Memoirs and Correspondence of Admiral Lord de Saumarez Volume II Part 5

MY LORD,

I yesterday had the honour of your lords.h.i.+p's letter, transmitting to me the resolutions of the House of Lords on the victory obtained by the squadron under my orders, on the 12th and 13th of July last, at the entrance of the Straits of Gibraltar.

Having on four occasions been honoured with the thanks of their lords.h.i.+ps when commander of a line-of-battle s.h.i.+p in different general actions, this very high mark of distinction cannot but be more particularly gratifying to my feelings when entrusted with the command of his Majesty's squadron; and I am at a loss to express the deep sense I entertain of so flattering an instance of their lords.h.i.+ps' approbation.

I shall have great satisfaction in conveying to the captains, officers, and men under my orders the vote of the august House, expressive of the sense their lords.h.i.+ps are pleased to entertain of their general conduct.

In returning my most particular thanks for the very polite and obliging manner in which your lords.h.i.+p has been pleased to signify the resolutions of the House of Lords, I beg to a.s.sure you of the profound respect and veneration with which I have the honour to be, &c.

JAMES SAUMAREZ.

To the Right Honourable Lord Eldon, &c. &c. &c.

From the Speaker of the House of Commons Sir James at the same time received the following letter:

Palace-yard, 31st October 1801.

SIR,

In obedience to the commands of the House of Commons, I have the honour of transmitting their vote of thanks for your alacrity and zeal in pursuing, and able and gallant conduct in the successful attack on, the combined squadron of the enemy in the Straits of Gibraltar, on the 12th and 13th days of July last, by the squadron under your orders; and also their thanks to the captains and officers of that squadron, and their acknowledgment and approbation of the services of the seamen and marines.

I feel the highest personal satisfaction in transmitting these resolutions to an officer who has on so many occasions done distinguished honour to his country, and to a service in which the nation feels the most important and anxious concern, and in the character of which I must individually be much interested.

I have the honour to be, With the highest respect and esteem, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, JOHN MITFORD, Speaker.

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

The next flattering compliment which Sir James received was of a more substantial nature, and not less honourable, being the thanks of the lord mayor, aldermen, and commons of London with the freedom of the city, &c. accompanied by a sword, value one hundred guineas. The resolutions were conveyed to Sir James in the following letter from Sir John Eamer, then lord mayor:

Mansion House, 2nd December 1801.

SIR,

I feel a peculiar satisfaction in having the honour of transmitting to you the unanimous thanks of the lord mayor, aldermen, and commons of the city of London, in common council a.s.sembled, for the very important services you have rendered your country, as expressed in their resolutions; agreeable to which I have the honour to request you will have the goodness to communicate to the officers, seamen, and marines under your command the unanimous thanks of this court for their bravery and uncommon exertions displayed in those memorable engagements.

On your return, sir, to this country, I shall be proud in having the opportunity of presenting you with the sword so deservedly voted to you, with the freedom of this great city, in which we shall have the honour of having your name enrolled amongst us; and I trust you will permit me to nominate you as a brother-liveryman in the wors.h.i.+pful company of salters, of which I have the honour to be a member.

I have the honour to be, With the highest esteem and respect, Sir, your most obedient servant, JOHN EAMER, Mayor.

To Sir James Saumarez, Bart. &c. &c. &c.

A Common Council holden in the chamber of the Guildhall of the city of London, on Friday the 27th day of November 1801;

John Eamer, Esq. Lord Mayor.

Resolved, unanimously, that the thanks of this court be given to Rear-admiral Sir James Saumarez, Bart. Knight of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, for the very important and splendid victories obtained by the squadron under his command over a Spanish and French fleet of superior force, on the 6th, off Algeziras, and on the 13th July last, off Cape Trafalgar.

Resolved, unanimously, that the freedom of this city, with a sword of the value of one hundred guineas, be presented to Rear-admiral Sir James Saumarez, Bart. Knight of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, as a testimony of the opinion this court entertain of the eminent services rendered by him to his country.

Resolved, unanimously, that the thanks of this court be given to the several captains, officers, seamen, and marines, for their brave exertions on the days of the above celebrated victories.

Resolved, unanimously, that the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor be requested to transmit the above resolutions to Sir James Saumarez, and to request him to communicate the same to the officers, seamen, and marines of his squadron.

Resolved, unanimously, that the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor be requested to provide the sword on this occasion.

Signed, by order of the Court, EDWD. BOXLEY.

His Majesty's s.h.i.+p Caesar, Gibraltar Bay, 6th January 1802.

MY LORD,

I have received the letter your lords.h.i.+p has done me the honour to write to me, transmitting the unanimous thanks of the lord mayor, aldermen, and commons of the city of London, in common council a.s.sembled, for the successful attacks made by the squadron under my orders upon the superior forces of the enemy, on the 6th and 12th of July last, off Algeziras, and at the entrance of the Straits of Gibraltar.

