“Dear Sir; The armament of the ships here go on very slowly, and I have reason to believe it to be the case at the other departments, from many circumstances. I rather expect that several months may elapse before the ships fitting out will be so manned and united here, as it said to be the intention to the number of 20 sail of line.
By an express which arrived here to the French commissary of commercial relations, M. LeRoy, the 18th from Paris, and latterly from Ferrol, it is said he is supposed he have received directions relative to L’Aigle (1), corvette Torche (2) and Argus (3) brig of 18 guns, (arrived since my last from St. Domingo and the Havanna) relative to their further proceedings.(4) It is surmised by some, that they are to remain in readiness in the event of the squadron at Ferrol being able to evade the vigilance of Sir. E. Pellew, and appearing off to join them, and to proceed to the Mediterranean.”
Sources
J.J. Colledge. Ships of the Royal Navy. An Historical Index, 2 vols. David&Charles, Newton Abbot, 1969.
T.C. Hansard. The Parliamentary Debates from the year 1803 to the present time. vol III comprising the period from the fifteenth day of January to the twelfth day of March 1805. London, 1812. Parliamentary Debates, February 4, 1805, Second Additional Papers relative to the war with Spain, p. 234. Digitized by Google.com.
J. Vichot. Répertoire des navires de guerre francais. Paris, 1967.
Notes
1. The L’Aigle on stocks at Rochefort 1798, launched 1800 and wrecked off Sainte Marie 22 October 1805?
2. The gabare corvette La Torche on stocks at Honfleur 1794, launched 1805, captured by the British HMS Goliath and Camilia and taken into the Royal British navy as the 18-guns sloop HMS Torch. Broken up 1811, with 557 British tons builders measurement.
3. The brig L’Argus mentioned 1799-1808?
4. See on this weblog “Intelligence news dealing with the Spanish navy from by J. Duff, British consul at Cadiz, dated 6 December 1803”.
