Spanish crown fitting out powerful squadron according to the Dutch magazine Maandelyksche Nederlandsche Mercurius dated May 1758

An tiding received from Madrid reported that the crown to fit out a squadron of 16 ships of the line (1-80, 14-70, 1-64) and six frigates (1-30, 5-26) for immediately departure and the appointment of don André Reggio as lieutenant-general of the navy, the count of Vega-Florida as rear admiral and other necessary commanding officers caused some rumours despite that continuously was said just for protection purposes. In a second item dealing with this topic was again written that Spain intended to be neutral in the war between France and England.