Sir James sails from England in command of a squadron of six sail of the line on a particular service.--Arrives off Cadiz.--Attacks a French squadron at Algeziras.--Captain Brenton's account of the battle.--Loss of the Hannibal.--Colonel Connolly's statements.--Logs of the Caesar and ships of the squadron.--Sir James proceeds to Gibraltar.--Remarks.--Flag of truce sent to Algeziras.--Correspondence with Linois.--Squadron refit at Gibraltar. On the 16th June the signal was made to unmoor; and soon after, for the squadron to weigh. The wind being fair, the ships quickly cleared the English Channel, and crossed the Bay of Biscay. Cape Finisterre was reached on the 22nd; on the 26th the squadron hove to off the Tagus, and sent letters on shore at Lisbon. The detachment was now joined by the Phaeton, Captain Morris, and proceeded off Cadiz, where it arrived on the 28th June: to announce this, the following letter was written to Admiral Lord Keith, who had then the chief command on the Mediterranean station: Caesar, off Cadiz, 26th June 1801. MY LORD, I have the honour to inform your lordship of my arrival off Cadiz with the ships named on the margin[28] under my orders; having sailed from Cawsand Bay on the 16th instant. On the 26th I was joined, off Lisbon, by the Phaeton, Captain Morris, from whom I received the enclosed state of the enemy's ships at Cadiz.[29] The Venerable and Superb have both joined the squadron; and I have taken these ships under my orders, agreeably to my instructions from my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. I shall take the earliest opportunity of transmitting to your lordship a copy of those instructions; but having at present no other vessel than the Plymouth, hired lugger, I cannot part with her further than to Gibraltar. I have the honour to be, Your lordship's most obedient humble servant, JAS. SAUMAREZ. Right Honourable Lord Keith, K.B. &c. [28] Caesar, Pompee, Spencer, Hannibal, Audacious, Thames, Phaeton, and Plymouth, hired lugger. [29] See list already given. The squadron continued to cruise off Cadiz, and frequently to reconnoitre the harbour; while the Superb was stationed off Lagos as a look-out ship to westward, and the Thames in the Straits of Gibraltar to the eastward. Nothing of importance occurred until the 5th, when intelligence was received as to the situation of a French squadron. Sir James accordingly despatched the Plymouth lugger with the following letters to the Secretary of the Admiralty, and to Mr. Frere, the English ambassador at Lisbon: Caesar, off Cadiz, 5th July 1801. SIR In my letter of the 29th ultimo, I acquainted you, for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, of my arrival before Cadiz with the squadron under my orders, and of my having been joined by the Venerable and Superb.