Revised Jun 6 2021
No. 61. Commr. Pasley to Mr. P. Heywood.
My dear Sir.
Aug 22, 1792
Aug 3, 1792
I am favor'd with your Letter of the 22d. & in Answer
dare venture to assure you that Mr. Beardsworth's Intelligence
as to the Time of the Court-martial taking place must be ill-founded —
Although the ship Mr. Hayward is in
was spoke off the Isle of Wight the 3d.
he is not yet arrived in England.
– the other Sloop of War is at Harwich
under Orders
to proceed with him & his People immediately to Sheerness
on their Arrival. — I have then Orders to send her round
with all the Pandora's to Portsmouth,
& to send Cole your late Boatswain
Passenger in her as an Evidence on your Trial — the Master & other Officers are ordered by Land
— I have Orders likewise to send Hayward to London
— so that the Trial cannot take place without my knowing it —
I am glad Erskine & Mingay are not retained,
& am almost sorry Const is;
as Sea Officers have a great Aversion to Council. — A Friend of mine,
Mr. Graham who has been Secretary
to the different Admirals on the Newfoundland Station
for these twelve Years (consequently Judge Advocate at Court-martials all that Time,) has offered me to attend
you. — he has a thorough Knowledge of the Service, uncommon Abilities & is a very good Lawyer
— he conducted Cap'tn. P – – –'s Court-martial who wou'd have been broke unassisted
by him —
his Defence written by Mr. Graham was a masterly Piece of Penmanship.
— ask Delafons or any of the Officers you converse with,
they all know Graham's Abilities —
He has already had most of the Evidences with him,
and I am to meet him with Hayward
in Town when he arrives. — Adieu my young Friend — keep up your Spirits, & rest assured I
shall be watchful for your Good — my Heart will be more at Ease
if I can get my Friend Graham to go down
than if you were attended
by the first Council in England.
— believe me always with Friendship and Affection
your Uncle