Catalogue description Folios 196-198: Robert Barlow, HMS Phoebe, Cawsand Bay. He is sending the information he...

Folios 196-198: Robert Barlow, HMS Phoebe, Cawsand Bay. He is sending the information he obtained in a private conversation with the Officers of the Atalante in a separate letter. The Atalante was part of the fleet destined for the descent on Ireland. It included 30,000 men and several regiments of Hussars without horses. They made the Irish coast on 23 December [1796] but due to the weather only part of the fleet was able to anchor in Bantry Bay, which the french Officers thought was the agreed rendezvous. Some vessels were driven to the westward including the frigate on which General Hoche was embarked. Due to the absence of the General and a considerable part of the forces the Commanders of the ships and troops in Bantry Bay decided to return to Brest. They weighed on 27 December and the Atalante arrived 3 days later. She sailed again on 6 January and when he first discovered her she was steering a course for Cape Clear. She had a quantity of iron chain on board which he assumes was intended to fortify the entrance of a narrow pass such as Bearhaven or Londonderry harbour. The Squadron which Vice Admiral Colpoys chased on 20 December was from Toulon which has since arrived in Brest.