Kingston Jamaica.
Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Jackson had been most explicit in the orders which he had delivered to Captain Roderick Stewart of the Royal Sovereign. Following the return of the Frigate Amelia Captained by Commander James Roberts, with the news that the French were out, he had summoned his Senior Captains to the Hibernia for a Council of war.
The upshot of which discussions were now outlined in the document which Roderick was reading to his own Captains………
" Insofar as it is essential to prevent the Spanish Squadron at present sheltering in the harbour of Punto del Rey, you are to proceed forthwith to same, with His Majesty's ships HMS Royal Sovereign 100, HMS Zealous 74, Captain Mainwaring, Frigate HMS Amelia 38, Commander Roberts and the Bomb Ketch Vulcan, Lt. The Hon Perigrine Ogleby.
Thereby to invest the port with a close blockade, preventing either the Spanish ships from leaving harbour, or in the event of their so doing to bring them speedily to battle, and preventing them from combining with the French Squadron. This at your peril.



Thos. Jackson. Rear Admiral of the Blue and Cdr. of the Jamaica Squadron.