fifteen weeks
he had the command, not a vessel either sailed from, or entered, the
harbour of Brest.

At last, seeing their escape impossible, they began to dismantle the
ships; and Sir James received the following letter from Earl St.
Vincent:

MY DEAR SIR,

The Impetueux took in her guns this day, and Sir Edward Pellew
will receive his orders to-morrow morning; and, if the wind
favours his getting out of Hamoaze, he will be with you in the
course of the week. You will receive by him orders to proceed to
Spithead; but I shall be very glad to see you here _en route_,
and I will inform Lady Saumarez by to-morrow's post of your
probable approach.

Lord Spencer has been fully impressed by me of the long and
arduous service you have undergone, and seems well disposed to
give you the respite so justly due to the cheerfulness with
which you have conducted the most important employment of this
war. I am not in the secret when the promotion is to take
effect. Private letters from town and the newspapers are full of
it, and I am morally certain it will be out soon; for one of the
ninety-gun ships, commanded by an officer very near the head of
the list of captains, is nominated for Sir Erasmus Gower's flag,
which appears conclusive.

Sir Hyde Parker has asked leave of absence; and, as the size of
the fleet of observation is much reduced, I conceive it will be
granted.

Yours, most truly,
Torr Abbey, 2nd December, 1800.
ST. VINCENT.

To Sir James Saumarez.

The following extract, which alludes to the preceding, was written by
Sir James to Lady Saumarez on the

29th Dec.--The Earl informs me of his intention to write to you.
I perceive he is resolved to become a favourite of yours by his
attention. The order for the Caesar to anchor in Torbay for
twenty-four hours, on her way to Portsmouth, will not lessen his
favour with you. After this, I suppose I cannot do less than
invite you to take a passage in the ship with your two dear
little companions; but it must be on condition that the weather
is propitious to my views.

The station off the Black Rocks had hitherto been considered tenable
only by frigates during the winter; on which service three or four
were annually employed; but which, like the Channel fleet,
occasionally took refuge in Torbay. It had been, however, resolved
upon by Earl St. Vincent to form an advan