To Sir James Saumarez, Bart. Rear-admiral of the Blue, Plymouth. By command of their Lordships, EVAN NEPEAN. The following is the copy of information transmitted to Sir James with the above letter: No. 1. Dated Lisbon, 15th May 1801. MY LORD, It appears, from the report of an American captain arrived here from Bilboa, that a French corps had passed within a few miles of that place, on their way to Vittoria, on the 21st and 22nd ultimo. It consisted in the whole of 7,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry, well armed and mounted; and had reached their place of encampment, supposed to be Burgos, according to the accounts which had arrived at Bilboa, on the 30th day, when the vessel sailed. It appeared evident that no other troops had passed the frontier at that time, though it was uniformly reported that a body of no less than 22,000 men were collected at Bayonne. The Spanish army on the south side of the Tagus, between Badajos and Alcantara, amounts to 21,000 men; of which 10,000 are encamped at Badajos, 8,000 at Albuquerque, and the remainder between Vincenti and Alcantara. The Prince of Peace was daily expected at head-quarters. His aides-de-camp were already arrived, and a train of 700 mules had been collected for the conveyance of his baggage. The French detachment was destined to join the army of Castile, which I already mentioned to your lordship has returned from its movements towards the northern provinces, and taken a position to the southward of Ciudad Rodrigo. Its numbers and distribution are not so accurately known, but it is stated to be equal to the army of Estremadura, with the addition of the French auxiliaries. I have the honour to be, &c. To Lord Hawkesbury. J.M. FRERE. No. 2. MY LORD, By intelligence which arrived from Cadiz, in date of the second of this month, it appears that there were in that port five Spanish ships of the line, which had pushed out from Ferrol, conformably to the report which I mentioned to your lordship in my last despatch. There was at the same time (in Cadiz) an additional force of eight or ten sail preparing for sea; four of them of the line, and the remainder frigates. This equipment was however retarded by the want of naval stores, particularly sailcloth and cables, which was occasioned by the late fire which has taken place in the arsenal, as well as by the total want of money, which was such that many of the officers were actually reduced to subsist on charity.