On the approach of the Victory off the harbour of Carlscrona, the Admiral wrote the following complimentary letter to Admiral Puké, who was then commander-in-chief and senior admiral in the Swedish service:
His Majesty's ship Victory, off Carlscrona,
4th June 1809.
Sir,
It is with the highest satisfaction that I have the honour to inform your excellency of my arrival off Carlscrona, being in my way up the Baltic, with part of the fleet under my command, for the defence of Sweden against the attack of the Russian fleet, and that I shall use every possible effort to preserve the good understanding that has for so many years subsisted between our respective nations.
I shall be thankful to your excellency for any information you will be pleased to honour me with that can tend to the advancement of the great and good cause in which we are engaged; and I am happy in profiting by the present opportunity to transmit an official bulletin which I received last Friday, giving an account of a most important victory over the French army, commanded by Buonaparte in person. This glorious event, it is to be hoped, will unite the powers in the northern parts of the Continent totally to extirpate the atrocious tyrant, who has been so long the scourge of the human race.
I have the honour to be,
With sentiments of the highest regard and consideration,
Sir,
&c. &c. &c.
James Saumarez.
Vice-admiral Puké, &c. &c. &c.
Carlscrona.
To which Admiral Puké returned the following answer:
Carlscrona, 7th June 1809.