from your very distinguished services, they
would, if possible, have avoided.

I am, sir, your most obedient humble servant,
Evan Nepean.

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

The enclosures mentioned in the above letters being the usual official
order for Sir James to put himself under command of Vice-admiral
Charles Morice Pole, need not be inserted; nor the consequent order
from that officer to Sir James. The squadron was now augmented by four
sail of the line; namely, the St. George, 98 (flag-ship), Captain
Nichols; Dreadnought, 98, Captain Vashon; Russell, 74, Captain
Cuming; and Powerful, 74, Sir Francis Laforey: and on the 10th of
September the St. Antoine, Audacious, Zealous, and Bellona joined;
which, with the Caesar, Superb, Venerable, Spencer, and Pompee, made
twelve sail of the line.

The subjoined extract of a letter which Sir James wrote to his brother
Richard, is sufficiently expressive of his feelings:

2nd September 1801.

Nothing can be more strongly penned than the letters, both
public and private, which I have received. If I had destroyed
thirty sail of line-of-battle ships, they could not have been
in a higher strain of praise and admiration. But is it not
surprising they should cease there? Not a syllable is said of
the first lieutenant, or anything intended for myself. Your
letter seemed to make certain of it, and you fully expect that
a peerage will be conferred on me at the meeting of Parliament,
with the grant of a suitable pension. I cannot but feel
surprised that Phil. Dumaresq should have been detained so long
in London, and not be charged with the smallest hint on the
subject, which almost makes me fear my services will be
disregarded in the same manner I experienced after the Nile.

I declare to you that on no service wherein I have been engaged
have I found any situation equally arduous as that of
Algeziras, nor have known any in the naval history of my
country. Its consequences have been equal to the most complete
victory; for, with seven sail, of which my squadron was
composed, we have frustrated two important expeditions, the
naval force of which consisted of sixteen sail of the line.

I have been encouraged to expect this mark of distinction by
all on this station, and I cannot express my feelings should it
no