Commander the Hon. Geo. H.L. Dundas, of the Calpé, was appointed captain of the San Antonio, now called the St. Antoine; Lieut. Lamburn, first of the Cæsar, to command the Calpé; Mr. Beard, master's mate of the Cæsar, to be lieutenant of the St. Antoine, to which ship the purser and warrant officers of the Thames, also, were appointed. Mr. Champion, secretary to Sir James, was made purser of the Thames, while warrant officers were selected from the class of petty officers in the Cæsar; Mr. John Brenton was appointed to fill the vacancy of lieutenant in the Cæsar; Lieutenant Janvrin was made first lieutenant of the St. Antoine; and the other vacancies for lieutenants were filled up from the other ships, viz. Messrs. Curry and Hillier of the Pompée, T. Dowel of the Venerable, E. Donovan of the Superb, and Mr. J. Crawfurd, master of the El Carmen, were made acting lieutenants to the said ships; while the marine officers of the Hannibal, Lieutenant (now Colonel) Connolly, and Lieutenant Dunford, were also transferred with the marines of that ship to the prize. All these appointments were transmitted to, but not confirmed by, the Admiralty, excepting Captain Dundas, and Captain Dumaresq, who was subsequently appointed to the Calpé.
As the correspondence between Sir James and the Spanish commander-in-chief is highly creditable to both, and as it clears up a doubt which may still exist, we give an exact copy from the original letters, which were exchanged by a flag of truce.
H.M.S. Cæsar, off Cadiz, 17th August 1801.
Having been informed that reports were circulated in Spain, ascribing the destruction of the two first-rates, Real Carlos and San Hermenegildo, in the engagement of the 12th July last, to red-hot balls from his Majesty's ships under my command, I take this present opportunity to contradict, in the most positive and formal manner, a report so injurious to the characteristic humanity of the British nation, and to assure your Excellency that nothing was more void of truth. This I request you will be pleased to signify in the most public way possible. To assuage, as far as lay in my power, the miseries that must necessarily result from a state of warfare, has ever been my strenuous endeavour, and such will be the rule of my conduct in carrying on the blockade of Cadiz, or any other service committed to my charge.
I beg your Excellency to accept the renewal of my respectful regard; and I have the honour to be,
With the highest consideration,
Your Excellency's most obedient and most humble servant,
James Saumarez.
To his Excellency Don Joseph de Mazzaredo, Commander-in-chief of his
Most Cath. Maj. ships, Cadiz.
The flag of truce, which had been sent into Cadiz with some passengers, taken in a small vessel, and with the above letter, returned with the following answer, of which we give a verbatim copy, as a specimen of a foreigner's English:
Esteemed Sir,