I represent Basil Keith. I was captain and commander of HMS Levant, “a large Deal cutter, 30 feet in length and eight in breadth, almost new, well-fitted in every respect.” The Levant was purchased by Adm. William Parry at Jamaica specifically for the use of surveyor George Gauld in his explorations of the Gulf Coast. As it turned out, Levant was not suited for hugging the coastline and remained in Pensacola Bay while Gauld used the Levant’s spare boat to carry out his work. The Levant instead provided its carpenters and sailmakers to retrofit the Sir Edward Hawke for Gauld to use.
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