Folios 97-98: George Hope, HMS Majestic, Scilly NNW 18 Leagues. Reports the wind...

Folios 97-98: George Hope, HMS Majestic, Scilly NNW 18 Leagues. Reports the wind is Easterly and no prospect of change. He forwards letters and dispatches by the cutter Lurcher. He asks that his arrival in Scilly with a convoy from the Mediterranean is conveyed to their Lordships and encloses a list of ships together with his orders from Rear Admiral Duckworth and a journal of his proceedings. He will make progress up the Channel as soon a possible. He states HMS Serapis was detained in Gibraltar by the Admiral and did not join him. He will keep HMS Dolphin with the convoy until arrival in The Downs. He dispatched HMS Druid to Falmouth with those elements of the convoy bound up the Bristol and Irish channels. She is then to progress to Spithead. He reports seeing no men of war during his journey save for one corvette he believed was Spanish but had to give up the pursuit. He has entrusted his dispatches with Captain Drummond of HMS Leander, a passenger on the Majestic.

Folio 99: enclosure with folios 97-98. Orders dated 15 September 1799 issued by John Thomas Duckworth to George Hope in Gibraltar Bay. Together with the Druid, Serapis and Dolphin, to take a convoy to the Downs, sending the Druid and Dolphin into Spithead as they pass. Report his arrival.

Folio 100: enclosure with folios 97-98. Further orders dated 3 September 1799 by Duckworth to Hope in Gibraltar Bay. To proceed with convoy off the Rock of Lisbon and put himself under the orders of Captain Faulknor, HMS Impregnable, but if the weather does not permit, then to proceed with his original orders.

Folio 101: enclosure with folios 97-98. Orders dated 10 October 1799 from Duckworth to Hope whilst on HMS Leviathan, at sea. He is now required to proceed with his original orders dated 15th ultimo.