I am, &c.
James Saumarez.
To the Right Hon. C. Yorke,
&c. &c. &c.
On the 4th of May Sir James received the alarming intelligence that the cargoes of both goods and colonial produce at Carlshamn, were ordered by the Governor of Carlscrona to be discharged and conveyed up the country. Admiral Puké had also ordered three of the largest merchant ships to be fitted as block ships for the additional defence of Carlshamn, which was considered as a bad omen.
No one, excepting Sir James, doubted that this was an act of hostility, and that a retaliation on our part would speedily take place. The Admiral, however, judged that it was only to keep quiet the French agents. He accordingly forbore to proceed to hostilities, and wrote the following letter to Mr. Yorke:
Victory, Wingo Sound, 11th May 1811.
Sir,
I received two days ago the enclosed from Mr. Fenwick, informing me of the unloading of the cargoes on board the neutral vessels at Carlshamn, and that the British goods and colonial produce had been conveyed up the country. Although Mr. Fenwick appears under very considerable alarm at the circumstance, I do not believe it to have been with any hostile views against our commerce, although it certainly requires explanation, and I have written to Mr. Smith upon the subject.
I expected to have received some communication from Stockholm, in consequence of the courier which was despatched upon my arrival; but nothing has as yet reached me. This is rather a dubious crisis, and I trust soon to be better informed of the sentiments of the Swedish Government towards us; at the same time, I have no reason to believe they are more hostile than last year.
I have the honour to be, &c.