Copy of a letter from Rear-Adm. Sir Samuel Hood to Adm. Sir George Rodney, giving the totals of the French and British fleets in the West Indies and the movements of the latter towards St Kitts, and describing Hood's intention to sail to the relief of the island; and a duplicate copy in a different hand [0662a].
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Duplicate/ Barfleur, Carlisle Bay Barbadoes, 14th. January 1782. Sir, The Naval Force of the French in these Seas is, and has been for some Weeks pst thirty sail of the Line, two fifty’s and seven Frigates, this greatest part of which as been twice off St Lucia, several days each time, but made no attack; and by a dispatch Vessel which arrived this morning from St. Kitts, I received a Letter dated the 10th from Governor Shirley in which he informs me the Enemys Fleet amounting in the whole to upwards of forty Sail, were then in sights from the Hills, standing in fro that Island. His Majesty’s Force now here under my Command is twenty of the Line, with which I am about to get under Sail to seek the Enemy, and to do the best I am able for the relief of St. Kitts. My Rendezvous is St. Johns Road Antigua, and I am in hopes to be joined by the Prudent in going to that Island, she parted with Commodore Affleck, who arrived here from New York on the 12th, had been off English Harbour the day before the Commodore called there, and there is reason to fear she returned with a Sprung Main Mast. The Royal Oak is also in English Harbour but without a lower Mast, so that I have no prospect of any service from her. [[catchword]] The [[/catchword]]
