"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).