424.
To Lord Sheffield.
Friday, two o'clock, 7th Sept., 1781.
FRENCH AND SPANISH FLEETS IN THE CHANNEL.
Lord Hillsborough[7] tells me that himself and Co. believe that the combined fleets are gone into Brest. Expresses that left Bristol yesterday, and Plymouth, Wednesday, cannot give the least account of them, and a Portuguese ship from Lisbon the 23rd last month, beat several days between Scilly and the Land's end without seeing or hearing of them. However, at all events more than twenty-five swift sailing vessels had been sent out to meet and warn the West India fleets. Adieu.
We shall meet at Brighton on Monday.
E. G.