regard to the expedition and the business
of Sir John Moore, which for a time paralysed all the naval
operations, and certainly might have been attended with the
worst consequences. We must however hope for the best, and
trust all will turn to good.

Added to the despatches acknowledging this letter, was the following
private note from Lord Mulgrave:

Admiralty, August 25th, 1808.

MY DEAR SIR JAMES,

I cannot let despatches go from the Admiralty without conveying
to you my hearty congratulations on the important event of the
deliverance of so large a body of the Spanish troops.
Rear-admiral Keats has conducted this service with admirable
talent, zeal, and judgment. We have a report here that the
Russian fleet has put to sea; and are in anxious hope that they
may have fallen in your way. The enemy's fate and the public
interests cannot be in better hands than yours.

I am, dear Sir James, with great truth,
Yours very sincerely,
MULGRAVE.

This service being completed, Sir James hastened back to the Baltic,
and, arriving off Carlscrona, received additional intelligence of the
position of the Russian fleet. Taking along with him the Mars,
Goliath, and Africa, Salsette, Rose, and Ariel, he proceeded to the
northward; and, passing between Gothland and Sweden, made for the Gulf
of Finland, expecting to fall in with the Centaur and Implacable at
certain places of rendezvous. He was not a little disappointed at not
finding them, even at Hango Udd. On the 30th of August he fell in
with the Swedish frigate Camilla, Captain Troile, who came on board,
and gave him the first information of the action which had taken place
between the two fleets; it appeared that the Sewolod, a Russian
seventy-four, which had been disabled by the Implacable, had been
taken and burned by that ship and the Centaur, and that the Russian
fleet had been pursued into Rogerwick, (or Port Baltic,) where they
might be successfully attacked.

This joyful news was communicated to the squadron, and every ship was
instantly cleared for action. The signals were successively made to
bear up, let out reefs, and make more sail. The pilot at the same time
informed the Admiral that he had been often in Rogerwick, which is a
bay in the south side of the Gulf of Finland, formed by the islands of
East and West Roge and the main, and that he could easily take the
fleet in.