Memoirs and Correspondence of Admiral Lord de Saumarez. Vol IIRoss, John, Sir
History
Memoirs and Correspondence of Admiral Lord de Saumarez. Vol II
Ross, John, Sir
Admirals -- Great Britain -- Biography; Saumarez, James, 1757-1836
Before leaving Sweden he was waited on by Baron Essen, aide-de-camp to
the Crown Prince, who presented him with a splendid sword, the hilt of
which was set in diamonds, and said to be worth 2000_l._, as a
testimony of the high sense his Majesty entertained of the important
services he had rendered to Sweden and the good cause.
Among the many attached to the Court of Sweden, there was none who
expressed himself more emphatically than his excellency Baron Platen.
We shall give his letter, although it has already been published in
substance.
At length I rejoice, my dear Admiral. You have been the
guardian angel of my country; by your wise, temperate, and
loyal conduct you have been the first cause of the plans which
have been formed against the demon of the Continent. He was on
the point of succeeding; folly and the want of confidence in
some have made them doubt the success of the good cause. You
have shared my anxiety, but it is now all over; two couriers
have arrived this night from the head-quarters of the Emperor
and the Prince. War was declared on the 24th of July; Austria
is with us; thus, if Providence have not decided something
against all probability, Buonaparte will be defeated, humanity
will breathe again, and Europe be once more raised up. With
Wellingtons, Moreaus, Bernadottes against him, what hopes! I
shall not fail to communicate to you the first news of
importance, for once more I must tell you, that _you_ were the
first cause that Russia had dared to make war against France:
_had you fired one shot when we declared war against England_,
all had been ended, and Europe would have been enslaved. I own
to you, also, my satisfaction that our august Prince Royal has
conducted himself in such a manner as to leave your excellency
no cause to repent of that which some people were pleased to
call "credulity," but which events have proved to be wisdom.
The expressions of the worthy and truly patriotic friends, Admiral
Krusenstjerna and Count Rosen on taking final leave of the Admiral,
were no less remarkable for sincerity and gratitude. The first has
long since paid the debt of nature, universally and justly regretted;
the latter in 1834 fell a sacrifice to his humane endeavours to arrest
the progress of cholera, and both will long be remembered as two of
the saviours of their country.
The Pyramus reached Yarmouth Roads on the 10th of November, when Sir
James made immediate application to strike his flag, and had the
satisfaction of receiving in answer the following letter from the
Secretary of the Admiralty.
Admiralty, 20th Nov. 1812.
SIR,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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