| Description | Notice to the Commissioners of Excise and the Collector of Excise at Whitby given by John Marshall on behalf of Christopher Richardson of Whitby esquire
On 16 April 1800 1,145 bushels and five pounds of white salt consigned to Richardson by Messrs Crosbie and Urmson of Liverpool in Lancashire makers or refiners of salt was put on board the sloop Venus of Liverpool (Thomas Burton master) and the duty was paid. Between 11 and 12 o'clock at night on 18 May 1800 they were coming into the harbour at Whitby but were prevented by a rope stretched across the harbour from the West Pier to a brig called the Happy Return of Whitby, which was in danger of drifting to the south of the harbour onto the rock. Soon afterwards, the rope broke and the Venus and the Happy Return became entangled and drifted and were cast behind the East Pier and struck on the rocks. The bows of the Venus were broken and her bottom broken and she sank and the cargo of salt was washed out and lost |