The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1805-02-05 00:00:00

MW departments of th:s country, to inertia their marine
rtahlichments, arid lit out squadrons similar to what is now
doing in the port of Fermi.
As Spain is nat engaged in any fore*, war, I feel it my duty
to demand an explanation, more particula,ly as the harbour of
Ferrol contains five sail of the line telonging to the French, as
also one Dutch man of war of the same rate; the officers of
whoni, I am informed, declare, that they intend sailing in
company with the Spanish squadron ; which report seems to
be confirmed by their late preparations '
The situation in which I am placed, by commanding a divi-
sion of His Britannic Majesty's ships, calls upon me to en.
quire of your Excellency whether the above facts are true ; for,
should the two squadrons Sail in company, I declare to your
Excellency that it is my determination to attack that of
France and Holland; and, I trust, in doing so, I will not be
'opposed by the Spanish squadron; the consequence of which
may prose fatal to the harmony and good ur•derstauding that
have so happily subsisted between the two countries,and which
my best endeavours have hitherto been used to preserve. At
the same time there is a duty 1 awe my country in maintaining
its honour and dignity that is paramount to every other con-
sideration, and by this 1 must be governed.
I have the honour to be, (Signed) A. COCHRANE.
His Excellency Don Felix de lexada.
(Second Inclosure in No. 26 )--Copy sofa Letter from the Cap-
tain-General of Mantle, at Ferrol, to the Honourable Rear
Admiral Cochrane, dared 15th September, 1604.
At three-quarters past twelve of this day, I have received
your Excellency's official of yesterday, directed to ask me ex-
planations upon the subject of the armament of ships, that
your Excellency says is making in the. port, and to manifest
that you are determined to attack any of the French ahios of
war and the Dutch ships that are hear•, should they verify t twin
departure at the same time that the. S,.airish ships of 1112 T effea it.
To the first point I have no objection to answer your Excel-
lency, that, though in this department there have been armed
three ships and one frigate, besides another that was already
fitted out, arid some smaller ships, for a secret commission ;
the manner in which them ships have been manned with only
half crews ; this circumstance alone by itself dissipates all hos-
tile apprehensions on the part of any European power.
And, as to what vegatds the second point, I can only say to
your Excellency, that I remain informed of the declaration
which your Excellency makes,,of attacking the French and
Dutch ships of war, should' they effect their sailing with the
Spanish ; and, not having the least knowledge of the French
intending to depart from this port with the ships of my Sove-
reign, 1 give account to His Majesty of whit your Excellency
has just officiated with me for his Royal information, which I
lay hefere your Excellency i■ reply to yet- said office.
God ~reserve your Excellency many
(Signed) FELIX DE TEXADA.
(Third Inclosure in No. 26.'—Copy of Second Letter from the
Captain General of Marine, at Ferrol, to Rear Admiral
Cochrane, dated 15th September, 1104.
After having closed the adjoining packet for your Excellency,
and having scot it with one of my Adjutant; to the Eng-
lish Vice Consul, who not being found, and when toy dis-
patches were already in the Prist.Office, in which I inform my
Court of what your Excellency had officiated with me, and of
my reply, I have received orders to dimint Ilia Maiesty's three
ships that are in this port, and that only to remain so the two
frigates, the packet+, and transport ships, that were so before,
to be employed in their -particular coriont*ioni—with which
motive I have again opened tine sand packet, to subjoin to it
this information, which should pacify the apprehensions you
manifested in your office of yesterday. (lid preserve your Ex-
cellency many years (Signed) FELIX DE TEXADA.
(Fourth Inclosure in No. 26.)--Copy of a Letter from Rear
Admiral Cochrane to the Captain General of Marine, dated
His Majesty's Ship Nortituineerland, of Ferrol, 16th Sep-
t, mbar, 11104.
Sl3-1 have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your
lettic of veiterday's date, in answer to mine of the 14th inst.
It affords me moth pleasure to understand, that your Excel.
kilter has received order' to retire into the Arsenal and disarm
the Spanish squadron now in the harbour of Ferrol. May 1
beg of your Excellency to know, for the information of no
Court, whether the orders are fir the actual disarmament of the
squadron, that is to say, disembarking their guns, provision.,
rigging, Lc. as also fat the discharge of their respective shave
companies!
. _

