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Foreign News
October 19, 1793
National Gazette
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
British fleet under Earl Howe sighted French ships in a calm sea near Torbay but could not assess their force. Heavy gales soon after forced the fleet into the Channel, with a short stay expected before sailing again.
Clipping
OCR Quality
100%
Excellent
Full Text
The following is a literal extract of a letter from an officer in the fleet under Earl Howe, now returned to Torbay.
"We had just a sight of the French, and in such a stark calm, that neither the number nor force of their ships are known with precision. Our vessels could make no way, and theirs were probably in the same condition. Heavy gales, which succeeded within forty hours after, forced us from a station we would willingly have kept, and obliged us to come into the channel. Our stay here will be short; not more than a week if the wind permit us to sail again."
"We had just a sight of the French, and in such a stark calm, that neither the number nor force of their ships are known with precision. Our vessels could make no way, and theirs were probably in the same condition. Heavy gales, which succeeded within forty hours after, forced us from a station we would willingly have kept, and obliged us to come into the channel. Our stay here will be short; not more than a week if the wind permit us to sail again."
What sub-type of article is it?
Naval Affairs
War Report
What keywords are associated?
Earl Howe Fleet
French Sighting
Naval Calm
Heavy Gales
Tor Bay Return
What entities or persons were involved?
Earl Howe
Where did it happen?
Torbay
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Torbay
Key Persons
Earl Howe
Outcome
forced return to the channel due to heavy gales; short stay anticipated.
Event Details
The British fleet under Earl Howe briefly sighted the French fleet in a stark calm, preventing assessment of their numbers or force and allowing no movement for either side. Within forty hours, heavy gales forced the British from their position and into the Channel.