[High Court of Admiralty (Sir William Scott): the wreck of the Eliza (James Driver, Master), 4 August 1818.] Two manuscript documents: an affidavit by 'Messrs. Cobb & Son / Margate / by favor of Mr. Meagher', and a memorandum regarding a dispute.

The Eliza was on her way to Bristol from Memel in Prussia when she was wrecked on the Kentish Knock on 4 August 1818. The court is not named, but the second document contains a reference to 'the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court'. ONE: Affidavit headed ‘Eliza James Driver Master.’ 1p, foolscap 8vo. Forty-six lines, closely written. Text clear and entire on aged paper with chipping along head of leaf. On reverse: ‘Messrs. Cobb & Son / Margate / by favor of Mr. Meagher.’ Begins: ‘This Ship with a Cargo of Timber & Deals from Memel to Bristol was in the month of August 1818 found derelict near the Long Island. The Wreck, with the principal part of the Cargo, were carried to Margate, other parts to Ramsgate and Dover[.] The whole of the said Cargo landed at the before mentioned places, was in the month of September following sold by public Auction at Margate and the proceeds thereof amounting to £1975 . 18 . - were deposited in the Kings Chests at Sandwich and Dover to abide the decision as to the Question of Salvage, and in the Month of October last the said proceeds were paid to Messrs. Cobb & Son, the Agents for the Owners of the said Cargo’. The document continues with an account of the financial and legal details of a dispute with the salvors. TWO: Anonymous undated manuscript memorandum headed ‘Eliza’, comprising seventy-three neatly-written lines, with marginal pencil annotation signed by ‘S Lewis’. 3pp, foolscap 8vo, on paper watermarked ‘SUPERFINE / 1817’. Begins: ‘In the presence of Shipden who exhibited as Proctor for Danile Pound John Grant and others the said salvors of the Cargo of the said Ship Eliza whereof James Driver was Master and made himself a party for them and dissenting from the prayer of the said Kennett alledges [sic] that after the award of Salvage was made by the Commissioners of Salvage as set forth by the said Kennett the said Messrs. Cobb & Co. (Kennett’s Parties) being dissatisfied with the award of Salvage so made by the said Commissioners did agreeably to the fifth Section of the Act of Parliament for the adjustment of Salvage passed in the forty eighth year of the Reign of his present Majesty Chaper 130. give notice [...]’. Two pencil marginal notes: ‘We were then directed to offer them £400 which was rejected - as a fair compensation - / S Lewis’ and ‘Quere / recovering the Money lodged in the Customs’.