ST. VINCENT TO SPENCER Tor Abbey. 3rd February, 1801. My dear Lord,-The escape of the French squadron is an unlucky, though unavoidable circumstance, and no measure, in future, can prevent the like happening but the departure of the squadron from this bay the instant the wind veers to N.N.Wd. night or day. Captain Hotham has acted very much like an officer and if he is correct in the course the Frenchmen steer'd, they are entirely bound into the Mediterranean for had they been destined for the East or West Indies, and to touch at the Canary Islands, they would have kept more to the westward out of the way of our cruisers; it is a pleasant circumstance, that they were so roughly treated by the elements. Captain Linzee is extremely desirous to be placed in a heavier frigate, the more so, as L'Oisseau is almost done up, and I can safely recommend him to you, as a zealous, spirited and intelligent officer. Yours most faithfully, ST. VINCENT. We are fitting up the Spencer, and the San Josef will be soon put to rights at this anchorage. It is a provoking thing, that the Magnificent should have lost a spring, for want of a hulk to put her men in. ST. V. ST. VINCENT TO SPENCER CONFIDENTIAL. Tor Abbey. 7th February, 1801. My dear Lord,-It grieves me to observe the increasing indecision of Sir Henry Harvey,' who kept the sea five days when he ought to have been at this anchorage, and anchor'd when he should have pushed for his station, merely because he had not strength of mind to make the detachment. I cannot give you a stronger proof of these circumstances than by inclosing Sir Thos. Troubridge's report, and the table of winds during the night. I placed Sir R. Calder at the head of the detachment, because he was the only Flag Officer in a three-deck ship junior to RearAdmiral Duckworth. 1 'I am glad Sir Hyde is coming, for Sir Henry is very near kilt with responsibility already' (St. Vincent to Nepean, 28th October, 1800). He is a worthy good and gallant man, but sinks under responsibility' (St. Vincent to Spencer, 7th November, 1800). [Copy] PRIVATE. SPENCER TO ST. VINCENT 9th February, 1801. My dear Lord,-I have to thank you for your several letters of the 23rd, 28th, and 31st January and the 3rd and 7th of this month, and am glad to find that our arrangements here respecting the Baltic Fleet have as far as they have gone met with your approbation; it will be necessary more than ever to expedite the preparation and detachment of that fleet, as as the season is advancing, and the Dane seems by the latest accounts likely to fight stout. I deeply regret the escape of the French Squadron and more especially as so many untoward circumstances appear to have [operated?] to retard the sailing of our detachment in pursuit of it. I still, however, trust and hope that Sir Robt. Calder will have the good fortune to overtake them somewhere or other.1 It is now my duty to apprize your Lordship of what you are probably already apprized by less authentic means of my approaching retreat from this Board. I trust that you do too much justice to my earnest desire to serve my country as far as I can with credit to myself or the smallest prospect of benefit to the King's service, not to be persuaded that nothing short of indispensable necessity could have induced me to this measure at this time; but if what I hear rumoured in the press to-day has really any foundation, all my regret (so far as it relates to my own situation) will be [lost ?] in the certain expectation I shall feel that the detachment will 1 Calder went to the West Indies. be in the most decided manner [word missing] essentially benefited by the change. You will be] at no loss, my dear Lord, to understand what I allude to, if not before you receive this letter, at least very shortly afterwards. I shall therefore add no more at present being much pressed in time but to assure you that I am very sincerely Your faithful humble servant, SPENCER. |