Spanish merchant ships escorted from the Caribbean homeward by French fleet according to the Dutch newspaper Middelburgsche courant dated 16 November 1790

An item dated Paris, France 8 November reported that the returning of the count de Guichen was just delayed because his fleet included 5 very slow sailing Spanish galleons. The edition dated 6 November reported that their value was more as 300 million livres but he still he did not intended to enter the harbour of Cadiz, Spain of if so just for a short time. The edition dated 25 November  claimed that there were none Spanish galleons coming from Veracruz, Mexico under the merchant ships he escorted from St. Domingo towards Cadiz. There was however a treasure of 6 million piasters divided over the ships. The reason that there was such a strong squadron could simply be explained. The major part of the warships needed to be caulked.