Spanish naval preparations for her South American expedition according to the Dutch newspaper Nederlandsche Staatscourant dated 4 August 1819

 After the Napoleonic wars suffered Spain huge problems in keeping her South American colonies. To be able to do so were almost continuous ships and troops send to that continent. In 1818-1819 did Spain all possible efforts to fit out a huge expedition. Lacking enough transports for the troops was the government obliged to hire ships abroad. An item dated 30 July referred to a letter dated Cadiz 6 July reporting that 12 troop transport (6 French, 2 Russian, 2 Spanish and 2 English) received orders to depart. According to rumours was their destination Havana. These transports were part of the large expedition which could depart not earlier as September.