Letter from Rear-Adm. Sir Samuel Hood to General Jacob de Budé reporting on his movements and those of the British fleet, on the likely intentions of the French and Spanish fleets, and on his hope to intercept the armaments sent to the French from Brest, and commenting on the character of Sir George Rodney and his poor relations with the other captains.
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Barfleur at Sea March 17th. 1782 My dear General After receiving three different orders for going to Sea and as often contradicted, since my return from the Cue De Sac, I have now the pleasure to acquaint you that I am working up to windward of Martinique, with eleven sail of the Line. I wished much for a few more which with the greatest caution, I took the liberty of suggesting to Sir George, so as not to appear to be obtruding my opinion improperly. It was before General Matthews, upon talking of the Enemy’s Convoy from Europe. I observed, it was very likely, that as the Brest Armament which sailed in Decr last, was to be escorted to Martinique, by nine sail of the Line that the Escort would probably now be stronger, as the Court of France must know, that fifteen sail of the Line have since been sent hither from England Now admit that to be the case, which is by no means improbable, should the squadron be [[underline]] equal [[/underline]] only (sent to look out for the convoy) to the men of war by which the Transports & Trade must escape? or should [[catchword]] it [[/catchword]]
