Ron van Maanen
Rear admiral Lord Cochrane wrote 21 October 1804 on board of the Northumberland a letter towards Admiral Cornwallis dealing with the Spanish warships lying at Ferrol.
"La Concepcion, 120 guns, in good order, without masts, guns all on board, in the Arsenal(1)
La Prince d'Asturia, 120 guns, newly repaired, without masts, guns all on board, in the Arsenal(2)
La Mexicano, 120 guns, in good order, without masts, guns all on board, in the Arsenal(3)
La St. Fernando, 90 guns, old ship newly repaired, guns all on board, in the Arsenal(4)
La Neptano, 84 guns, rigged, and in good order, in the Arsenal-complete(5)
La Monarco, 74 guns, ditto, ditto, ditto(6)
La St. Augustin, 74 guns, ditto, ditto, sails fast-old ship-ditto(7)
La St. Juan Nepanesceno, 74 guns, just out of dock, in good order(8)
La Mantanes, 74 guns, in good order, ten years old(9)
La St. Yldefonso, 74 guns, thirteen years old(10)
La St. Francisco d'Asis, 74 guns, in dock, and has had a thoroughly repair(11)
La St Felino, 74 guns, sails very fast-old, but in good order(12)
La St. Fulgencia, 64 guns, old, but in good order(13)
L'Oriente, 74 guns, ditto, but in order for service(14)
La St. Julian, 64 guns, ditto, ditto(15)
L'Esmeralda, 44 guns, frigate(16)
La Flora, 44 guns, ordered to be docked for immediate service(17)
La Prueba, 44 guns, new-never been at sea-completely rigged(18)
La Vengenza, 40 guns, rigged and ready for sea(19)
La Diana, 40 guns, in good order. About ten years old(20)
La Pila, 40 guns, in good order(21)
In the Arsenal were between the 16 and 18 gunboats available, each armed wit a long 24pdr and a crew o 30 men. "During the last War they [=the Spanish] had Floating Batteries carrying from eight to ten long 24-pounders, with a furnace for heating shot. One of them lay at Rides the most of the War".
Sources
The Naval Chronicle vol. XIII, p. 245.
C. de Saint Hubert. "Frigates of the Spanish Navy (1714-1825)".
José P. Merino. "Matthew Mulligan, Spanish Shipbuilder", magazine Mariners Mirror, 1981.
J.D. Harbron. Trafalgar and the Spanish Navy.
http://3decks.pbworks.com
Notes
1. Presumably the Purisima Concepcio, 1st rate, Spain, designed by Francisco Gautier, launched at Ferrol 1779, lastmentioned 1810, dimensions 213'8"/168'9" (keel) x 58 x (beam) x 28'3", draught 29' (at stern), 2163 tons, 112 guns, 6 mortars.
2. Presumably the Principe de Asturias, 1st rate, 3-decker, Spain, launched at Havana, Cuba 1794, stricken 1812, dimensions 210/185'8" (keel) x 58 (beam) x 27'5", draught 29, 2308 tons, 112-118, guns, 1113-1163 men.
3. Presumably the Mejicano, also called San Hipolito, 1st rate, 3-decker, Santa-Anna-class, designed by Romero y Landa, Spain, launched at Havana 1786, building costs 328.449 pesetas, sold 1815, dimensions 210/185'8" (keel) x 58 (beam) x 27'5", draught 29, 2308 tons, 112 guns, 890 men.
4. Presumably the San Fernando, 2nd rate, Spain, launched at Havana 1765, sold 1815, 94 guns.
5. Presumably the Neptuno, 3rd rate, Spain, overseer design/construction Retamosa, launched at Ferrol, Spain 1795, sunk 1805 80 guns, 800 men.
6. Presumably the Monarca, 3rd rate, Spain, launched at Ferrol 1794, captured by British and wrecked 1805, 74 guns, 667 men.
7. Presumably the San Augustin, 3rd rate, Spain, launched at Guarnizo 1768, captured by Portuguese and returned after peace 1776, captured by British and burnt 1805, 74-80 guns, 711 men.
8. Presumably the San Juan Nepomuceno, 3rd rate, Spain, launched at Guarnizo 1766, captured by British and became HMS San Juan 21 October 1805 at Trafalgar, in 1805 temporarily Berwick renamed, listed on harbour service to 1816, 1740e tons builders measurement, 74 guns, 693 men.
9. Presumably the Montanes, 3rd rate, 3-decker, Spain, designed by Romero y Landa and improved by Retamosa, launched by Retamosa at Ferrol 1794, wrecked 1810, dimensions 190/169'5" (keel) x ? x 25, draught 28, 1499 tons, 74-80 guns, 715 men, speed >14 knots.
10. Presumably the San Ildefonso, 3rd rate, Spain, launched at Cartagena 1785, captured by British and became HMS Ildefonso captured 21 October 1805 at Trafalgar, provision depot Ildefonso in 1813, broken up July 1816, 1752e tons builders measurement 5, 74 guns, 746 men.
11. Presumably the San Francisco de Asis, 3rd rate, Spain, launched at Guarnizo 1767, wrecked after being damaged in battle at Trafalgar 1805, 74 guns, 677 men.
12. The San Fermin?
13. Presumably the San Fulgencio, 3rd rate, Spain, launched at Cartagena 1787, stricken, 64-68 guns.
14. Presumably the Oriente, also called San Diego de Alcala, 3rd rate, Spain, launched at Cadiz 1753, stricken 1806, 74 guns.
15. Presumably the San Julian, 4th rate, Spain, launched at Cartagena 1781, broken up 1830, 60 guns.
16. Presumably the Esmeralda, also called Santa Apolonia, launched at Mahon 30 May 1791, captured 5 November 1820, 34 guns.
17. Presumably the Flora, also called St. Maria Magdalena de Pacis, built at El Ferrol 1795, broken up 1812, 40-44 guns.
18. Presumably the Prueba, launched at El Ferrol 9 December 1802, captured February 1822, 40-44 guns.
19. Presumably the Venganza, frigate, Spain, launched at Mahon 1793, surrendered to Peru and became Goayas 1822, 34 guns.
20. Presumably the Diana, launched at Mahon 10 March 1792, broken up, 34 guns.
21. Presumably the Nuestra Senora del Pilar, also called Pilar, launched at Ferrol 1782, broken up 1817, 34-38 guns.
