Report of Henry L. Thompson, August 29, 1837

and find her to be a well built vessel and will bear
a battery of fifteen guns. A pivot twenty four pounder
will be highly recommendable with fourteen side guns
medium eighteen pounders. The little Sch^r will cer-
tainly be very serviceable to the Navy[.] [H]er sailing fast
and of light draft of water will enable us to reconnoi-
ter the enemies positions. [S]he mounted with a pivot
nine pounder will be sufficient for her: the Brutus
& Tom Toby will make us a formidable Navy which
will be able to defend our coast and prevent the
enemies’ intercepting our commerce.

              The Phonix and Brutus are both in want
of rudders though there is a possibility of getting the Bru-
tus’ rudder ______ [?], although it is extremely difficult
to get the iron work done. [S]everal of my crew have
deserted and stolen one of my boats. Some of them for
fear of being kept in the service have left under pretence
of having nothing to eat—of which we have plenty for
some time.

              Should Government see proper to fit out the
Brig Phonix [as] a man of war it will actually be neces-
sary to examine her bottom as she has been ashore on
the bar, and thumped her rudder off, and no doubt
has injured her copper if not her bottom. [B]e that as it
may the coast ought to have vessels that will carry
their guns above water—which was not the case  with
the Invincible, for one side or the other in carrying
sail was always under water and rendered the lee
guns entirely useless. The Sch^r Brutus is leaky and wants
sails and rigging and as well to be hove out.

              The prize Sch^r Correo requires some sails and
rigging. The particular date of circumstances that
occurred during our cruise is entirely out of my power
to give, as all my papers have been washed to pieces by the
sea breaking over the wreck, and I am equally bare-