f the 4th current, in
honour of his Britannic majesty's birth-day; and the general wish
of the Spanish nation cannot but interest itself in so august a
motive.

"God preserve you, many years. I kiss your hands.

"Your attentive servant, "Josef de Mazerendo.

"P.S. I beg that you will be pleased to direct the two adjoined
letters to the Admiral Jervis and to Sir James Saumarez."

Flags of truce, indeed, were continually passing, at this time, between
the British and Spanish commanders; and peace, by the latter, at least,
was ardently wished for.

The naval fete, proposed for his majesty's birth-day, had another object,
which could not very courteously be hinted to the Spanish admiral. On
that day, it seems, Rear-Admiral Nelson was invested, by his commander
in chief, who personated the king on this occasion, with the insignia of
the order of the Bath, and the gold medal, which had been transmitted by
the sovereign, in consequence of the glorious victory of the 14th of
February over the Spanish fleet.

The mutual civilities between the Spanish and British officers, while in
expectation of peace, were certainly to the honour of both parties. It
seems, however, to have been soon suspected, that advantage was taken of
a most humane indulgence.

On the 30th of June, a letter was addressed, by Rear-Admiral Sir Horatio
Nelson, to Don Josef Mazerendo, the Spanish admiral, from on board the
Theseus, which evidently intimated apprehensions of such an effect.

"SIR,

"I am directed by my worthy commander in chief to inform your
excellency, that numbers of the Spanish fishing-boats are found at
such a distance from the land as plainly to evince that they have
something farther in view than catching fish; and, therefore, that
orders are given, that no fishing vessel be in future permitted to
go farther from the shore than their usual fishing ground; which,
we understand, is in about thirty-five fathoms water. Your
excellency, I am confident, will receive this communication as an
additional mark of attention from my commander in chief to the
inhabitants of Cadiz and it's environs; and will take measures for
the information of the fishermen that their boats will be sunk, if
found acting in contradiction to this notification of the British
admiral. With every sincere good wish towards your excellency,
believe me,