"Horatio Nelson."
The Spanish admiral's answer, addressed to Sir Horatio Nelson, equally deserves to be recorded, as partaking of the same liberal spirit.
"On board the Conception, off Cadiz, 1st June 1797.
"MY DEAR SIR,
"I correspond to the urbanity merited by the letter with which you honoured me the 30th of May last.
"The ladies of Cadiz, accustomed to the noisy sounds of salutes of the vessels of war, will sit, and will hear what Sir John Jervis means to regale them with, for the evening of the 4th current, in honour of his Britannic majesty's birth-day; and the general wish of the Spanish nation cannot but interest itself in so august a motive.
"God preserve you, many years. I kiss your hands.
"Your attentive servant, "Josef de Mazerendo.
"P.S. I beg that you will be pleased to direct the two adjoined letters to the Admiral Jervis and to Sir James Saumarez."
Flags of truce, indeed, were continually passing, at this time, between the British and Spanish commanders; and peace, by the latter, at least, was ardently wished for.