had ceased, on the preceding
day; but he consented to send over on parole Captain Ferris and the
officers of the Hannibal. The object of the French Admiral was very
obvious; he concluded we wanted to replace the men who were killed,
and wounded; but he justly thought, that sending officers on parole
would be an act of harmless courtesy, from which we could reap no
immediate benefit. It will be seen that, after the second action, when
his dispatches from Algeziras could scarcely have reached Paris, (only
six days having elapsed,) he did not wait for an answer from the
Minister of Marine. But circumstances had altered; we had taken a
line-of-battle ship, and burned two first-rates; and he then wished to
get back as many of the crews as possible."

The following correspondence, which took place between Sir James
Saumarez and the French Admiral Linois, shows the deep interest Sir
James took in the distressing situation of the crew of the Hannibal,
of which an account was brought to him by Captain Brenton, together
with the assurance that Captain Ferris and his officers would be
liberated on parole.

Caesar, off Rosia Bay, 8th July 1801.

SIR,

Solicitous as I am for the welfare of the men unfortunately
wounded on board his Majesty's ship Hannibal, and desirous to
have them conveyed as speedily as possible to this garrison, I
propose to send a boat early to-morrow morning with a flag of
truce, and I trust no objection can be made to their coming by
her.

Being informed that Captain Ferris and his officers have
permission to come on their parole, a boat will also be sent for
them. I have the honour to be, sir,

Your most obedient and most humble servant,
JAS. SAUMAREZ.

To Rear-admiral Linois,
commanding the French squadron at Algeziras.

The boat having returned from Algeziras with Captain Ferris and his
officers, but not with the crew of the Hannibal, Sir James despatched
another boat, with the following letter to Admiral Linois:

Caesar, off Rosia Bay, 9th July 1801.

SIR,

Having received different reports, particularly from Captain
Ferris, that the men who had the misfortune of being wounded on
board his Majesty's ship Hannibal are left in the most
afflicting condition, and are unprovided with every kind of
refreshment, I am impelled, from motives of humanity, to renew
my application to you that they may be permitted to come to this