Manuscript (possibly part) signed by Strachan and his Gunner, Tho. Lampen.

Manuscript, two pages, small folio, good condition, [PAGE ONE] headed "Small Stores Expended in July 1796 , columnised as follows: For what Use Expended (For cleaning the Arms/ Lost amd Broke/ Broke and Unserviceable/ For greasing the Gun trucks & c/ Worn out / For wads and sizings / Burnt); Quality (Oil, priming horns, [Basschings?], tallow, baskets, junk, match); Quantity (Half gallon, etc.). [PAGE TWO] Columnised with PLace of action (At sea, [?] Marqu, off Havre, Do Grace, Cape, etc); Dates (Days); Notes such as "Sir, two nine pounds sign[a]l for the Minerva to come within Hail" (ibid. to weigh, ibid for the Fly [then another] to come within Hail, ibid. to bring to a Brig, ibid. etc, etc. The final two columns are Quality (Grape shot, boxes, cartridges, etc) and Quantity). It is impossible to tell whether this is a half document or full. It is signed by Strachan and Lampen at the foot of [PAGE ONE] From DNB: "In the following July Strachan was appointed to the Melampus, of 42 guns, attached during the summer to the grand fleet; and in the spring of 1795 he was sent in command of a small frigate squadron which cruised with distinguished success on the coast of Normandy and Brittany, capturing or destroying a very large number of the enemy's coasting craft, many of them laden with military stores and convoyed by armed vessels. In 1796 Strachan was moved into the Diamond, and remained on the same service till 1799." Among his many services he had the honour of capturing the French ships which escaped at Trafalgar.