Folios 628-630: John Fyffe, HMS Cyclops, St Helens Road. Receipt of approval of his...

Folios 628-630: John Fyffe, HMS Cyclops, St Helens Road. Receipt of approval of his intention to join the Mediterranean convoy if they appear and directions to send the ship's log from the time of leaving Gibraltar and a detailed account of the measures taken to bring the convoy from Cadiz and the circumstances that delayed them. On his arrival in the Bay of Cadiz on 20 December [1803] he wrote officially to His Majesty's Consul saying no time should be lost communicating to the merchants and Masters of vessels as he though the convoy would only be a little way behind. He made the signal for a convoy and it flew every day during his sty but no applications were made. The Consult told him 2 vessels had been delayed by the weather but hoped one of them would follow him that evening which he believes is the reason Sir John Strachan sent him in again the next morning. On the morning of 25 [December 1803] he kept the signal flying but had no further information than had been sent by his 1st Lieutenant with the addition that only one of the brigs said it would be ready by the afternoon but from the signal made by HMS Medusa and enforced with several guns he did not think he could wait until then. He believes the convoy under Captain Durban must have got round Cape St Vincent 24 hours before HMS Cyclops. HMS Medusa came within sight near the Bay of Cadiz on the morning of 25 [December 1803] . She stood off for some time to speak to HMS Wesley so he could not communicate with her before 4 in the afternoon when Captain Gore told him where he had last seen the convoy, and that he had been ordered by Sir Richard Strahan to stand in and recall HMS Cyclops. Next morning HMS Donegal pointed out by signal the bearing of the convoy. HMS Cyclops did not get round Cape St Vincent until early the next morning due to the weather. Is sending the ship's log [not present].