Folios 380-381: Robert Dudley Oliver. Extract from the St Kitts Newspaper. Extracts...

Folios 380-381: Robert Dudley Oliver. Extract from the St Kitts Newspaper. Extracts from the Caribbean Courier 19 April 1805. Bridgetown, Barbadoes, 26 March 1805. Dispatches from Diamond Rock inform that the French squadron has left Martinique. Captain Morris, commanding at the Diamond, discovered the enemy getting underway and found their force coming out of Fort Royal Bay. There was also an American ship which he thought might inform them of the Jamaica fleet. 30 March 1805. HMS Charlotte, Lieutenant [Dilt?] commanding, arrived with dispatches for Sir Samuel Hood. HMS Princess Royal confirms sailing of French squadron from Fort Royal, stated in the St Vincent letters. Shots were fired from Diamond Rock which caused them to alter course. There was a report of 11 ships arrived from France with troops which proceeded against Jamaica. A further 4 ships had been added to the force. 2 April 1815. Lord Seaforth received the following letter from Commodore Sir Samuel Hood.29 March 1805 Samuel Hood, HMS Centaur, Carlisle Bay, Baradoes to Lord Seaforth, Governor, Barbadoes. He is delaying the sailing of the convoy until a larger force arrives to accompany it, on account of the presence of the enemy. He will give notice of when the convoy is to sail. 6 April 1805. Reinforcements have arrived in Carlisle Bay namely HMS Nothumberland, Rear Admiral Cochrane and Captain George Tobin; HMS St George, Captain M.De Courcy; HMS Eagle, Captain Colby; HMS Atlas, Captain Pym; HMS Veteran, Captain Newman. Charles Fort saluted the Admiral aboard HMS Centaur. Command devolved from Rear Admiral Hood to Rear Admiral Cochrane whose squadron had been unsuccessfully seeking Le Grange during which it had called at Cape Verde Islands and Madieira. HMS Spartiate struck ground at St Jago and lost her rudder. HMS [Ane?] stayed with her and has now arrived. The squadron has gone to sea but one report is that Le Grange has headed for Martinique, another that she has gone to St Domingo to land 1000 troops then proceed to France, leaving the enemy out of reach of our fleet.The squadron encountered several enemy privateers and captured a fine schooner which will be taken into service. 9 April 1805. This letter from Captain Sir Francis Leforey, onboard HMS Spartiate at Carlisle Bay, Barbados to Governor Lord Seaforth is published for information. As ordered by Rear Admiral Cochrane, the first convoy shall leave Surinam on 12 May 1805 and the second on 12 May 1805. One HM ship will be ready to take the merchant ships from this island to join them. [Messiese ?] and La Grange have proceeded to St Domingo where General Fenand has sent expresses to Guadeloupe and Martinique for help and issued a proclamation prohibting contact with the Haitians on pain of death. Buonoparte had hoped to conquor the country and has got a powerful fleet on shore, which was seen going to Jamaica. A neutral from St Thomas's reported that the enemy fleet comprised 14 French ships and 8 Spanish. The order had been given to join [Messiese's?] squadron in order to evacuate all French and Spanish inhabitants of the island. HMS Barbadoes,Captain Nourse commanding, arrived with the captured French privateer, La Desiree and describes the capture. Rear Admiral Cochrane's squadron was seen off Martinique on 6 April. On 8 April 1805 he was off St Kitts. The last packet was HMS Princess Charlotte. HMS Spartiate has sailed for Antigua to refit.