94.  Major  N.  Bourne  to  the  Navy  Commissioners.  I  want  the
list  of  the  officers  appointed  to  the  40  merchant  ships,  also  some
hammocks  and  some  money  for  sick  men ;  half  of  it  should  be  laid
out  in  necessaries  for  them,  and  the  other  half  given  to  some  trusty
person  in  the  fleet,  to  be  issued  as  required,  as  it  wiU  be  dangerous
to  trust  it  with  clerks  of  the  check  oi  stewards,  unless  known.
Details  of  ships, — "  Pray  hasten  down  all  officers  that  belong  to  this
indigested  body,"  also  guns  and  stores  from  the  Tower.  I  am
going  to  Lee  Road,  and  wish  all  the  other  ships  were  down,  that  I
might  hasten  my  business.  Pray  acquaint  my  wife  that  I  am  well.
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95.  Major  N.  Bourne  to  the  Admiralty  Committee.  I  have  been
to  the  Hope  and  send  account  of  the  ships.  John  Driver,  lieutenant
of  the  Hamburg  Merchant,  has  taken  much  pains  in  fitting
her  out,  but  if  he  is  not  to  be  continued,  I  recommend  John  Rose
who  served  with  me  last  year  as  master's  mate.  A  man  from  New-
castle reports  that  18  Dutch  men-of-war  stood  in  towards  the  collier
fleet  at  Scarborough  last  Friday,  and  fired  20  guns  and  then  sailed
E.S.E.,  and  have  not  been  seen  since.  The  man  saw  our  fleet  at  the
back  of  Yarmouth  sands  last  Monday,  steering  northward,  the  wind
being  W.N.W.
Many  of  the  men  on  board  the  ships  are  very  unserviceable,
housekeepers  and  landsmen,  never  at  sea  before,  and  merely  a  burden
to  the  service  ;  I  think  such  should  be  dismissed.
