his island, and anchored in
the road this morning. I have scarcely a doubt that what caused
your brother[6] to be alarmed was the appearance of this ship,
the Drake and Cockatrice, with another small vessel in the Race
of Alderney; and I am sorry it was not in my power to acquaint
him with it, as the vessel he sent me returned immediately.

[6] Governor Le Mesurier was brother to Mrs. Richard Saumarez.

Captain Saumarez, on his return to Guernsey, wrote to Governor Le
Mesurier, and, in reply to his letter, informed him that the
appearance of the Crescent and squadron off Cherbourg had the desired
effect of baffling the meditated attack on Alderney; nevertheless, the
Crescent was detained on that station until the 25th, in consequence
of other reports of the enemy's intentions to attack either Jersey or
Alderney, and his squadron therefore was reinforced. In the mean time
he succeeded in filling up the complement of his crew at Guernsey, and
at length returned to Spithead, when some alteration took place in the
armament of his ship: having there completed his stores and
provisions, Captain Saumarez' next employment was to take a convoy of
transports with troops to Cork, and bring from thence two regiments to
Guernsey. This service occupied his ship until the 4th of May, when
she arrived off the Lizard, and, having sent part of his convoy into
Falmouth, he anchored at Guernsey on the following day.

He left Guernsey on the 15th of May, having six transports with French
prisoners on board, and arrived at Spithead on the 17th.

On the 22nd Captain Saumarez received orders from the Admiralty to
take the Hind, Captain Cochrane, under his command, and proceed with
the Crescent and that ship to cruise between lat. 51 deg. and 47 deg. N. and
long. 10 deg. to 16 deg. W. for the protection of the trade, and continue on
that service for three weeks. The account of this cruise, in which
two prizes were taken, is given in the following letter to his
brother.

Crescent, Spithead, 26th June 1793.

MY DEAR RICHARD,

I have the pleasure to acquaint you with our return from a
cruise which has been rather unsuccessful, having only taken
(besides the brig I informed you of) a cutter called "Le Club de
Cherbourg," of ten guns. She sailed from Brest on the 20th
instant, and was found on the coast of Ireland, where she had
done much mischief on her former cruise, having taken four
vessels w