And whereas it has been represented to us that three Portuguese ships of the line are now fitting out in the Tagus for the purpose of joining you and serving under your orders, you are, on the arrival of the said ships, to take them under your command, and employ them in such manner as you may judge most advisable in carrying these, or any other orders you may receive from us or from Admiral Lord Keith, (under whose command you are to consider yourself,) into execution. And whereas we have directed Admiral Sir Thomas Pasley to order one of the hired brigs, and either a cutter or lugger, to follow your orders; you are to take the commanders of these vessels under your command, and, on your repairing to your station, you are to send one of them into the Tagus for the purpose of apprizing his Majesty's minister there of your situation, and for obtaining from him such intelligence as he may have to give you. Whilst you remain on this service, you are to send occasionally to Lisbon for intelligence, and to keep a good look-out for any French squadron which may attempt either to join the Spanish ships at Cadiz, or to pass through the Straits; and to use your best endeavours to intercept, and to take or destroy it, if the force you may have with you should be sufficient to enable you to do so; taking care to avoid it in time, if the enemy's force should be so superior to that under your command as to render it improper for you to attack it; in which case it is left to your discretion to act as circumstances shall require: using, however, every possible exertion to join the commander-in-chief of his Majesty's ships in the Mediterranean, or to fall in with the same detachment of his Majesty's ships; and, so soon as you shall have collected such a force as may be sufficient to enable you to attack the enemy's squadron, you are to proceed in quest of it, and, upon falling in with it, to bring it to action. In case you should get sight of a French squadron, or should obtain certain information that such squadron has passed the Straits, you are no longer to attend to the Spanish ships in Cadiz, but to consider the capture or destruction of the French squadron as the principal object to which your exertions are to be directed; and, in the event of your following any squadron into the Mediterranean, you are to send an account thereof to our secretary, as well as to Admiral Lord Keith, with as little delay as possible; and you are also to transmit to him and the said admiral, by every proper opportunity that may offer, accounts of your proceedings, and of every information you may be able to obtain of the movements and intentions of the enemy. Given under our hands, 6th day of June 1801. ST. VINCENT. T. TROUBRIDGE. J. MARKHAM.