Appendix E
By Richd. Kempenfelt, Rear-Admiral of the Blue
“You are with the utmost despatch to proceed with his Majesty’s ship under your command to Barbadoes, and if any ships-of-war are there, you are to deliver to the senior officer one of those letters addressed to the commander of any of his Majesty’s ships, acquainting him that you have one to the same purpose to the commander-in-chief, following such directions as he may think proper to give you.
“If none of his Majesty’s ships should be at Barbadoes, you are then to inform yourself where the commander-in-chief is, and proceed with all diligence in quest of him.
“You are carefully to avoid coming near any vessel you may see on your passage.
“You are to communicate to all King’s ships you meet with, or others of our nation, as also to all governors of islands you may touch at, the intelligence you are charged with, in order to its being as speedily and generally dispersed as possible.
“Richd. Kempenfelt.
“Dated on board his Majesty’s ship Victory,
at sea, 15th December 1781.
“To Capt. Saumarez, H.M.S. Tisiphone.”
(circular letter.)
“Sir,—Having fallen in on the 12th instant (Ashurst bearing N. sixty-one degrees E. distance fifty-three leagues) with a squadron of the enemy’s ships-of-war with about two hundred transports, having on board 12,000 troops, 10,000 of which, the prisoners I have taken inform me are designed for the West Indies, with such ships of the line as are marked in the enclosed list, I have therefore thought it expedient to despatch this intelligence to you. I am, sir, your obedient servant,
“R. Kempenfelt.”
“To the senior Officer,” &c.
List of ships of the line with the French convoy (agreeing with Admiralty intelligence).
| Guns. | ||
| La Bretagne | 110 | Capt. Mons. Le Comte de Guichen. |
| L’Invincible | 110 | |
| Le Majestueux | 110 | ″ Mons. Le Comte de Rochoin. |
| Le Royal Louis | 112 | ″ Mons. de Bausset. |
| Le Terrible | 110 | |
| La Couronne | 84 | ″ Mons. de la Mothe Piquet. |
Go as far as Madeira, then to Cadiz.
| Le Triomphant | 84 | Capt. Le Marquis de Vaudreuil. |
| Le Pégase | 74 | |
| Le Magnifique | 74 | |
| L’Actif | 74 | |
| Le Dauphin Royal | 70 | |
| Le Bien-Aimé | 74 | |
| Le Zodiaque | 74 | |
| Le Brave | 64. | |
| Le Robuste | 74 |
To separate off Madeira with convoy for the West Indies.
| Le Fendant | 74 | |
| L’Argonaute | 64 | |
| Le Hardi L’Alexandre | } | Jamaica fleet. |
Bound to the East Indies with 3,000 troops.
| Le Lion | 64 |
| L’Indien | 64 |
To go to Cadiz with de Guichen.