ch
the Penelope to England, in order that the King's ministers may
be apprised as speedily as possible of the loss his Majesty's
service has sustained in the death of Governor O'Hara, who
departed this life early this morning. I cannot on this
occasion refrain from expressing my deep concern at the loss of
an officer from whom the naval service in particular has always
experienced the utmost attention.

I am, sir,
Your obedient humble servant,
JAMES SAUMAREZ.

General Burnet succeeded, _pro tempore_, to the command of the
garrison; and Captain Gaskill, the late governor's aide-de-camp, was
the bearer of the despatches to Government. It was about this time
that the 54th regiment, commanded by Colonel Ross, arrived from Egypt
to relieve the Cambrian Rangers, part of which went home in the
Penelope, and the remainder in the Dido, troop-ship.

The colours were hoisted half-mast on board all the ships until the
3rd of March, when General O'Hara's funeral took place; on which
occasion the boats of the squadron, joined by those of the foreign
men-of-war, rowed in procession to the Ragged Staff, while minute-guns
were fired by the flag-ship and the garrison. The solemnity of this
scene could not but be rendered more impressive by the recollection of
the investiture of Sir James with the Order of the Bath, in which the
venerable and gallant general had performed so distinguished a part
only a short time before.

This event was followed by one of the same mournful description,
namely, the death of Admiral Brenton, father to the gallant captain of
the Caesar, a venerable and highly-respected officer. As family affairs
required Captain Brenton's presence in England, he exchanged with
Captain Downman, of the Dorothea, by mutual consent, and with
permission from the Admiral. This exchange accordingly took place on
the 17th March 1802, when Captain Downman joined the Caesar.

On the 22nd of March Sir James received orders from Lord Keith to
proceed with the Caesar to Minorca, for the purpose of superintending
the various duties that might become necessary on the evacuation of
that island; but as the order was grounded on a report which had
reached his lordship from Toulon and Marseilles that the definitive
treaty of peace was signed, which proved to be premature, Sir James
postponed his departure until more authentic information should
arrive, and he acquainted the Lords of the