quently to his correspondence with the
Navy Board on his having commissioned the St. Antoine to employ the
crew of the Hannibal, which had been exchanged.

Caesar, 7th October 1801.

I leave it to you to decide whether I had not just cause for
additional disappointment to find no notice taken of the
services of the squadron by the promotion of any of the
officers; and what I must feel at this moment to find Mr.
Lamburn sent back, and the lieutenants of the Superb and
Venerable alone promoted. I cannot but view it as a great
injustice done me, and I am sorry to say it mortifies me more
than I can express.

With regard to the St. Antoine, allow me to bring to your
recollection under what circumstances she was commissioned. At
that time I was ignorant of any part of our force having been
withdrawn from the Baltic, or that any ships could be spared
from the North Sea or the Channel fleet, and consequently could
not expect but that a very small, if any, reinforcement could
be ordered to join me; and to have left an efficient ship,
which, with the Hannibal's ship's company, could be brought
forward for service in so short a time, I should have deemed
myself very reprehensible, All the appointments were made in
the most fair and impartial manner; and I solemnly declare that
the sole view to the good of his Majesty's service was what
actuated the whole of my proceedings, which I am certain Hood
will also declare. I am truly grieved at the manner the
warrant-officers I appointed to that ship are ordered to be
superseded, and I shall feel it as long as I live.

Believe me, my good friend, my heart is incapable of harbouring
so heinous a vice as ingratitude, and I shudder at the thought
of being taxed with it: but when I consider the treatment I
have received on this occasion, I feel it difficult to support
myself; and what adds to my distress is, to find by your
private note of the 19th that I am likely to remain longer in
this country. Let me assure you that I shall ever retain a
grateful sense of the many and uniform proofs of your
friendship for me, which I can truly say are not misplaced;
there being no one among your numerous friends who can have a
more true regard and sincere esteem for you than myself.

J.S.

Sir James continued wit