“The Argonaut and Bahama, which arrived here from Carthagena in November are gone up to the Carracca, the one to be coppered, the other to have her upper-works caulked.
By late advices from the Havanna, the San Alexandre had been careened, and was expected to proceed for Vera Cruz; another ship was careening there; the others are in a great measure abandoned, and in so decayed a state as to be judged incapable of being repaired.
The French ship l’Aigle (1) and corvette the Torch (2) equally, the brig Argus (3) of 18 guns latterly arrived here, continue, the two first in the Carraca, and the latter in the bay; it has been surmised orders having latterly been received for their being in readiness to proceed upon service. There can be no doubt entertained of their wish to spend the winter in this port, and in which I think it probable they will be gratified”.
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. 233-234. 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?
