vous devez etre bien
persuade, qu'il ajoute encore au prix que j'attache a vos
efforts pour assurer la defense des cotes de la Suede. Et sur
ce je prie Dieu qu'il vous ait, Monsieur le Vice-amiral de
Saumarez en sa sainte et digne garde; etant votre affectionne,

CHARLES.

Au Chateau de Stockholm, le 19 de Juillet 1809.

[13] The Order of the Sword, fourth class, was conferred on
Captains Hope, Reynolds, Mansell, and John Ross, and the Order
of Wasa on Dr. Jameson.

Permission to accept and wear the decorations were subsequently
granted by the Prince Regent.

The defeat of Oudinot at Polotzk, the junction of Begration and
Barclay de Tolly with the grand Russian army under Kutusoff, and the
battle of Borodino, gave a favourable turn to affairs, but not such as
to dispel every apprehension, and it was determined by the Emperor
Alexander to send the whole Russian fleet to winter in England.
Admiral Crown was expected from Archangel with eight sail of the line,
and Admiral Tait with ten, and six frigates from Cronstadt. The former
having sailed from Wingo before this had been determined on, it became
necessary for Sir James to delay his return. The Aquilon, which had
been sent through the Belt to meet Lord Cathcart at Daleroe, and convey
his lordship to Abo, where he was to have a conference with the
Emperor Alexander, met with some damage and returned to Wingo.

Mr. James Saumarez, eldest son of the Admiral, who had accompanied his
lordship, made a tour and visited the Swedish, Finland, and Russian
capitals; he returned on board the Victory on the 9th of October, when
the afflicting intelligence arrived of the sudden death of his
sister, the eldest daughter of the Admiral, whose loss was deeply
regretted by all who knew her excellent disposition. The shock, as may
be imagined, was deeply felt by Sir James; but it will be seen by the
following correspondence that his mind was supported under this severe
trial, and much as his presence was required at home he regarded his
duty to his country to be paramount to every other consideration, and
unflinchingly remained at his post. His son (the present Lord de
Saumarez) who had just finished his education for the Established
Church, was indeed a great comfort to his suffering parent.

In a letter, dated 13th October, to the Secretary of the Admiralty, he
says,--

There has been no ship in the Hawke Roads into which I coul