On the 7th the Gulf of Paria, in Trinidad, was reached, but still no news of the enemy was obtained. The log merely mentions anchoring there for the night and sailing for the northerly islands next morning. The careful records of barometer and temperature are here interrupted, as “barometer taken down in clearing for action.”

All through June 10, 11 and 12 the smaller craft were constantly detached to the various islands for intelligence, and finally they all anchored at Antigua.

ORDER OF BATTLE AND OF SAILING

REPEATING FRIGATESNO. SHIPS’ NAMES. CAPTAINS.
VAN SQUADRON 1. Canopus Rear-Admiral Louis STARBOARD DIVISION
Captain Francis W. Austen
2.
3.
4. Superb Richard G. Keats
5.
6. Victory The Commander-in-Chief
Rear-Admiral Murray
Captain Thomas Hardy
7. Donegal Pulteney Malcolm
8.
9. Spencer Hon. R. Stopford
10.
CENTRE SQUADRON 1.
2.
3. Tigre Benjamin Hallowell
4.
5. Northumberland Rear-Admiral Hon. A. Cochrane
Captain George Tobin
6. LARBOARD DIVISION
7. Leviathan Wm. Henry Baynton
8.
9.
10.
REAR SQUADRON 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.BelleisleWilliam Hargood
7. Excellent Israel Pellew
8. Swiftsure W. G. Rutherford
9. Spartiate Sir Francis Laforey, Bart.
10.
To FRANCIS WILLIAM AUSTEN, Esq. Dated on board the Victory
Captain of His Majesty’s Ship Canopus in Carlisle Bay, Barbadoes,
June 5, 1805

(Signed) NELSON AND BRONTE

[Original image can be seen [here]]

“June 12.—Admiral made signal to prepare letters for England. At eight o’clock the Curieux brig parted company for England.”

This brig had a history of some interest. She had been captured from the French on February 3, 1804. She was cut out by the Centaur from the harbour of Martinique, just after the Diamond Rock had been seized and garrisoned by the same man-of-war. The story is pathetically told by M. Cheminant, the only French officer who survived the action.

“On board the Curieux, captured by the English,
“Pluviose 14, Year 12.