Captured aboard HMS Speedy, Thomas Cochrane told Linois that seven British ships of the line were operating near Cadiz. Linois sensibly abandoned the direct approach and sought the protection of Algeciras. Meanwhile Richard Goodwin Keats accepted an American merchantman's inaccurate report that the French had already sailed, so Superb, Thames, and Pasley remained watching Cadiz instead of joining Saumarez. The opposing intelligence decisions helped create the force that actually fought on 6 July.
Chapter · 1:55:22-2:03:04
Cochrane's warning met Keats's faulty intelligence
Linois sheltered after Cochrane revealed the British squadron, while a false merchant report kept HMS Superb away from Saumarez's attack.