By the Advices from Rotterdam and other Intelligence received, it appears

That the French have now at Sea a Squadron consisting of

manned as in time of War

That orders are sent to Brest de pourvoir a leur besoin, or, to forward, so as that they may be ready to sail in 15 days after receiving the definitive Orders from Court,

That 2,000 Workmen of one sort or another are expected at Brest.

That 4000 Sailors are ordered for that Department, and are daily passing thither.

That Orders are also sent to Rochfort & Toulon to visit all the Ships & Frigates at those Ports, & to put such of them as are good, into a condition to be armed; to which end they work without intermission at the last mentioned Port, the number of Workmen there being also increased, particularly in Ropemakers & Coopers, and the Bakers kept fully employed.

It also appears that orders have been given for fitting out at Brest Rochfort & L'Orient for the East Indies

and that one of the ships of 64 Guns & the two Frigates are actually sailed for the Isle of France with Troops, a great quantity of Bomb Shells, Shot, Powder & on board.

And it farther appears that Reinforcements have been sent this Year to their West India Islands, which, with the Troops that were already there, amount to about 7000 Men.

With respect to the Spanish Equipments it appears, about the latter end of April,

That they expected at Cadiz 10 Ships of the Line and 4 Frigates from Ferrol

That officers & Petty officers were to be sent from Cadiz to Ferrol towards manning those Ships and Frigates.

That on the 8th of May 2 Ships of the Line sailed from Cadiz with the Flota

That an Edict has been published for all the Registered Seamen to appear at the proper Office in three days under pain of death.

That on the 20th of May a Squadron sailed from Cadiz under the command of a Rear Admiral, consisting of

5 Ships of 70 Guns
2 Frigates of 26.
2 Sloops of 10
1 Xebeck of 30

the destination of which was kept secret,

That there remained in the Bay of Cadiz
2 Ships of 70 Guns
1 Frigate of 26.

That Orders are sent to Ferrol to hold all the Ships there in readiness to be armed, if there should be occasion for it, & that the Cadiz Squadron is to be increased to 15 Ships of the Line, besides Frigates.

It also appears they are preparing at Barcelona a number of Tents, a great Train of Artillery, Baggage Waggons & all sorts of Necessaries.

By these Intelligences it appears that France & Spain have, or will soon have a larger number of Ships in Commission in Europe than we have, and that they may have double the number unless we immediately take proper measures to keep pace with them in our Equipments.