Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 1]
Director - The Texel S.E. b E. 9 leagues
June 13th 1796
Dear Sir
Our cruize to this moment has not been attended with any event that should lead me to trouble you with a recital, but to know that we are all as we should be, will I am sure give you much satisfaction. Our Squadron at present consists of the Rufiel, Ramilies, Robuk [possibly Roebuck], Lion, Director, and Russian Frigate. The Russians are the Europe of 66, The Graaf orlop 66 Rear Admiral Tate, The Venus of 44 & The Dispatch of 18 Guns. Our other Friends who sailed with us, had no sooner got to sea than they were found unfit to remain, & were accordingly sent back to Sheerness. I fear they will be of no service to us because I think they cannot be strengthened sufficiently to encounter bad weather. If it is to be done, it should be by strong riders on the outside, and particular beams secured to them, and not in the mode they had pursued by shifts of plank and in the way an English ship should be repaired. -
Our station appears to be from 10 to 20 leagues WNW of the Texel occasionally in sight of it. On Saturday last the Squadron sailed alongshore from Camp Duyn in 7 or 8 fms. of water to the Haak Sands, which lie off the Mars [possibly Maas] Dyp. This is the nearest ships can approach & not go in to the Road. The Men of War had all their sails bent, & Top Gallt [gallant] yards across - one ship had a Blue flag at the Main. The distance we were off was such, that by the Hulls we could not discern with our Glasses which were Line of Battle Ships or two Deckers, except that a few of the largest, by judging
June 21