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The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
Reports from France in July 1779 detail French troops at St. Malo ready to embark for a possible invasion of England or Ireland, awaiting Count d'Orvilliers' fleet in the Channel. Spanish ships have joined, Cadiz fleet sailed, and a French army guards the Dutch border. Later update from Bordeaux notes uncertain but interesting news from combined fleets.
Merged-components note: These are adjacent short extracts from letters on European military movements, sequential in reading order and spatially connected, forming one coherent foreign news item.
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Extract of a letter from Nantes, dated July 3, 1779.
"The French have 32,000 men at St. Malo, and to embark; it is said they only wait the arrival of Count D'Orvilliers in the channel, accounts of which may be daily expected, as the wind has been for 36 hours past from the westward, and likely to continue. It is supposed that there is a descent intended on England or Ireland. It is reported that the ships the Spaniards were to furnish by compact, which is ten sail of the line, have joined D'Orvilliers, and that the Cadiz fleet sailed about the 5th ult. The sailing of the English fleet you will find by the papers. The French have an army of 40,000 men on the frontiers of Holland, which will keep the Dutchman quiet, if even his inclination was to be troublesome."
Extract of a letter from a Gentleman in Bordeaux, dated July 25, 1779.
"We have no certain advices from the combined fleets, except some very interesting; if any arrives before the present conveyances leave the port, you shall be informed."
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Where did it happen?
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
St. Malo
Event Date
July 3 And 25, 1779
Key Persons
Outcome
french 32,000 men ready to embark at st. malo; 40,000 on dutch border; spanish ten sail of the line joined d'orvilliers; cadiz fleet sailed about july 5, 1779; possible descent on england or ireland
Event Details
French forces at St. Malo await Count D'Orvilliers' arrival in the Channel for embarkation, with speculation of invasion on England or Ireland. Spanish ships have joined the fleet, Cadiz squadron sailed recently, English fleet movements noted in papers, and French army positioned to deter Dutch interference. Later report from Bordeaux mentions uncertain but interesting updates from combined fleets.