Folios 608-609: John Thomas Duckworth, HMS Leviathan, Ushant East 3 leagues. Since...

Folios 608-609: John Thomas Duckworth, HMS Leviathan, Ushant East 3 leagues. Since his last report via HMS Melpomene, the weather has made it impossible to look into Brest until yesterday. He found the French fleet apparently celebrating, and at sunset they fired a salute. The squadron is no longer in Berthaume Bay and he thinks it was probably driven into the harbour by the gales, but it is also possible they escaped as the number of ships in the harbour is reduced by about the strength of the squadron, to only 24 warships overall. He is sending this report in with the cutter HMS Dolly, whose Master says she has been on station for almost 11 weeks and needs all sorts of supplies and a new set of sails, which are waiting for her in Falmouth. He has ordered the Dolly into Falmouth to await further orders, which means his squadron is now reduced to the Leviathan and HMS Pompee. HMS Anson parted company on 16 September. He has sent word to Admiral Lord Bridport that he will be unable to send any further reports without detaching the Pompee until another vessel joins him.