hey escaped through the
passage De Four. I then made the best of my way to regain the
station; and we are now anxiously looking for the frigates we
sailed in pursuit of, with the hopes of better success.

I beg to assure you of my most earnest endeavours to merit the
confidence you are pleased to repose in me; being, with great
truth,
My dear Admiral,

Your most faithful
and obedient servant,
JAS. SAUMAREZ.

To Admiral McBride, Plymouth.

It was in the interval between December 1793 and June 1794, that Sir
James Saumarez and Sir Edward Pellew, and Sir John Warren, being each
in command of squadrons of frigates, agreed to share prize-money until
the latter should return to port, which did not take place until June.
It is notorious in the navy that this led to a dispute, and
consequently a coolness, between these gallant officers, but the
misunderstanding was subsequently made up, and need not be farther
alluded to.

On the 1st June Captain Saumarez returned to Plymouth from the coast
of France adjacent to the Channel islands, and on the 6th received the
following order from Admiral McBride.

You are hereby required and directed to take under your command
his Majesty's ships, luggers, and cutters, named on the
margin,[8] and proceed first with them to Guernsey and Jersey,
and then endeavour to ascertain the force the enemy may have in
Cancalle Bay and St. Maloes, and then return to Cawsand Bay,
leaving the Prestwood cutter with Captain Ball, of his Majesty's
ship Fury.

Given under my hand, on board
H.M.S. Echo, 6th June 1794.
JNO. McBRIDE.

[8] Druid, Valiant, Dolphin, Cockchafer, Active, and Prestwood.

Sir James sailed on the 7th from Plymouth: the following is a copy of
his official letter, giving an account of his action with the French
squadron:

Crescent, Guernsey, 8th June 1794.

SIR,

I have the honour to acquaint you that this morning, at dawn of
day, being with his Majesty's ship Crescent, under my command,
and the Druid and Eurydice frigates, about twelve leagues to the
northward of Guernsey, on the larboard tack, with a fresh breeze
to the N.E., we fell in with five sail of ships and a cutter to
windward. From their not bearing down, and other circumstances,
I did not take them for enemy's ships; and I directed Lieut.
Baker, of the Valiant, armed lugger, to make sail to windward,
for the pu