to which no commoner is entitled without a
dispensation from the Crown. Of these honours Sir James was informed
by Earl St. Vincent, at that time First Lord of the Admiralty, at the
moment the Caesar and squadron were about to proceed on one of the most
interesting, and, as it turned out, one of the most glorious
expeditions that ever left the shores of Great Britain.

CHAPTER XIV.

1801.

Sir James sails from England in command of a squadron of six
sail of the line on a particular service.--Arrives off
Cadiz.--Attacks a French squadron at Algeziras.--Captain
Brenton's account of the battle.--Loss of the Hannibal.--Colonel
Connolly's statements.--Logs of the Caesar and ships of the
squadron.--Sir James proceeds to Gibraltar.--Remarks.--Flag of
truce sent to Algeziras.--Correspondence with Linois.--Squadron
refit at Gibraltar.

On the 16th June the signal was made to unmoor; and soon after, for
the squadron to weigh. The wind being fair, the ships quickly cleared
the English Channel, and crossed the Bay of Biscay. Cape Finisterre
was reached on the 22nd; on the 26th the squadron hove to off the
Tagus, and sent letters on shore at Lisbon. The detachment was now
joined by the Phaeton, Captain Morris, and proceeded off Cadiz, where
it arrived on the 28th June: to announce this, the following letter
was written to Admiral Lord Keith, who had then the chief command on
the Mediterranean station:

Caesar, off Cadiz, 26th June 1801.

MY LORD,

I have the honour to inform your lordship of my arrival off
Cadiz with the ships named on the margin[28] under my orders;
having sailed from Cawsand Bay on the 16th instant. On the 26th
I was joined, off Lisbon, by the Phaeton, Captain Morris, from
whom I received the enclosed state of the enemy's ships at
Cadiz.[29] The Venerable and Superb have both joined the
squadron; and I have taken these ships under my orders,
agreeably to my instructions from my Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty.

I shall take the earliest opportunity of transmitting to your
lordship a copy of those instructions; but having at present no
other vessel than the Plymouth, hired lugger, I cannot part with
her further than to Gibraltar.

I have the honour to be,
Your lordship's most obedient humble servant,
JAS. SAUMAREZ.

Right Honourable Lord Keith, K.B. &c.

[28] Caesar, Pompee, Spencer, Hannibal, Audaciou