I am well aware, that ships of mery dewription ran remain in
the arsenal equally ready for sea al at anchor whore they now
; and the ditty I owe my country puts me under the plinlo!
nere-sity of making the demands I now do. May God long
Ff., I've the peace between our two cuuntritts, and grad ynul
Fxcellency malty happy years. I have the honour t.. Iw,

(Signed) A. CUCIIRANE
ffi,Excellenev Don Felix dr Texada
(Fifth Incfissure M No. 26 )—•Copy of a Letter horn the Capt.
Generalist Marine to the lion Rear Admiral Cochrane,
dated the 18th Septembes, 1804.
To the nlBee that your Excellency has been pleased to ad-
damn me, tinder date of the 16th of the present month, and
which was delrvered v. me yesterday mowing. I can only reply
to your Excellency, tha the ►mg's ships, which 1 informed
yam Excellency ►y me scam.' offic►, dated 15th, should enter
the Arsenal, have alr,zdv effected it, will remain in the tame
same they were in before their equipnient for to lute into ,ore,
which has been the °nein of the apprehensions your Excel-
lency had, and which yoo manilmted to me in your letter of
the 11th, and to which I have replied to your Excellency by
ma t wo aTieuh on the followin day, which I re-assure your
Excellency in answer to your said off .41; and wishing for o;.
santintities in which .1 may b.: able ,o evince the considi,ration
I haw. fur yoUr Excellency's person. Cad preserve roar Ex-
cellency many years. FELIX DE TEXADA.
No. 9t'.—Nasal Occurrences at Cadiz, 2c. Tor Seprenther,
1904, •opened by Mr. Dia.f, Hu Majoity's Crowd at that
Place,

Upon the 19th arrlved the two store ships belonging to the
King; the Presenucion and Aunes, Iy Gallicia, with
tietb.!r for Cartliagena, mid 4.534 the troops &wined fur That.
'lb, first proceeded the 231 fw her destination the stead
went to the Carnets to repair her main mast. The troupe were
landed at the island sad iticorpratei with the force which is
fermium there for that service, ands the command of Don
Pedro Grintare% who is to commaiii there, as is, accooling
to report, [lon Joh. Cam, lately proitiottrf to the rank of Cap-
tam of a ship from that of Captain of a frig.t to quanty him
fie the commaisd, which is to consist in frigates. For the pre-
sent, 1600 troops are only intended to be sent nut, and proles-
hlt will go to the Illavannah in the first instance.

In the Carracea, the fririites !1141;1;naZd Refine arc
getting ready, and in the Bay the frigate ronsona (lately at-
rived front the department of Ca,tleagena), also the Amphi-
trite. In all there frigates they are forming the case for their
receiving on board the quicksilver destined for the liavannah
and Vera Cruz.

In Galliria, the frigates Venganaa Lit Prucsa are under
refers for Montiride•

Frain Nfontirideo were ex pester. to rail the 25th of July, the
frigates Aa,umprion, Paz, and Mercedes, which had put in
there from Lima, where they hare united with the frigates
CuIS anct Medea, which were u, on that station. The whole
being a money or plate register, end noise ,h- .-ornmand of the
d'Enuadra, Rear Admiral Don Joseiiii
They are expected to bring six millions.
whips which had heeit ordered to be fitted out at rho
Cana= (and which, with teepee to armament, have been so
them some month, pe,t) remain in the same situation as they
ham been of late. Only three of them have any number of
men on board. These are the Trinidad and St. Ann, having
shout 500 each, and the A in-rica, with nearly her complement
The nth-r three with hardly any. The Argonaut and Re-
barna which came from Canbagena, are completely manned
and ready for service in every !rape". The careening of the
remaining ship.. in the Cameos is carrying on.
No. 4g.—l xtract of • Leger from Captain Gore, of the Me-
. _

dun, dated sth October, 1804.
The French ship L'Aigte of 74 guns, and five WU of Spanish
line of battle ships, are perfectly ready for sea at Cado. The
Santosima Trinidad& and the St. Ann, both first rates, are
fitting, but not ready.
No. 49.--Copy of a Letter front Captain 3. C. White, to Lord
. .

lidel%dle, dated 19th oetober, 1604.

MY LORD—In obedience to your Lordship's commands,
I herewith mate the force of the French and Spanish ships, as
far as came under my observation during my stay at Cadiz, be-
tween the 27th M August and Sth of September last, six in
the Foetal or Road of Cadiz, the French force consisted of
I.'Argle, of 74 gusts, and two co ttttt es, manned and ready
for sea.

Ths Spa.ish NMI i the rental contiated of the geird.htp,