Nevertheless, when Brigadier Stanhope sent that Express to the Earl, which I just now mention’d, he assur’d him in the same, that he would use his utmost Diligence, both by Sea and Land, to let him have timely Notice of the Conjunction of the Fleets, which was now all they had to depend upon.  Adding withal, that if the Earl should at any time receive a Letter, or Paper, though directed to no Body, and with nothing in it, but a half Sheet of Paper cut in the Middle, he, the Earl, might certainly depend upon it, that the two Fleets were join’d, and making the best of their Way for Barcelona.  It will easily be imagin’d the Express was to be well paid; and being made sensible that he ran little or no Hazard in carrying a Piece of blank Paper, he undertook it, and as fortunately arriv’d with it to the Earl, at a Moment when Chagrin and Despair might have hurry’d him to some Resolution that might have prov’d fatal.  The Messenger himself, however, knew nothing of the Joining of the Fleets, or the Meaning of his Message.

As soon as the Earl of Peterborow receiv’d this welcome Message from Brigadier Stanhope, he march’d the very same Night, with his whole little Body of Forces, to a Town on the Sea-Shore, call’d Sigeth.  No Person guess’d the Reason of his March, or knew any thing of what the Intent of it was.  The Officers, as formerly, obey’d without Enquiry; for they were led to it by so many unaccountable Varieties of Success, that Affiance became a second Nature, both in Officer and Soldier.

The Town of Sigeth was about seven Leagues to the Westward of Barcelona; where, as soon as the Earl with his Forces arriv’d, he took care to secure all the small Fishing-Boats, Feluccas, and Sattees; nay, in a Word, every Machine in which he could transport any of his Men:  So that in two Days’ time he had got together a Number sufficient for the Conveyance of all his Foot.

But a Day or two before the Arrival of the English Fleet off Sigeth, The Officers of his Troops were under a strange Consternation at a Resolution their General had taken.  Impatient of Delay, and fearful of the Fleets passing by without his Knowledge, the Earl summon’d them together a little before Night, at which time he discover’d to the whole Assembly, that he himself was oblig’d to endeavour to get aboard the English Fleet; and that, if possible, before the French Scouts should be able to make any Discovery of their Strength:  That finding himself of no further Use on Shore, having already taken the necessary Precautions for their Transportation and Security, they had nothing to do but to pursue his Orders, and make the best of their Way to Barcelona, in the Vessels which he had provided for them:  That they might do this in perfect Security when they saw the English Fleet pass by; or if they should pass by in the Night, an Engagement with the French, which would give them sufficient Notice what they had to do further.