Folios 172-173: William Granville Lobb, HMS Pomone, in the Tagus. Covering letter...

Folios 172-173: William Granville Lobb, HMS Pomone, in the Tagus. Covering letter for the enclosed copy of a letter he sent by HMS Ann to Lord Cuthbert Collingwood [(1st Baron Collingwood, of Caldburne and Hethpool)]. HMS Jamaica is now in the offing. He shall order Captain John Dick with the Convoy, they will sail tomorrow at day light.

Folios 174-175: enclosure with folios 172-173. Letter dated 23 December 1805 by William Granville Lobb, HMS Pomone, to Lord Cuthbert Collingwood [(1st Baron Collingwood, of Caldburne and Hethpool)]. Reports a Swedish Brig that sailed on the 12 December 1805 from Cork with the West India Convoy under charge of HMS Arethusa, another Frigate and HMS Wasp has arrived. The Master of her a very intelligent man and an Officer in the Swedish Navy, whom he has seen reports that on the 16 December [position given] early in the morning he discovered a strange Squadron sailing in two Lines and steering SW by W the wind at NE with all sail set, the Convoy going free meeting them. The Frigates made the Signal to bring too: and stood on themselves to reconnoitre and after approaching them so near, that even the Swede could clearly discover their standing and make out it to be a three Deck Ship, they made signals to the strangers which not being answered, the signal was made for the Convoy to disperse. [Total of two pus sides about the encounter] [Last paragraph] He should immediately have put to Sea in HMS Pomone to look after them, but that the Topaze French Frigate has been some days perfectly ready for here; and a Convoy of 80 sail under charge of HMS Constance now lies below Betem waiting only a wind to depart, whose safety he desires it highly necessary to insure.