L30/15/42/2

From Thomas Pelham, Cadiz to Frederick Robinson, Madrid:

18 Oct 1776

From: 1776 To: 1776

Glad they continue well and ride daily. Assumes Dages pleased at their riding Todo. Fleet not sailing due to a Levante wind. Waiting for north wind. Brigadier Vaughan not really well enough for expedition, never recovered the contusion received at Algiers. Sends compliments. Naple's nephew also going with Fleet. Told him his uncle was well when Tom left Sitio. Dining at General O’Reilly’s with Mr. Hardy tomorrow. Declining his offer of horses to Gibralter. Corregidor of Chiclana informs him that horses there are better accustomed to the roads than the Dragoons. Three Theatres much more brilliant than expected. Company of English Strollers expected. Spanish as keen for them as they were averse to the French. Object of expedition [of fleet] a mystery. The large size of ships, abundance of ammunition, money and scaling ladders astonish everybody. Rio Janeiro and Island of St. Catherine are mentioned. French positive that British Colonies their destination a while ago, former possibility more credited. Mr. Hardy very well bred, not the kind of man Sir T. Gascoyne thought him etc.. Commands Lord Grantham. Letter from Mr. Darwin, brother to Grantham's correspondent, has sent adjoined answer [not present]. Compliments to Shadwell et al.

item

Vaughan,
Naple,
O'Reilly,
Hardy,
Gascoyne,
Darwin,
Shadwell