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Minutes of proceedings at a court martial held on board his majesty' s ship Magnanime Fort royal Bay Martinique the 7th of Nov.1801 Present William Taylor Esq. Captain of his majesty' s ship Magnanime and second in command at Fort Royal Martinique -president. Captains Loftus Bland Edward Dumford King Christopher Cole Richard Dat g Dunn Read the order of Sir John Thomas Duckworth =O Rear Admiral of the ---and commander in chief directed to William Taylor Esq. Captain of his majesty' s ship Magnanime second in command and to assemble and preside at the court martial for the trial of lieutenant Henry Whitby acting as captain of his majesty' s late ship Proselyte, his officer and company for the loss of the said ship on man of war shoal in grat bay Saint Martins at half past seven o' clock of the morning of the 2nd of September 1801. ------- ------ The member of the court and ------ ------ --------in open court and

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Before they proceed to trial, respectively took the oath directed by act of parliament made and past in the 22nd year of the reign of his late majesty King George Second entitled "the act for amending of paining and reducing into one act of," "parliament the laws relating to the government of his majesty' s ships, vessels" and force by sea. A letter from lieutenant Henry Whitby acting as captain of Proselyte was read as follows Date of S'Martins 2nd Sept 1801 Sirs It is with the greatest concern I have to acquaint you of the loss of his majesty' ship Proselyte at a quarter past seven this morning on Man Of War Shoal, every exertion was immediately made to get her off, but from her Very bad state of her bottom he water was up to the-------beams a few minutes after the struck and part of her after-------was seen floating up. I saw her sinking so far aft. I have every reason to believe there was a strong lee current for to the best of my recollection at this time we were lying up N.N.E I feel myself sirs particularly indebted to the officers and to the men you did me the

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Honor to place under my command for the very great exertions in trying to save the affects of the ship and I pray sir, you will not think it presumptuous of me when I add, that in sound its holy situation no men could conduct themselves with more determination and -------or put the difficult orders in exertion with greater alearlity; at present we have only got a few store on shore, the weather being equally, but am in hope of having the greater part of them when the weather shall prove more favorable. I lay under many obligations to lieut. Nicholson for his timely assistance in sending off craft officers and Ships Company who I am happy to say by the blessing of providences all are safe. The Magnanime has this moment arrived and as soon as the stores that can be saved are collected Captain Taylor proposes proceeding

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With the officers and Ships Company for Martinique I have the honor to be ---signed Henry Whitby ------Duckworth---- Rear Admiral of the Red Commander for Chief Lieutenant Whitby was presented to the court a narrative which was read as follows On the morning of Tuesday the 2nd of September standing in for Great bay Saint Martins in the harbor tack way N.N.E. the master looking out for man of war shoal, and our lead giving us from 10 to 7 fons water judged ourselves to be considerable to windward of it. It not being my intention to anchor, was at the point of hauling the main sail up and bringing too, when to my astonishment the stuck at a portion between the main and------chains on the south side of the shoal, every section was immediately used to get her afloat, finding there was 7 fons water under the stern, and but 3 under the fore gunnels have all aback, hoisted out all the boats and directed the stream anchor to be carried out astern but to my great surprise the water in a few minutes after the struck

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Was reported to me to be much above the------lock neither the stream cable, or any of the------as could be got at, the stream anchor with him hanging in the tackles the ship healing over to starboard and there not being the sufficient possibility of it being of service cut away the people were working with the greatest exertion. I ordered the main deck guns to be thrown overboard, on the starboard, on the starboard side the water was gaining fast on the ship----- the *********into deep water it was my opinion and also that of the officers that the masts should be cut away which was immediately done. As the water still continued to gain on the ship and she had fell so much over that it was going in at the main deck ports there was not the smallest prospect of saving any of the stores that were below therefore thought it prudent to send-----sick and part of the ship company to two small vessels that had been sent out from Grand Bay to our assistance a little before eight the ship went over on her starboard board side the remainder of the people employed strong what stores could be got at everything being much entangled with the wreck. Night coming on and the

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