I am, sir, with great respect,
Your obedient humble servant,
Spencer.
To Captain Saumarez, H.M.S. Crescent.
Admiralty, December 24th, 1794.
Crescent, Spithead, 1st March 1795.
My Lord,
I beg to avail myself of the return of the fleet into port, to remind your lordship of the application I had the honour to make to be appointed to a line-of-battle ship; and as the Orion is likely soon to become vacant, I shall be greatly obliged to your lordship to have the goodness to give me the command of her, and at the same time to permit me to take my officers and ship's company.
I have the honour to be, my lord,
Your lordship's most obedient and most humble servant,
James Saumarez.
Right Honourable Earl Spencer.