Spanish colours united in
the same flag. It was understood that the ships now arming in
Cadiz were to be commanded by French officers. They were
victualled only for a very short voyage.

Respecting the danger to which this capital would be exposed by
a _coup-de-main_, which might be attempted in spite of the
batteries at the entrance of the river, as well as the
possibility of effecting a landing a few miles off Cascaes, your
lordship has at hand the means of information so much superior
to any which I could presume to offer, or collect from
professional persons here, that I shall only presume to solicit
your lordship's attention to the consideration of this subject,
and to the necessity which may arise out of it, for employing a
naval force upon this station. Don Rodrigo has informed me that
the three Portuguese ships of the line, which I mentioned to
your lordship as preparing for service, will be ready within
three weeks to form a junction with any force which his Majesty
might be pleased to detach, for the defence of Portugal; and
that two more would be prepared to follow them within a short
time after.

It appears by a letter from Viana, that the master of an English
vessel, who had been captured on the 10th ultimo by Le Telegraph
privateer, and carried into Corunna on the 23rd, had found there
two large French frigates, which had arrived immediately before
him in eight days from Cherbourg, laden with some ammunition,
and destined (as they reported) for Cadiz. The master of Le
Telegraph had avoided putting into any of his own ports from the
apprehension of being detained, as it was reported that other
privateers had been stopped, and stripped of their men, on
account of a secret expedition which was fitting out in the
French ports.

I have the honour to be, &c.
J.H. FRERE.

The Right Honourable Lord Hawkesbury, &c. &c. &c.

No. 3.

Intelligence arrived from General O'Hara, at Gibraltar.

Arrived by land the crew of the Fortune privateer, consisting of
twelve men. They report that last Saturday, between three and
four P.M. they saw two three-deckers and three seventy-fours
arrive at Cadiz from Ferrol; that the Santissima Trinidad,
another Spanish three-decker, is completed and ready in that
harbour; and that they are fitting out five other line-of-battle
ships at Cadiz, which have