Cutter from Scaleby Castle (1821/12/06)

The Scaleby Castle deployed a cutter off the North West coast of New Holland to search for Cloates Island, which disappeared with all 8 men aboard.

Transcription of original letter
H.C.S. Scaleby Castle off N.W. Point of New Holland/ Decr/ 6th 1821

At ½ past 8. P.M. Hove to and sent the cutter ahead to look out for Cloats Island or the Tryal Rocks. Stood after the boat under easy sail.
At 1.30 AM the boat Abaft ½ (illegible) ¼ mile Hove too on the starboard tack for about ¼ of an hour bore up under easy sail
At 4.30. AM not seeing the boat Hove too on different tacks and (illegible) wind.
7 A.M. Filled and made sail in hopes of seeing the boat ahead
10.8. AM No boat in sight Hauled to the wind on the Larboard tack standing to the westward & Eastward in hopes of seeing the boat and firing a gun every five minutes & kept and officer with a Glass at each mast head and fired a gun every five/
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Decr/ 6 Captn D. Ret. absent from sickness

At 6 A.M. Held a consultation of the sworn officers Messrs Blakely, Hillman, Murdock & Robson to decide upon what means were necessary for the recovery of the boat Amissing
Mr Murdoch – Being called upon to state when he last saw the boat saw not certain that I saw the boat after I made sail about 10 minutes before two oClock but on going forward at different times Mr Caley 6th Mate & the People stationed to look out dec-lared that they saw her light from time to time – A Short time after ½ past 3 I went forward when thought I observed the boat pretty close to us and the People on the forecastle thought the same immediately went aft and backed the mizzen (paper missing-illegible) that the boat might keep a little ahead until daylight.
At 4 oClock couldn’t perceive the Boat. Had then no doubt of her being ahead
Mr Cayley 6th Mate was then called in – Stated that he saw the boat when the ship was hove too at ½ past two, thinks he saw something like her light after the ship was again bore up but cannot say that he saw the boat Mr Houlden Medi[?] said nearly the same as Mr Cayley
Dennis Mahoney/ Seaman Thinks he saw her last at ½ past three but is positive he saw her at ½ past one when Mr Murdoch Hailed her
John Palmer/ Seaman and one of the look out saw the boat abreast the ship at ½ Past one with fore and main lugs set but did not see her afterwards
Joh Lynn seaman and one of the look out stated the same but th(paper missing – illegible) he heard Mr Houlden say he saw the boat ahead afterwards.
From the several Depositions taken no Person could positively (paper missing – illegible) the Boat had been since ½ past one oClock or 10 Minutes after
The officers when called upon to state means they thought best to use for the recovery of the Boat – when Robson thought it would be best to make sail and steer NE by N for ten miles the course given to the boat & should the boat not be seen then to haul to the wind on different tacks – Turn over
Mr Murdoch thinks some accident must have happened to the boat not conceiving it possible for the boat to be out of sight in the space of two hours – Thinks it best to make all sail & steer NE by N for 10 miles
Mr Hillman Better make all sail an steer NE by N and thento haul to the wind on different tacks
Mr Blakely is of the same opinion
At 11 A.M. Held another consultation of the sworn officers to consider of what more could be done for the recovery of the Boat
Mr Robson is of opinion from circumstances that if no accident had befallen the boat she must be ahead of the Ship aand advised to stand on at noon NE by N under all sail till dark then to heave to and fire guns & burn blue lights until daylight
Mr Murdoch Is of opinion had better bear up and make sail at one and not before
Mr Hillman thinks it better to make all sail at noon and steer NE by N until dark &c &c
Mr Blakely Is of opinion had better bear up at noon to give us time should she be ahead to come with the Boat before Dark &c &c
At Daylight not seeing the Boat concluded her to be lost with the following unfortunate Persons

Mr William Clowes Midshipman
Henry Sawkins Quarter Master
David Sweetens – Seaman
George Greggs - Seaman
Joseph Snow – Seaman
John Walker – Seaman
Joseph Little – Seaman
George Wilson – Seaman

All young men between 20 & 23 with the exception of Sawkins who appeared to be About 40 years of age