consider themselves as safe.  He accordingly sent, the very next day, the Andromache frigate, Captain Mansfield, for that purpose.  In the mean time, he returned a polite answer to the consul:  in which he observed that, by thus freely granting the protection of the British flag to the subjects of the United States, he was sure of fulfilling the wishes of his sovereign; and, he hoped, of strengthening the harmony which at present so happily subsisted between the two nations.

On the 27th, he shifted his flag from the Captain to the Theseus; and was appointed to the command of the inner squadron, at the blockade of Cadiz.

A curious proof occurs, at this period, of the conciliatory conduct, amiable manners, and more than chivalrous gallantry, of the heroic commodore and his commander in chief.  This is contained in a letter addressed to the Spanish admiral, Don Josef de Mazerendo, dated on board the Theseus, May 30, 1797, as follows—­

     “SIR,

“I have the honour of sending your excellency a packet from Sir John Jervis; and I embrace the opportunity of assuring you of my high esteem for your character.  The 4th of June being the birth-day of my Royal Master, Sir John Jervis intends firing a feu de joye, at eight o’clock in the evening; and has desired me to mention it to your excellency, that the ladies at Cadiz may not be alarmed at the firing.  Believe me your excellency’s most faithful servant,

     “Horatio Nelson.”

The Spanish admiral’s answer, addressed to Sir Horatio Nelson, equally deserves to be recorded, as partaking of the same liberal spirit.

     “On board the Conception,
     off Cadiz,
     1st June 1797.

     “MY DEAR SIR,

     “I correspond to the urbanity merited by the letter with which you
     honoured me the 30th of May last.

“The ladies of Cadiz, accustomed to the noisy sounds of salutes of the vessels of war, will sit, and will hear what Sir John Jervis means to regale them with, for the evening of the 4th current, in honour of his Britannic majesty’s birth-day; and the general wish of the Spanish nation cannot but interest itself in so august a motive.

     “God preserve you, many years.  I kiss your hands.

     “Your attentive servant, “Josef de Mazerendo.

     “P.S.  I beg that you will be pleased to direct the two adjoined
     letters to the Admiral Jervis and to Sir James Saumarez.”

Flags of truce, indeed, were continually passing, at this time, between the British and Spanish commanders; and peace, by the latter, at least, was ardently wished for.

The naval fete, proposed for his majesty’s birth-day, had another object, which could not very courteously be hinted to the Spanish admiral.  On that day, it seems, Rear-Admiral Nelson was invested, by his commander in chief, who personated the king on this occasion, with the insignia of the order of the Bath, and the gold medal, which had been transmitted by the sovereign, in consequence of the glorious victory of the 14th of February over the Spanish fleet.