ngo Sound, 11th May 1809.

SIR,

Having arrived at this anchorage on the 4th instant, and
Rear-admiral Sir Samuel Hood being parted for England, in
consequence of the ill state of his health, I opened your
letter addressed to the Rear-admiral, dated 7th instant,
informing him of your being appointed his Majesty's charge
d'affaires in the absence of Mr. Merry.

I have the honour to inform you that I shall feel highly
gratified by any communication you may be pleased to make to me
relating to his Majesty's service, and which may be interesting
for my knowledge as commander-in-chief in these seas; and I
shall be happy in conveying to you any information in my power,
which may be connected with his Majesty's service.

His excellency Mr. Merry sailed yesterday for England, on board
his Majesty's ship Alexandria. From him I received such
information as he possessed to the period of his leaving
Stockholm. I propose to detach Rear-admiral Dixon, who joined
me the 9th instant in the Temeraire, to relieve Sir Richard G.
Keats; and I propose to continue here for some time longer for
the more speedy communication with England, as well as to
receive what you may do me the honour to write to me; giving
you due notice previously to my proceeding for the Baltic.

The accounts rumoured of the pretended defeat of the Austrians,
I trust, will not prove correct; and we must not be surprised
at the circulation of exaggerated accounts of the success of
Buonaparte in the present state of affairs on the continent and
in the northern parts of Europe.

I have the honour to be,
With great truth and respect,
Sir, &c. &c. &c.
JAMES SAUMAREZ.

To A. Foster, Esq. his Britannic Majesty's
charge d'affaires, Stockholm.

Stockholm, 15th May 1809.

SIR,

Scarcely had the letter which I wrote to your excellency late
last night been received by the person who set out with it this
morning, when a note reached me from Baron de Lagerbjelke,
minister for foreign affairs _ad interim_ of this government,
to inform me of his having important communications to make to
me, and appointing an hour for a conference with me this
forenoon.

The object of this conference was to expose to me the critical
position in which Sweden is place