Star.
London, England, 1805-07-23 00:00:00

a fleet different from that under my command; the
fame evening a frefh breeze twinging up at EaR, I
continued my courfe for the Straits.
On the 19th, at break of day, I came in fight of
the Rock of Gibraltar, and alfo of Monkey Moun-
tain ; I ordered every thing to be got ready for ac-
tion, formed the fquadron into two columns, and
ordered the frigates to make fail ahead; at noon,
the wind blowing frelh and the fquadron being per.
fatly formed, entered the Straits, the alarm guns
bred from all points of the Rock of Gibraltar ; I
caufed the grand Rag to be difplayed at the flern,
and thofe of dillindion. In the mean time the fri-
gates a-head made a lignal for a lhip of war and two
frigates flying before us, firing guns. They did not,
however, flack fail, and about four o'clock made a
fignal for 1 t fail, fix of which were (hips of war. A
Short time after they made a fignal that the enemy
was flying.
The fquadron made all the fail it could carry, but
it was at too great a dißance from the enemy to hope
to come up with them, and night was coming on.—
The Hortenfe had received orders to proceed before
us to Cadiz, to give notice to l'Aigle and the Spanilh
[hips which were ready to follow me, to put to fea.
She executed this commiffion, and as t had no hope
of being able to come up with the enemy, I direded
my courfe to Cadiz, to effed a junClion with the (hips
I expeded from that port. It was Rill fufficiently
light for me to perceive in the roads of Cadiz, that
the Aigle was preparing to pat to fea, as well as
feveral Spanilh [hips As loon as I was before the
Bay, perceiving that the wind which was Weft and
Prong, would drive us off lime, I made the Signal
to anchor with the Ikea anchor, and loon after a
Spanith Officer came on board, and informed me
that eight of his Catholic Majefty's (hips and a Fri•
gate, under the command of Admiral GRAVIIIs, were
about to put to lea, and before midnight I faw them
fucceffively come out of port, and anchor without it.
I fent my Adjutant on board Admiral GaAVINA,
who pointed out to hint how precious every moment
was, and that it was el entially neceffsry to get nnder
I fail without delay, to proceed to our deftination.
Admiral Gaaviae anfwered, that every thing was
ready, that I might make the fignal for getting un
der weigh, and he would repeat it. At two; in the
morning the whole French fquadron was under fail,
and a part of the Spanilh fquadron, and we Itecred
a weflerly courfe. At day light I faw the Spanilh
were very far aftern, and flackened fail the whole
morning for them to come up. In the afternoon the
wind changed to the wellward. From this time my
voyage was only retarded by occafional contrary
winds and calms. On the 19th of Floreal (May 9).
being in the latitude prefcribed in my inflrudions, I
tranhnitted to Admiral GRAVINA his difpatches, and
at a fignal made fix Ihips of his Catholic Majelly and
two frigates, and two twigs of his Imperial Majelty,
range themfelves under his flag. They were in fight
the remainder of the evening, but the next morning
they were no longer to be Peen ; and I have realon
to believe they reached their dellination.

In my paffage I law very few vac's ; thole I did
fee I caufed to be chafed by my frigates. I had fent on
the Hortenfe and the Hermicne a good way a-head ;
they joined me on the 23d. They had taken the Eng-
lith corvette, the Cyane, of 24 guns, and 125 men,
commanded by the Honourable Captain CADOGAN.
The fame day I had fight of the Maud of Martinique.
On the 2 s it, at break of day, I entered the Chan-
nel of St. Lucia, and, in the courfe of the day, an-
chored at Martinique with the fquadron antrußed to
me by his Majelly, and two Spanifh fliips and a fri.
gate. The letter then proceeds to commend the zeal
and good condua 01 the Captains and Officers of the
fleet, in particular Captain MAISTREIL, of the Nep-
tune; Captain COSMAO, of the Pluton ; Captain Ro.
LAND; Adjutant PRIGN Ey ; his Excellency the Spa-
nigh Admiral GRAVINA ; after which it concludes
thtis—
lam employed in taking in lay water. I have
found the Colony abundantly fupplied with provi-
fions. General Lao alarm' is letting out for Guada-
loupe to collth there as many tranfpvrts as he can
procure. From the intelligence I have been able to
obtain, I have reafon to believe that Admiral Gae-
VINA will expel ience no difficulty in his expedition ;
and when he 113411 have rejoined me, which I hope
will be very loon, I will not lofe a moment in repair-
ing to my dellination.
I entreat your Excellency to accept the homage of
my refpea. (Signed) VILLENEUVE.