Thanks to the by T.C. Hansard published The Parliamentary Debates from the year 1803 on, with the discussed papers, it’s possible to get an impression on what’s going in the Spanish navy at that moment an ally of the French empire and an enemy of the British empire. Cornwallis wrote the letter while being on board of the Ville de Paris lying off Ushant, while using the information described in a letter adressed to him by E. Pellew. Pellew on his turn wrote this letter 5 February while on board of the Tonnant in the Betancos Bay.
“Two ships of 80 guns, half ready, men enrolled for them in the vicinity, and ready when called upon. One three-decker, two of 74 guns, commissioned and rigged. Storing their holds slowly. Two frigates will be ready with the first ships. 4 three-deckers, 8 two ditto, and some frigates, out of commission. In the arsenal, 1 of the line, and 2 frigates building. The troops in garrison fluctuate from 8 to 10,000.”
Source
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. 236. Digitized by Google.com.
“Two ships of 80 guns, half ready, men enrolled for them in the vicinity, and ready when called upon. One three-decker, two of 74 guns, commissioned and rigged. Storing their holds slowly. Two frigates will be ready with the first ships. 4 three-deckers, 8 two ditto, and some frigates, out of commission. In the arsenal, 1 of the line, and 2 frigates building. The troops in garrison fluctuate from 8 to 10,000.”
Source
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. 236. Digitized by Google.com.
