Monsieur le Vice-amiral Saumarez,
Mon Conseiller intime d'Etat, le Baron de Platen, se rendant auprès de vous pour concerter sur des mesures à prendre contre l'ennemi commun, je profite avec plaisir de cette occasion pour vous envoyer ci-incluses les décorations de Commandeur Grand Croix de mon Ordre de l'Epée. Les services distingués que vous avez déjà rendu à mon royaume, et ceux que vous lui rendez maintenant, le zèle que vous avez constamment déployé pour le succès de nos entreprises, tous ces motifs réunis vous avaient acquis depuis longtems des droits à mon estime et à ma reconnaissance; et j'éprouve une satisfaction toute particulière de pouvoir vous en donner aujourdhui un gage solennel. Je vous félicite de l'avantage remporté le 7 de ce mois par une partie de votre escadre; et vous devez être bien persuadé, qu'il ajoute encore au prix que j'attache à vos efforts pour assurer la defense des côtes de la Suède. Et sur ce je prie Dieu qu'il vous ait, Monsieur le Vice-amiral de Saumarez en sa sainte et digne garde; etant votre affectionné,
Charles.
Au Château de Stockholm, le 19 de Juillet 1809.
Permission to accept and wear the decorations were subsequently granted by the Prince Regent.
The defeat of Oudinot at Polotzk, the junction of Begration and Barclay de Tolly with the grand Russian army under Kutusoff, and the battle of Borodino, gave a favourable turn to affairs, but not such as to dispel every apprehension, and it was determined by the Emperor Alexander to send the whole Russian fleet to winter in England. Admiral Crown was expected from Archangel with eight sail of the line, and Admiral Tait with ten, and six frigates from Cronstadt. The former having sailed from Wingo before this had been determined on, it became necessary for Sir James to delay his return. The Aquilon, which had been sent through the Belt to meet Lord Cathcart at Dalerö, and convey his lordship to Åbo, where he was to have a conference with the Emperor Alexander, met with some damage and returned to Wingo.
Mr. James Saumarez, eldest son of the Admiral, who had accompanied his lordship, made a tour and visited the Swedish, Finland, and Russian capitals; he returned on board the Victory on the 9th of October, when the afflicting intelligence arrived of the sudden death of his sister, the eldest daughter of the Admiral, whose loss was deeply regretted by all who knew her excellent disposition. The shock, as may be imagined, was deeply felt by Sir James; but it will be seen by the following correspondence that his mind was supported under this severe trial, and much as his presence was required at home he regarded his duty to his country to be paramount to every other consideration, and unflinchingly remained at his post. His son (the present Lord de Saumarez) who had just finished his education for the Established Church, was indeed a great comfort to his suffering parent.
In a letter, dated 13th October, to the Secretary of the Admiralty, he says,—
There has been no ship in the Hawke Roads into which I could have shifted my flag, since the receipt of their Lordships' letter to send the Victory to Spithead, and the present afflicting state of my domestic concerns renders it of the utmost consequence that I should repair to England immediately; but I have suffered my private feelings to give way to the public service, and have to request that I may receive their Lordships' permission to proceed to England upon the receipt of this letter.
In his letter to Lord Cathcart, dated on the following day, he writes,—