I beg leave to return my most grateful acknowledgments for so flattering a mark of distinction; more particularly for the high honour conferred upon me in the freedom of the city of London, and permitting my name to be enrolled with its loyal and brave citizens.

I also beg to offer my sincere thanks for the present of a sword, which I shall ever consider it my greatest pride to have been found deserving of; and I trust to use it with every success in the service of my King and country on any future opportunity requiring its being unsheathed. I shall not fail to communicate to the captains, officers, and men under my orders the resolutions you have been pleased to enclose to me; and I beg to express how truly gratifying it is to me to have the honour of being nominated a brother liveryman in the wors.h.i.+pful company of salters, of which your lords.h.i.+p is a member.

I have the honour to be, With sentiments of the most respectful regard and esteem, Your lords.h.i.+p's most obedient and most humble servant, JAMES SAUMAREZ.

To Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, &c. &c. &c.

The inhabitants of the channel islands, justly proud of their heroic countryman, were not behind in acknowledging the high sense they entertained of his services. The following is a copy of the resolution of the States of the island of Jersey:

Aux Etats de l'ile de Jersey.

L'an Mil huit cent un, le vingt-deuxieme jour d'Aout, les Etats, a leur premiere tenue depuis la nouvelle de la victoire qu'a remportee l'Amiral Sir James Saumarez sur la flotte combinee de la France et de l'Espagne, dans les Pa.s.sages de Gibraltar, ont un devoir de manifester la joie et la satisfaction que leur inspire cet heureux evenement. Les divers exploits qui ont signale les armes de sa Majeste ont toujours excite la plus vive allegresse dans le coeur des habitans de cette ile. Mais ce qui releve infiniment a leurs yeux le prix de cette derniere victoire est la consideration qu'elle est due a un natif de l'ile de Guernesey, a laquelle ce pays se sent etroitement attache par les liens d'une commune origine, de la proximite, de l'amitie. Cette a.s.semblee n'a pu manquer de remarquer les actions eclatantes qui ont distingue la carriere navale de Sir James Saumarez dans sa qualite de capitaine. Elle voit enfin que, parvenu au premier rang, il a su y briller d'un nouveau l.u.s.tre, et s'y acquerir de nouveaux droits a la reconnaissance de la patrie. On a surtout admire l'etonnante celerite avec laquelle cet amiral a repare les damages de son escadre apres la sanglante journee d'Algeziras; l'intrepidite avec laquelle il a ose poursuivre une flotte doublement superieure par le nombre, la grandeur, et l'equipement parfait des vaisseaux; la prompt.i.tude avec laquelle il a saisi le moment favorable de l'attaque dans l'obscurite d'une nuit orageuse; et finalement le succes decisif qui a couronne ces n.o.bles efforts. Considerant tout ce qu'a d'honorable pour l'ile de Guernesey d'avoir mis au jour un de ces grands hommes qui ont ill.u.s.tre leur nation en la defendant, et dont la Providence s'est servie pour reprimer l'insatiable ambition de l'ennemi, les Etats ont unanimement resolu d'offrir dans cette occasion aux habitans de la dite ile leurs sinceres et cordiales felicitations; et, afin de leur faire connaitre la part que prend cette a.s.semblee a cet evenement memorable, le greffier est charge de transmettre le present acte a Robert P. Le Marchant, ecuyer, bailli de Guernesey, pour qu'il veuille bien le communiquer a ses compatriotes de la maniere la plus convenable.

JEAN DE VEULLE, Greff.

The address of the loyal inhabitants of the Channel islands was followed by a liberal subscription for the wounded, and the widows and orphans of those who fell in the actions. Large sums were also subscribed for the same purpose in Great Britain; while the island of Guernsey presented Sir James with a very handsome silver vase, being the second time the high sense entertained of his services had been thus expressed. The inscription on the first vase, which has not been before given, is as follows:

_Presented to Sir James Saumarez, Knt._ of his Majesty's frigate the Crescent, by the subscribers to the fund for encouraging the capture of French privateers, in testimony of their sense of his gallant conduct in the action of the 20th October last with La Reunion, French frigate, of considerable force, and the protection thereby afforded to the commerce of Great Britain.

London, 14th Nov. 1799.

On the second vase the following inscription:

The Inhabitants of _Guernsey_ to their gallant countryman, Rear-admiral _Sir James Saumarez, Bart. and K.B._ whose suavity of manner and private virtues have long engaged their esteem and affection, and whose brilliant achievements have not only immortalized his name, but will for ever reflect l.u.s.tre on his native isle, and add to the glory of the British empire.

June 1802.

CHAPTER IV.

1802.