing a very dangerous precedent. I am with great regard [&c.]