AN ACCOUNT Of the State of The French Fleet, Their Number of Men of War & Fireships, And the Fortifications that are making on their Coast, For fear of an Invasion from England. In a LETTER from a French Merchant at St. Martin's, to his Friend at London, July 9 New Style. 1689.  
Licenced, July 12. 1689.  
SIR,  
OUR Fortifications are almost finished, all the Platforms in the Citadel, as well as those of the City, are all in a good Posture, with a good Garrison.  
Yesterday arrived in this Road a Bark from Breast, where she hath left our Fleet in that Bay or Road, consisting of Forty Two great Ships, besides small Frigates, and Twenty Five Fireships; and we are fitting still elsewhere; but how they will be provided with a sufficient number of Seamen to man them, I cannot tell.  
Monsieur De Tourville, the Thirteenth passed, Sailed from Thoulon with Twenty Two Sail of Capital Ships, and Eight Fireships, and is every day expected at Breast.  
The Marshal D'Estrees is at Breast, and is to go on Board the Fleet, intending to Sail the Fifteenth, to seek out the English and Dutch Fleets, in order to Fight them: So that we are in expectation to hear of a bloody Engagement. But others say, that Monsieur De Seignaly goes on Board himself to Command, and not Marshal D' Estrees.  
We have no Ships left at Rochefort (all are fitted out that were there) except one Fireship, which waits for a Wind, and some Fly-boats, who have Four or Five Hundred Men on Board them, for the use of the Fleet.  
I was at Rochel Four or Five Days ago, and viewed all the Fortifications of that Place, which are very forward, and in a posture of Defence. They have destroyed many Families there, as well as here, by pulling their Houses down to the Ground; that are near the Walls.  
We build a Fort at Bloody-Point, which is also in a great forwardness; and we talk of building a great one at the Martreay, and other Fortifications about the Gates. But I see no likelihood of fear this Summer.  
They have caused to march within this Five or Six Days from Rochel, towards Saumeure, Five or Six Thousand Men, and brought in their room some new Soldiers, raised by the Parishes, within this Three or Four Months, who are to be Disciplined, and supply their Places in the Garrison.  
The Fortifications of Oleroon are finished, and they have pulled down all the Houses in the Castle.  
They work likewise very hard upon the Fortifications at Brovage, Rochfort, and the Sheath, which is the entrance of the River of Sherrant.  
A Bark is arrived in Britain since the Twenty Third passed, from Ireland, which brings Advice, That London Derry holds out still, to our great admiration, that it hath not been relieved or taken all this while.  
If once our Fleet returns into our Ports, it will be very difficult to put it to Sea again: For all things are wanting at Rochefort, and the Stores as empty as a Tennis-Court. And it's said it is the same at Breast.  
The Rendezvouz of all the French Fleet is designed to be at Belle Isle, not far from the mouth of the Loire in Britain.  
FINIS.   

LONDON: Printed for H. Jones. MDCLXXXIX.