Letter from Rear-Adm. Sir Samuel Hood to General Jacob de Budé debating what actions the various enemy commanders may take and describing what action he thinks the British fleet should take to counteract the various possible threats, expressing disapproval at Lord Rodney's commandeering of several ships 'to protect his own person', agreeing with comments by French commanders that the British do not know how to make use of its victory in April, and reporting that he had calmed Adm. Pigot's fears about troops and ships which had arrived from Carolina, and offered him advice. Also, near duplicate of part of letter dated 8 April [but undated itself: 0711a].
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The Kings fleet now consists of twenty four Ships of the Line the Jupiter, and four frigates: I would have a flag officer with ten or eleven Ships, the Jupiter and two frigates, push on towards Bermuda, and cruise forty or fifty Leagues, to the South west of that Island for 14 or 16 days, then repair to New York, and the rest of the fleet, after the Convoy is through the Gulph, to go to that port, looking at the Cheaseapeak in it's way. This latter Squadron would thereby very probably be complete in water, by the time the other arrived, which would prevent delay, and much confusion for the [[underline]] powers [[/underline]] of New York, are by no means equal to the completing so large a fleet, at one & the same time. Suppose then, there is no object for His Majesty's fleet, upon the coast of America, in that case, it should put to sea gain without the least avoidable impediment, and proceed directly off Cape Francois, before which port one half * should cruize, with a 50 Gun Ship, and a frigate between the Cape & the Mona Channel, and the other half, between the Grand Caygnes & [[unclear]] This would give a very fair chance for preventing a junction between Solano and Vandreuil, admitting an attack upon Jamaica is still intended * The Invincible & Warrior are expected to join daily and the Nonsuch & Anson will come to us at New York [[catchword]] and [[/catchword]]
