tisfaction and approbation
to all the captains and officers, seamen and marines, of the
ships of the squadron under your orders, who, by so eminently
distinguishing themselves, have merited and obtained
yours.

I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient humble servant,
KEITH.

To Rear-admiral Sir James Saumarez, Bart.
&c. &c. &c.

(Same date.)

SIR,

I have to acknowledge the receipt of the various enclosures in
your letters of the 19th July; and approve of the exertions to
resume the station before Cadiz with the ships of your
squadron, which, I have reason to believe, has been seasonably
reinforced by the Genereux.

The Honourable Captain Dundas shall receive an appointment for
the San Antonio, which, I have no doubt, the repeated
meritorious conduct of that young officer will induce their
lordships to confirm; and I shall have pleasure in paying
attention to the other officers, to whom you have given acting
orders, when a compliance with their lordships' commands, and
an attention to prior engagements, shall enable me so to do.

I have the honour to be your obedient servant,
KEITH.

To Rear-admiral Sir James Saumarez, Bart.
&c. &c. &c.

Sir James, at the same time, received the usual order, dated 3rd
August, to place himself under the orders of Lord Keith; by which it
was supposed that his lordship had no right to share, as
commander-in-chief, for the prizes antecedently taken by the squadron.
This question, however, was decided in favour of his lordship.

The Bellona, Penelope, and Mermaid successively joined the squadron;
and the latter, having a convoy from Lisbon, was despatched with it to
Malta. The Audacious and Bellona were sent to Gibraltar to refit; and
subsequently the Penelope, to be hove down. Sir James received letters
from Mr. Frere, at Lisbon, by the Phaeton, Captain Morris, informing
him of the conclusion of peace between Portugal and France; and of a
report that some of the enemy's ships had escaped from Brest, which
was however contradicted by despatches of later date from the Channel
fleet, and from England. The enemy's designs had been completely
frustrated, and vessels employed in the commerce of Great Britain
proceeded to their various destinations without molestation. The
Phaeton was also despatched up the Mediterranean with a