 While rounding Cape St Vincent, on 8 October, "Latona" was dispatched to report on the condition of the Franco-Spanish fleet in the bay of Algeciras.It was known that this force of about 48 ships-of-the-line was poised to attack Gibraltar and, even if no attack was forthcoming, would pose a significant obstacle to Howe's relief mission.She returned two days later with news that an attack had already taken place and had been beaten off.