The reports which have been current, that the burning of the two royal ships, on the nights of the 12th and 13th, arose from the use of red-hot balls, which were fired at them, have existed only among the ignorant public, and have not received credit from any persons of condition, who well know the manner of combating of the British navy. At the same time they give the greatest credit to the assertion of your Excellency that nothing could be more foreign from the truth, and the characteristic humanity of the British nation. I have myself experience of the particular conduct of your Excellency, conformable to your personal character, and to that of your late commander-in-chief, his Excellency Lord St. Vincent, in the manner in which, in the last blockade of Cadiz, he reconciled with the duties of a state of war those attentions and considerations to alleviate miseries not connected with the great object, and to secure that good intelligence and friendship with which two powers may suspend for a time treating each other as enemies; and I have no doubt that such will always be the rule of your Excellency's conduct.
In my particular circumstances, with an obligation to reside in this capital, as Captain-general of the Marine department, the correspondence in any urgent case of a flag of truce might suffer delay; and it would be convenient for your Excellency to address yourself directly to Don Joseph Herryar, Commandant-general of the province and army of Andalusia, qui (who) resides in Cadiz.
I will avail myself of every occasion to assure your Excellency of the esteem and consideration which I profess for your person.
God grant you may live a thousand years!
Your most obedient servant,
Joseph Mazzaredo.
Isle of Leon, 17th August 1801.
The following reply was sent by Sir James to the Spanish Admiral:
Cæsar, off Cadiz, 18th August 1801.
Sir,
I have received the honour of your Excellency's letter, by which I am extremely happy to find the reports of the Real Carlos and San Hermenegildo having been destroyed by red-hot balls from the squadron under my orders have only been credited by the ignorant public, and not by persons of higher condition in Spain. But as such reports, if permitted to gain ground without being contradicted, must tend to irritate the minds of the public, and occasion an animosity between the two nations that ought not to exist, I trust your Excellency will be pleased to comply with my request in causing the formal disavowal of it to be publicly notified.