Russian naval movements and preparations according to the Dutch newspaper Ommelander Courant dated 12 May 1785

According to an item dated St. Petersburg 12 April was ordered that the ships and frigates fitted out at St. Petersburg were ready for departure in May. Of these ships were 12 or 15 ships of the line and 5 or 6 frigates to be fitted out for a long and far away voyage with an unknown destination. The resting 8 or 10 ships of the line and 4 or 5 frigates were to service as a guard squadron during the summer season in the Baltic. For the crews were excluded the 2,000 men at St. Petersburg and Kronstadt arrived a part of the 6,000 or 7,000 recruits although all ready from these men some were send or to be sent to Cherson to assist by the building and fitting out of the ships and other vessels which were to be prepared for the summer service at the Black Sea.