Scope and Contents Printed pamphlet containing reports by various mariners who had tested both Burt's sounding buoy and knipper and Edward Massey's sounding machine at sea, in compliance with the instruction of the Lord Commissioners of the Admiralty. Reports are provided from Rear Admiral C. Rowley, Commander J. Gedge, Lieutenant and Commander J. Hill, Captain J. Smith, Captain W. McCulloch, Captain C.W. Hawtayne, Captain Robert Lisle Coulson, Lieutenant and Commander W. Smith, J. Morows, and Captain W.S....

Scope and Contents

Informing Burt that the Admiralty had been instructed to conduct a comparative trial of his sounding instrument and that of Edward Massey.

Scope and Contents

Printed sheet providing instructions on how to use Burt's Sounding Buoy and Knipper.

Scope and Contents

Copy of a letter from the Admiralty Office to Sir John Barrow [Second Secretary of the Admiralty] containing an extract from the proceedings of the Board of Longitude, requesting that the Admiralty arrange a comparative trial of the sounding instruments of Peter Burt and Edward Massey.

Scope and Contents

Letter to Captain Thomas Hurd from Mr Davis of the Navy Office recommending Peter Burt's invention of a Sounding Buoy and Knipper.

Scope and Contents

Requesting that his invention of the Buoy and Knipper be examined by the Board of Longitude, along with reports received from Commanders in the Navy and Merchant Service.

Scope and Contents

Requesting 'for the fourth time' that his invention of the Sounding Buoy and Knipper be considered by the Board of Longitude.

Scope and Contents

Enquiring whether the Board had made a decision on his Sounding Buoy and Knipper.

Scope and Contents

Concerning a patent for his sounding instrument.

Scope and Contents

Enquiring as to which reports on his sounding instrument had been laid before the Board.

Scope and Contents

Acknowledging receipt of a letter from the Board of Longitude stating that they considered his sounding instrument worthy of encouragement, and requesting compensation for his invention.

Scope and Contents

Requesting that the Board inform him of any reward due for his invention of a sounding instrument. Burt stresses that he is a poor man and that he had sent his petition to the Board three years previous, in the hope of receiving pecuniary compensation for what was considered a very useful invention.

Scope and Contents

Stating that at a previous meeting Hurd had suggested that he would receive a greater award than (Edward) Massey for his invention of a sounding instrument. Burt points out that Massey had received compensation of £200 and £500, and expresses his desire that the Board consider this when making its decision.

Scope and Contents

Requesting the return of his papers from Mr Pond. Burt states his intention to send a petition to the House of Commons, due to his dissatisfaction with the Board's decision on his invention.

Scope and Contents

Stating that the papers returned to him were missing two documents and mistakenly included some papers belonging to another individual.

Scope and Contents

Requesting permission to present the results of trials of his Sounding Buoy and Knipper.

Scope and Contents Requesting information on reports made about his sounding instrument. Burt explains that he had heard that an unfavourable report had been submitted to the Board. He states that he had repeatedly requested (but not received) further information on this, so that he could remedy any imperfections. He also states that in the three years since the Navy Board had started ordering his sounding instruments he had never heard that any other had failed, noting that Massey's sounding machines, on the...

Scope and Contents Requesting compensation for his invention of a sounding instrument, and originally enclosing testimonials in its favour. Burt emphasises the reasons why his sounding instrument was superior to others in use, and particularly to that invented by Edward Massey. He states that in the past two years only one of his machines in use by the Royal Navy had required repairs, whereas their sounding machines by Massey had required repairs costing nearly one thousand pounds in just the previous year...

Scope and Contents

Originally enclosing testimonials on the utility of his Sounding Buoy and Knipper. Burt states that he had no patent for the sounding instrument, and requests a reward for its invention.

Scope and Contents

Letter from James Lash, a Master in the Royal Navy, to John Wilson Croker reporting on his trials of the sounding instruments of both Edward Massey and Peter Burt. Lash reports that both machines gave true soundings, but Burt's machine broke within a few days.

Scope and Contents

Internal note regarding the Board's decision to conduct comparative trials of the sounding instruments of Peter Burt and Edward Massey.