FROM HERTFORD 6 SEPTEMBER 1778 313

From HERTFORD, Sunday 6 September 1778

Printed for the first time from a photostat of BM Add. MSS 23219, f. 91.

London, Sunday past 3. Dear Horry, I THINK there is great good sense in what your letter1 says, and there may be a foundation for the apprehension you express, though I do not believe there is any such present intention in the Court of Spain;2 however in these cases private opinion should not weigh, and every possible security should be preserved. I hope Keppel has orders not to run to the southward^ for every reason, but it is too late now to interpose with anything I could say if I was ever so well authorized to do it. The reports of yesterday, but all unauthenticated, were that the Brest fleet was gone to Gales/ that it was gone back into their own port, and that it was beat by Keppel who fell in the action.s The last account from himself6 was that he was off Ushant and had nei­ ther heard of nor seen anything of them.7 Perhaps they may have gone towards Rochfort to be joined by the ships from that port.8 We intend going tomorrow into Suffolk. I am, dear Horry,

Always yours,

HERTFORD

1. Missing. vice had been received of an engagement 2. HW wrote to Lady Ossory 6 Sept. between Admiral Keppel's fleet and the 1778: 'The Duke [of Gloucester] fears the Brest squadron, that 11 of the French plan [of the French] is to draw Mr Keppel were taken and four sunk, and that southward till he falls into the jaws of Admiral Keppel was killed in the action; the Spanish squadron, or is enclosed be­ but as no advices of the kind have been tween them and the French' (OSSORY ii. received at any of the public offices, it was 48). Keppel, who had put his fleet into not credited' (Daily Adv. 7 Sept.). Plymouth after the 27 6. 'Yesterday [4 Sept.] some private dis­ July (ante ?ig July 1778, n. 1), had set patches were received at St James's from sail again 23 Aug. (MANN viii. 408-9, n. 4). Admiral Keppel, brought by a , ar­ 3. His orders were to engage the French rived at Falmouth, which were laid before fleet but not to leave the 'Channel ap­ his Majesty' (ibid. 5 Sept.). proaches unguarded unless he received 7. Keppel 'was off Ushant from the 28th definite information of the enemy' (W. M. to the 31st but saw nothing of the French James, The British Navy in Adversity, fleet' (James, loc. cit.). He returned to 1926, p. 137). 25 Oct. without having made 4. Presumably Calais, though 'Cales' contact (MANN viii. 420 and n. 12). was the old form for 'Cadiz.' 8. For the Brest fleet's whereabouts at 5. 'On Saturday evening [5 Sept.] it was this time, see post 2 Oct. 1778, n. 7. reported at the west end of town that ad­