I have done wrong, may God forgive me! and may any decision, in consequence thereof, at home, deter others. from acting in a similar manner!

I think you might have known my determination respecting you soon after my arrival, and therefore it appears to me evident I should persist: and as I see no reason to justify a change of opinion, however my private feelings may be hurt, from reflecting on any evils which may happen to yourself in consequence of steps that you have taken, or mean to take, or on the distress which may thence be occasioned to an amiable wife and large family, which you pathetically describe as being totally dependent on you *.

I will not take up your time further than repeating my offer, to send with my dipatches any letters which you may think proper to write to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, if you are desirous that my representation should not reach their Lordships before yours. But if you do not choose to adopt this mode, I promise that, on your notify. ing assent to the proposal, I will, on the packet which contains my correspondence respecting your return, request, if not contrary to official form, that it may not be opened until your arrival in England, or letters are received from you.

Farewell! I most heartily wish you a good passage; and that you may long enjoy domestic felicity.

Charles Stirling, Esq. Rear-Admiral of the White, Commander in Chief.

Maldonado, 10th December, 1806.

SIR,

It was my intention that the last communication I had the honour to make to you should have closed our correspondence; but as the letter which I received in answer states a proposition at variance with my instructions to Captain King, and suggests a measure to which you require my assent before you carry it into execution, I am not only bound, but invited to take up my pen once more on the subjects under discussion.

I did not desire Captain King to ask, if you would allow me to stay here to settle business ;—an expression furnishing a glorious thesis for an ingenious or vindictive mind. I requested him to ask, if you would allow me to remain here to see the public accounts closed, which were now open by my order; and he conveyed to me your positive. negative to such a demand.

With respect to the second question, "Will you force Sir Home Popham to sail in the Sampson?" which ship is bound to the Cape of Good Hope; you say, "You shudder at the idea of using force," &c.

To the feelings of a gentleman, the essence of force has been used by the strong expression of insist: but as the question at issue rests on a difference of opinion upon law, usage, and construction (on which points the learned judges in England have occasionally divided), I deemed it expedient that every act should be formal, that the case may be the less complex; and to avoid the imputation of having spontaneously ceded to your arguments, I did desire Captain King to propose the question.

I cannot, sir, quietly surrender my liberty, protected as it is by the 29th chapter of Magna Charta, and other

proud acts in the British Constitution; nor can I agree to be made a precedent that might arm a minister with the power of exercising political revenge against any officer, however high his rank and situation. My compli ance in this case might sanction the propriety of sending an officer from America to Africa, in his way to England; and it would equally justify the sending another from Asia to America, in his way to Europe. Were I to be forced to go to the Cape of Good Hope, I should consider it a deviation from the spirit of their Lordships' instructions to me, and the infliction of a most unnecessary punishment.

Captain King was perfectly right in saying, I had determined to take my passage to England in the prize brig, as no direct conveyance has been pointed out: and I very early experienced that the door of accommodation was shut to me.

Whenever it is evident to my judgment that the brig can make any progress on her voyage, I shall proceed to sea; but if I should have the misfortune to differ also on this point, from a longer experience of the probable winds in the offing, and the set of the currents, I must submit with patience to the exercise of your power, in a measure which you have proposed to adopt, whatever usages it may over. turn, or whatever interests it may affect.

I have no doubt that we both act to the best of our judgment. As, however, you say that you have no immediate object but the public good, it would be natural to enquire, what public good would be effected by forcing me to England via the Cape of Good Hope, unless it could be proved that I should commit some public wrong on my arrival there by the regular and direct route.

Whatever may be our reflections on the evils which may happen to me, and the distress which may be occasioned to my family in consequence, as you assert, of the steps I

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have taken, I can only say, the world must judge of the causa mali.

I am aware, sir, that your time is much engaged on the public service; mine, I assure you, was continually occupied, in providing for the exigencies of a starving fleet, the disasters of a winter's blockade, and the inconveniences of an open river, without any roadstead: added to which, I had all the feelings of anxiety, in being seven months on this service, without hearing from England. On the contrary, you have all the authority and protection to be wished for-you are abundantly furnished with provisions, by the victuallers which you brought from England;-you have the advantage of a harbour, a summer season, and the result of all our seven months' local experience. I hope this is the last time I shall have occasion to trouble you.

I have no wish that you should propose to the Admiralty, not to read your correspondence about me till I reach England; as I am satisfied the Admiralty is too just, too honourable, and too liberal, to decide upon an ex parte statement. We differ in point of opinion; and I heartily rejoice that the difference regards merely the treatment of an humble individual, and not the advancement of the national interest, upon which I should cede to superior judgment.

I cannot return my farewell, without offering my thanks for the interest you take in my having a speedy passage, and your sincere wish that I may long enjoy domestic felicity: I hope, and trust, by going direct to England, it will not be long before I enjoy that blessing.

Note M.

SIR,

Mr. Greetham, jun. Portsmouth.

Admiralty-office, 6th March, 1807.

IN compliance with the request of Sir Home Popham, as signified in your letter of yesterday's date, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to send you the inclosed copy of a letter from Sir Francis Vincent, with a copy of the paper therein referred to.

To Benjamin Tucker, Esq.

Downing-street, March 6th, 1807.

I HAVE laid before Lord Howick your letter inclosing an application from Sir Home Popham, through the deputy judge-advocate of the fleet, for copies of certain papers from this office, to be employed in his defence before the court-martial; and his Lordship, having received his Majesty's permission for the purpose, has directed me to transmit to you, for the use of Sir Home Popham, the inclosed copy of a dispatch from Lord Grenville, dated November the 19th, 1799, which appears to be the first referred to by Sir Home Popham,

paper

With respect to the other paper applied for, I have Lord

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