In mid-September 1798, a squadron of Portuguese ships arrived at Malta during the two-year British siege. The Portuguese squadron included "Príncipe Real" (90; Captain Puysigur), "Rainha de Portugal" (74; Captain Thomas Stone), "São Sebastião" (74; Captain Mitchell), "Afonso de Albuquerque" (64; Captain Donald Campbell), and the brig "Falcão" (24; Captain Duncan). Four of the captains were British, and all were under the command of Domingos Xavier de Lima, Marquess of Niza. In addition, the British ship (Captain Manley Dixon) and the fireship (Captain George Baker) were attached to the squadron. The Portuguese government had sent this force from the Tagus to augment Nelson's fleet. After a brief stay off Malta the squadron continued to Alexandria. There Nelson sent the squadron back to blockade Malta.