Hello Cap'n.
Here is a letter that the Captain of the Indefatigable sent to the Admiralty in 1795. I've provided a couple of links that you can follow should you be interested in learning a little more about the life of Pellew.
Indefatigable Portsm'th Harb'r
6 Feb. 1795
Sir Edward Pellew, Captain of His Majesty's Ship Indefatigable, begs to be permitted to lay before their Lordships the under mentioned propositions which He humbly conceives will be of much benefit to the Ship he Commands, and not the smallest Impediment to her early Equipment.
1st. He begs to state that there is much reason to apprehend from the short Experiment hitherto attained from the Anson's being at Sea, that the cut down 64 Gun Ships are likely to be very uneasy so as to endanger their Masts from excels of rolling; but as their Lordships deem'd the Experiment not to be fairly bro't to Ifsue by so Short a trial, & do not therefore conceive it sufficient to authorize the return of the Indefatigable to her original Establishment of Masts & Yrds; I have with great anxiety & the most serious attention considered such Means, as may from the Experience I have had in the service be likely to correct the defect complained of, render the danger to be apprehended of lofs [of] Masts lefs emminent, & do therefore with the utmost respect & Submifsion beg to make the following observations.
1st. To make the Line of floatation of the Indefatigable one foot lefs than the Navy Boards directions, which were to immerse her body to 20 feet aft and `18-9` forward, carrying her ports `6-4` from the Water Line: to do this, it is evident, that the Ballast must not only be reduced in quantity, but that it must also be placed as High as pofsible in the Hold so as to raise the Ships Centre of Gravity - this being done, it naturally occurs to me, to look upwards to her Decks to see what benefit might be derived from adding weight to her Metal, every Pound of which must infallibly afsist the object in view, and which must be confefsed to be desirable.
If those deductions are admitted by their Lordships, the Masts being now put out of the Question by their decefsion, something may be effected to render the ship safe & easy in the following manner - her Establishment of Guns at present are
Main Deck.......`26-24` Prs
Quarter Deck.....`8-12` Prs, `4-42pr` Carronades
Forecastle.......`4-12` do., `2-42`
Proposed Establishment will be
Main Deck.......`26-24` Prs
Quarter Deck....`14-18` pdrs Guns (having 14 Ports)
Forecastle.......`6-42` pdr Carronades (as now established)
to attain this, I have informed myself the Indefatigable's (123) upper Deck Guns & Carridges are all here ready to embark & as the present Quarter Deck is what was the Main Deck, for which `18-Pounders` were intended, there can be no doubt as to the strength of the ship, the Ports being already fitted for them, & I am firmly of opinion, as are also the Builders here, that by floating the Ship at 19 aft and `17-3` or 4 forward carrying her Ports `7-4` from the ater Line, which is a foot lighter than proposed by the Navy Boards Draft & adding this weight to her Upper Deck Guns will very considerably tend to make the Ship easy & I hope it may be deem'd worthy my Lords Consideration as being the next preferable thing to her proper Masts; I then beg that an order may be granted for filling the spare Ports on the Quarter Deck with 2 `twelve-Pounders`
I have the honour to be
Sir
Your most obedient humble serv't
ED. PELLEW
http://www.pellew.com/Exmouth/Exmouth.htm
(Look in the column on the left for this book. It's on line.)
Edward Pellew, Viscount Exmouth
- By Parkinson, C Northcote. London 1934
http://www.pellew.com/
http://www.pellew.com/Exmouth/Exmouth%2000...03/Contents.htm
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ops