Folios 191-192: Reginald Goodwin Keats, HMS Galatea, Falmouth. He acknowledges a...

Folios 191-192: Reginald Goodwin Keats, HMS Galatea, Falmouth. He acknowledges a letter from the Admiralty which has made plain that they did not approve of his expedition, together with the Anson, when they chased some French frigates into St George's Channel on the basis that he should have known that a sufficient naval force had already been sent to intercept them, or taken steps to inform himself of the entire situation, before he put to sea. He expresses his deep regret that he has taken a step disapproved of by the Board and so he asks that the full details of his situation be put before them.

When he arrived at Falmouth, he was informed that Sir Edward Pellew had sailed the previous day to look for the French frigates. He immediately wrote a letter (of which he encloses a copy) to the Regulating Captain, who commanded the ships standing offshore. He was apprehensive, however, that Captain Barnes might not be on board but on business in Falmouth and so not in a position to have any better intelligence than any of the other officers and so he decided to go to Falmouth himself. There he learned from Captain Barnes and the Collector, that Sir Edward Pellew had received several express messages urging him to put to sea and that Sir Richard King had written to say he would collect whatever frigates he could to send after him. Furthermore, Sir Edward Pellew had put to sea only the day before, leaving his anchors behind, which given the weather, was risky. Reports were circulating about the size of the enemy's force which only increased the general alarm. There were reports of a second disembarkation and so he decided to do what he could to assist. Having so decided he could not have expected an easterly wind to have kept him out at sea so long. That aside, he thought the sight of a naval vessel off shore, given these reports, would reassure the local people and on that basis would have been approved by the Board, even if the enemy was no longer an imminent threat. He also thought to return to port given Sir Edward Pellew had sailed, would negatively impact morale. He regrets he was not able to give the Admiralty a fuller account in his previous communication but time and the tide prevented that. He expresses his sorrow that he may be thought to have acted without the Board's approval as he very much values their approbation.

Folio 193: enclosure with folios 191-192. Copy letter from Captain Reginald Goodwin Keats to Captain Barnes dated 1 March 1797. He writes that he has heard from the Coxswain of his boat that enemy frigates have been seen off Saint David's Head. He asks for any further details Captain Bartnes may have as quickly as possible.