ks and allegations which had been published, _not_ to
give a "full and perfect account of the battle, but," says Captain
White, "more particularly that part where your lordship so ably
commanded the Russell, which portion of our fleet the tongue of
calumny has never ventured to assail," Lord de Saumarez wrote the
following letter:

Guernsey, 13th June 1836.

MY DEAR SIR,

I BEG to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, accompanying
your interesting publication, which you have done me the favour
to send for my acceptance, and which has been forwarded to me by
Lord Amelius Beauclerc.

I regret that you have (inadvertently, I am persuaded) fallen
into the same error as some of your predecessors, in detailing
the account of Lord Rodney's victory of the 12th of April, by
ascribing to the Canada what is alone due to the Russell, which
ship I commanded.

I shall for your information briefly state the circumstance to
which I allude. After passing the sternmost of the enemy's
ships, the America, the ship astern of the Russell, wore to
stand after them: I was glad to have the example of an old
experienced officer, and wore also; but Captain Thompson,
finding there was no signal, shortly after wore again, to join
Sir Samuel Drake's division. I stood on, till passing a division
of four of the enemy's ships, I exchanged broadsides with them,
and finally came up with the Ville de Paris, wore under her
stern and engaged her on the quarter for some time, when the
Barfleur came up, and the Comte de Grasse hauled down his
colours.

Even at this distant period, I have a perfect recollection of
the transactions of that day. I shall only add, that I am
convinced that no officer who was on board the Canada in the
victory of the 12th of April, will assert that she was engaged
with the Ville de Paris at the time stated. The present Admiral
Giffard was, I believe, one of the lieutenants, to whom I wish
to refer you.

I am, &c.
DE SAUMAREZ.

Captain White, as well as other officers, is of opinion that Admiral
Drake's division should have tacked sooner; and, as circumstances
happened, it would doubtless have been better if he had done so; but
probably the admiral, in continuing to stand on the same tack, had
calculated that the wind would continue in the same direction, or
alter to the northward; in either case he would have weathered th