APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 
in No. VII. on the terms also in- 
closed. For further particulars I 
beg leave to refer you to the ac- 
companying detail of the proceed- 
ings of the squadron from the 4th 
to the 18th instant, and I hope the 
lords commissioners of the admi- 
ralty will approve the measures I 
have taken, so essential to the Bri- 
tish commercial interests in the 
East. 
The ships are all coppered, and in 
good condition, excepting the Castor, 
whose rudder is defective. 
In justice to the officers and men 
Ihave the honour to command, it 
is my duty to observe, that, in 
consequence of the most violent 
tempestuous weather I ever be- 
held, and the very unpleasant situa- 
tions in which the squadron was 
at times placed, they cheerfully, 
and much to their credit, under- 
went a degree of fatigue harldly 
credible. 
Captain Aylmer will have tbe 
honour of presenting these dis- 
patches. I beg leave to mention 
him to their lordships, as a res- 
pectablegentleman and an active 
officer. 
I have the honour to be, 
With great esteem, sir, 
Your most obedient, 
humble servant, 
G. K. ELPHINSTONE. 
Evan Nepean, Esq. 
Monarch, Saldanha Bay, 
Sir, Aug. 19, 1796. 
I have the honour to inform you, 
that intelligence was received at 
Cape Town, on the 3d instant, of 
a numberof ships having been seen 
in the offing, at Saldanha Bay, 
which was confirmed on the 5th. 
In consequence of this every pre- 
paration was made for putting to 
[85 
sea immediately, with the squadron 
under my command; but from the 
Monarch’s main-mast being out, 
and the tempestuous weather, I was 
not able to quit the anchorage in 
Simon’s Bay until the 6th; when we 
proceeded to sea. 
On getting under weigh an officer 
from the shore came on board to in- 
form me, that a number of sails had 
been seen the preceding night in the 
offing, near False Bay; I then ree | 
solved to steer to the southward and 
west, in expectation of their having 
taken that course. 
The squadron continued cruizing 
inthe most tempestuous weather I 
have ever experienced, which da- 
maged many of the ships, and at 
one time the Ruby had five feet 
waterin her hold: we were joined 
at sea by his majesty’s ship Stately, 
Rattlesnake, and Echo sloops. On 
the 12th Ireturned, with a fresh 
breeze blowing from the south east, 
and, upon anchoring in Simon’s 
Bay, the master attendant came off 
with information that the ships 
seen, consisting of nine sail, had 
put into Saldanha Bay on the 6th, 
the same day on which I had pro- 
ceeded to séa; that they remained 
there by the last advice, and that 
four ships bad been dispatched in 
quest of me to communicate this 
welcome intelligence. 
I immediately made the signal to 
sail, butthe Crescent had gotashore; 
the wind blew strong, and increased 
on the following day to a perfect 
tempest, in which the Tremendous 
parted two cables; drove, and was 
in great danger of being lost, so 
that, notwithstanding every exertion, 
and the most anxious moments of 
my lifey we could not get out until, 
the 15th. 
On the 16th the squadron arrived 
G3 of 
