committing the government of Sweden. Both he and Baron Platen
are desirous that you should still keep the sea near the Gulf
of Finland, in order to influence their negotiation; certain
British goods are still to be admitted. I shall despatch a
messenger to Captain Reynolds the moment Admiral Puke arrives.

I have, &c. &c. &c.
AUGT. FOSTER

To Vice-admiral Sir James Saumarez,
&c. &c. &c.

Victory, off Nargen, 19th Sept. 1809.

SIR,

I had the honour yesterday evening to receive your letters of
the 15th and 16th inst., enclosing the copy of one you had
written to Baron d'Engestroem, and of that minister's answer to
your letter. It affords me great satisfaction to find that the
Swedish government have so readily acquiesced in the
representation you were pleased to make to them of the
expediency of the squadron leaving the Gulf of Finland, in
consequence of the present advanced state of the season, and
also of the ready concurrence with the proposal that all the
squadron, if required, should be admitted into the ports of
Sweden, without adverting to the number that had been
previously limited.

I request you will do me the honour to assure Baron
d'Engestroem, that I shall not withdraw the squadron from this
station until the weather renders it indispensable for the
safety of his Majesty's ships, and that, on my leaving the
Gulf, I shall order a detachment to cruise between Daggerort
and the Swedish coast, should it be further required. It is a
fortunate circumstance that the preliminaries of peace were so
far advanced as not to give a pretext for their being hastened
by the squadron having been withdrawn from the station, and it
affords me singular satisfaction to find that the government
appears so strongly impressed with the measures that have been
pursued for the welfare of Sweden.

I shall detach vessels as frequently as possible to maintain
the correspondence, and I beg to express my sincere
acknowledgments for the punctuality you have shown in
permitting me to hear from you by all opportunities that have
offered.

I have, &c. &c. &c.
JAMES SAUMAREZ.

To Augt. Foster, Esq.
&c. &c. &c.

Stockholm, 1st Oct. 1809.

SIR,

According to your desire I shall not detain