[Extract]
No. 15
Although the ship for Lord [Richard] Howe has arrived in Portsmouth and is ready to sail, this Admiral who was to leave last month is still here. People are beginning to wonder and I believe that. the Ministry has been concerned about it for so!Ile time. Today, I was telling the Prince of Masseran, a student of physiognomy, that the faces of the Minister in general had been looking rather meditative and sad for some time. He replied that he had made the same observation.
Speaking of observations, My Lord, I have one concerning certain facts and which will be more positive if it turns out to be true. ー On the 17th of this month, we received intelligence from Portsmouth that an order l.lad arrived there, by which ammunition and rigging for one year were to be put on board three guard ships: the Marlborough, the Royal Oak, each of 74 guns, and the Worcester of 64. We had also received information from this port on the 12th that the order had been given to fit out the Centaur, of 74 guns, for an eight months journey. This ship was found to be in such decayed a state that the builder advised the Admiralty of it and deferred carrying out the first orders. I had inquiries made at the Office of the Navy to day in order to receive confirmation of such an extraordinary armament.. It was found that they had no knowledge of it and that they did not believe this fact to be true; consequently, I will not be able to confirm if for a few days. Assuming that it is true, it would seem more probable to me that, because of the shortage of transports, it had been decided to carry ammunition, victuals and other necessary articles on board warships. The season for warships to sail to India is passed and will not return before the month of October. Furthermore, if the Government had taken such a strange decision, even at this time of the year, the President of the Company would know something; and I can assure you, My Lord, that his information which he receives from the Government, is quite contrary to the notion of sending a new Squadron in that area .
One might conceive, perhaps, that this armament and the delay of the Hessian troops are deliberate 'moves in the speculation of events which the Portugal affair could bring about. .I confess that I can hardly believe this; besides, why should these ships be fitted out for one. year if they are to go on an expedition or a cruise in European waters? ... There are presently in Portsmouth 40 transports on which the detachment of the Guards will embark, several frigates ready to sail for America, and the ship Preston of 50 guns destined for Quebec. Futhermore, fifteen transports arrived in Deptford from Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Hamburg; they will take on horses for America.
