Copy of ''The Star'' Newspaper, No. 4,901

English newspaper ''The Star'' was the first evening newspaper to be published daily. Founded in 1788, it was a source of news until its closure in 1960.

On October 18, 1804 the newspaper printed a story about the attack by the English fleet on the Spanish frigates at Cape Santa Maria in Cádiz, including the "Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes" and 3 other frigates carrying treasure from the American viceroyalties for the Spanish Crown.

It seems likely that it was in this copy, kept in the General Naval Archive, that Félix de Tejada, Captain General of the Department of Ferrol, read the news of the attack. It was given to him by an official of the Hibernia regiment who was on board the English fleet on that day. Tejada sent a translation to the Prime Minister, Manuel Godoy, and informed him that the news "had quite an impact" on Rear Admiral Thomas Cochrane, one of the most victorious British captains in naval history. As a result, Cochrane provided assurances that the British government would compensate the Spanish government.