Folios 371-372: Robert Dudley Oliver, HMS Melpomene, 4 leagues NE of the Skelligs....

Folios 371-372: Robert Dudley Oliver, HMS Melpomene, 4 leagues NE of the Skelligs. As he was returning to Portsmouth he boarded a Letter of Marque ship, the Nelly, from Liverpool to the Coast of Africa. The Master told him that when he sailed, he did not know that the French squadron from Toulon was at Cadiz. He read in an English newspaper that Rear Admiral Knight was leading a convoy from Portsmouth to the Mediterranean which he though might be in danger. He sailed for the Tagus to warn Rear Admiral Knight but he had already left. He learnt that the enemy fleet had sailed from Cadiz. He boarded a Portuguese ship from Brazil which had seen large ships which were believed to be an English squadron and which did not detain her when he hoist his colours. He boarded a second Portuguese ship from Brazil which had been examined by a French 3 deck ship, accompanied by a ship full of troops stearing for Madiera. He was told by the French Officer that they were headed for the Cape of Good Hope and had left the French and Spanish fleets at Lisbon, which they did not believe. He attempted to reach England with this inteligence against unfavourable winds, and sent a signal to one of HM Packets on which he sent a duplicate of this letter. Yesterday he prevented the capture of 5 merchant vessels which a French vessel was in the process of boarding. One of the vessels informed him that a French Privateer was causing disruption off the Shannon.

Folios 373-374: enclosure with folios 371-372 duplicate of folios 371-372 from Robert Dudley Oliver, HMS Melpomene, dated 26 May 1805.