Letter from Rear-Adm. Sir Samuel Hood to General Jacob de Budé, reporting on the locations of the French fleet, which had arrived in the West Indies from America in late November, and the condition of the British fleet, and enclosing copies of letters [presumably 0657-0658] re the 'strange and unaccountable business' of 'this St Eustatius event' [presumably the surrender of the island to French troops].
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Barfleur Carlisle Bay Barbadoes Decr. 14 1781 My dear General I was exceedingly disappointed, I did not find a letter from you on my return to this Island from North America the 5th. Instant, which makes me very impatient for the arrival of the November pacquet, trusting I shall not fail of the pleasure of hearing from you by that conveyance De Grasse left the Cheseapeak on the 4th of last month with 34 Sail of the Line, the Experiment & several frigates, and arrived with the whole at Martinique on the 24th & 25th except four Ships of the Line, which went to Cap Francois — He left behind him the Romulus, one frigate & the Sandwich armed ship which they captured on their passage to America Twenty five Sail of the Line are now in port Royal Bay, and give in the the Carenage — The Force under my command, which I brought from North America in is 15 Sail of the line; The Royal Oak [[catchword]] and [[/catchword]]
