HMS Tilbury in Captain Beaumont's Squadron

The Situations of Dover & Dunkirk, 1787 Chart

Excerpts from the book by Josiah Burchett, published 1720
"A Complete History of the Most Remarkable Transactions at Sea, 1698-1712"

Naval Transactions of the English, Book V., Chap. XII.
1702

page 635

In the next Place it is necessary to acquaint you, that a Squadron of Ships were put under the Command of Captain Bazil Beaumont, and they being particularly designed to observe the Motion of the Enemy's* Ships at Dunkirk, he was ordered the twenty fourth of June to Proceed over to that Port; and if by the falling of the Tides he judged that their biggest Ships could not get out to Sea, to divide his Squadron, and appoint one Part to cruise Northward, and the other Westward between the Coasts of England and France, but yet so, as that they might timely join at the general Rendezvous, which was to be either at the Gunfleet in the Downs, Ousley Bay, or Yarmouth Roads, as Winds and Weather, and other Circumstances might make it most proper . . . .

- [* French] -

pages 638-9

. . . September . . . Pursuant to these Orders he left off of Dunkirk the Worcester and Salisbury, which were Fourth Rates, and two Dutch Men of War, to observe the Motions of the French Ships in the Road, and came into the Downs with the Tilbury, Blackwall, Dartmouth, and Kingfisher. Those Ships being victualled, two of them were ordered to cruise in the Soundings, and the Commadore to repair with the rest to Margate Roads, from whence, with some other Ships which there joined him, he convoyed the Yachts to Holland; and having cruised four Days between the Well, a Shoal off of the Coast of Lincolnshire, and the Dogger Bank, in search of some Ships said to be got out from Dunkirk, he proceeded to Helvoet-Sluys, and conducted from thence to England the Earl of Marlborough, General of Her Majesty's Forces.

Chart of the North Sea, showing Yarmouth and Helvootsluys, 1732