^Up.XVI from the Revolution to the Death of K. William*
*694. trary Winds; But the French* upon No- Fleet left the Coast of Catalonia, while 1694*
tice of their Approach, retired to the the Season was yet favourable, the
Isles of Hyeres, off of Thoulon. The French would appear by Sea before
h seventeenth of July, it was determined, Barcelona ; But if that really had been
V ren< * in a Council of War, to stop at Altea- their Intent, the EngUJh Fleet could
Bay, to water. About this Time, the not have prevented it, the Ships not
Jiari or uauoway propoiea me meet s being in a Condition to stay longer,wintering in the Mediterranean ; But without manifest Hazard, (c)
the Admiral difaproved of it. (a) The fifteenth of August, two Third- Smg ^.
Kp 0 r als The first of Augufi, the Admiral re- Rate-Ships, and one of the Sixth-Rate, j en t to cen-*V-h the ce i ve d a Letter from the Marquifs Vil- were ordered to Cadiz, to refit and vie- -voy the°f lena, Vice Roy of Catalonia, desiring tual, and then to convoy the Trade to sthstfA 0 El
The fifteenth of August, two Third- e
... _ J/ul SonieShps
Trade to En-gland.
his Opinion in several Particulars, England-, And now the Fleet beingwhereupon a Council of War was cal- ready to leave Barcelona, a Council ofled, and each Article being consider- War was called, to consider in whated, Resolutions were taken thereupon. Manner it might be done, so as to
keep it most private, (d )
Some other Proposals were made by When the Fleet was got down the The Fleetthe Vice-roy ; But as they were such Streights, as far as Malaga, the Admi- ordere ^ f°as, the Circumstances of the Fleet con- ral received Orders from His Majesty, Cadizs *
When the Fleet was got down the The Fleet
llards sidered, were not practicable, they dated August the seventh, to continuecould not be complied with. He was in those Seas, and winter -At Cadiz, forunder great Apprehensions, that if the the more effectual preventing the De-
signs
; (a) The Admiral acquainted him he could by done without Delay ; For that they had no more
Hrc iett. no Means think it adviseable, since there was not Provisions than were absolutely necessary for them,
any Place fit to receive and protect them, but in their Passage to England-Mahon , in the Island of Minorca, where there (c) The ninth of August, the Admiral wrotewas a total Want of Provisions; Nor could any to the King of Spain , and acquainted His Maje-
Stores be timely got thither, to refit the Ships sty, how much it troubled him, that the Fleet
against the Spring. That, as for Naples , there could do no other Service, than the Keeping the
was no Defence, and MeJJtna was not large e- French from farther Attempts in Catalonia , dur-
nough. But there remained yet another material ing his remaining on the Coast; That he had
Objection, which was this; That should such a Hopes His Majesty’s Troops might have made
Strength be detained from England and Holland, some considerable Effort, at least have endeavour-
all the Winter, the French might have made ed to regain Palamos, and other Towns, with the
themselves too strong in the Spring for what could Assistance of the Naval Force : And he, likewise,
possibly have been fitted out in these Seas. represented to His Majesty, that unless Care was
(b) The Articles, with the Answers, were as immediately taken, to put Catalonia into a betterfollows : Posture of Defence, it would be next to an Im-
Article I- That the better to re-inforce the possibility to preserve it many Weeks, under hisSpanijh Army, ten Thousand, or, at least, eight Subjection ; And that the Kingdom of Valencia ,Thousand Soldiers might be put on Shoar, from as well as the Sea-Port Towns, were in no betterthe Fleet, to join those they had, and such as Condition: That as for the Fleet, since there
should be ordered from the Spanijh Ships and was no Hopes of bringing the French to a Battle,
Gallies. or forcing them, with any Probability of Success,
Answer. That not any of the Ships of His Ma- at Toulon , nor of employing it so as to do anyjesty of Great Britain, or those of the States Ge- considerable Service, he designed to return with
nerttl had Soldiers 011 Board them. it to England But that he could not leave Bar-
Art. II. That if the first Proposal could not be celona , without informing His Majesty, that thecomplied with, the Fleet might go in Pursuit of Vice-roy had not only treated him with all ima-the Enemy, and endeavour to destroy them. ginable Civility , but zealously promoted all
Answ. That, formerly there was not onlyHopes Things, that were represented to be necessary,of meeting the French Fleet off of Barcelona, or (d) It was agreed, that when they failed, anat Sea, but that they would have given an Qppor- Appearance should' be made the first Day, as iftunity of engaging them, but finding them retired they were going Eastward. But that, in theto Toulon, within Fortifications too strong to he Night, an Opportunity should be taken of get-forced, the going thither could have no other Ef- ting out to Sea, and proceeding Westward; Andfect than losing Time ; However, if certain Ad- th e Pl aces necessary for Rendezvous were fettled,vice could be had, that they were at Sea, or in in Case of Separation.
a ny Port where they might be attacked, with Pro- Before the Admiral failed, he wrote to thehability of Success, that the Fleet would immedi- Tey of Algiers , letting him know, that theately proceed in Quest of them. King, his Master, had sent a Fleet into the
Art- III. How long the Fleet could continue Streights, to put a Stop to the Proceedings of
in those Seas. . France , against Spain, and that, notwithstanding
Answ. That if any Enterprise should be un- their Insinuations, that England could not sparedertaken, on the Sea-Coast, with his Forces, in Ships for those Parts, they thought it convenientOrder to the Regaining any Places from the to retire from him, and secure themselves atFrench, in which the Fleet might be assisting, it Toulon. He also acquainted that Government,Would be readily embraced, provided it could be that the Summer was too far spent, to admit o r