In the mean time I understood from M. Hussey, that in applying to the Spanish ambassador Count Fernan Nunez for his passport, he had committed himself to a conversation, from which he drew very promising expectations; of this I informed my proper minister Lord Hillsborough, as will appear by the following extract of my letter dated the 19th of May 1780.

My Lord,

"When Mr. Hussey waited on "Count Fernan Nunez yesterday for his passport, he would have made his commission for "the exchange of prisoners the pretence for "his journey into Spain, but the ambassador 66 gave him plainly to understand he was con"fidential with Count Florida Blanca in the "business upon which we are come. This being "the case, Mr. Hussey thought it by no means

necessary to decline a conversation with the "ambassador under proper reserve. He was soon "told that his arrival was anxiously expected "at Aranjuez. No expression of good will to << him, to me, and to the commission I am "entrusted with was omitted. It was proposed by the ambassador to pay me the ho

"nour of a visit, if acceptable, in any way I "liked best; but this Mr. Hussey without re'ferring to me very properly and readily pre"vented.

"He entered into many pertinent enquiries as to the state of the ministry and the manner, in which Lord North had been pressed "in the House of Commons; he would have "stirred the question of an accommodation "with France, but was plainly answered by "Mr. Hussey that he had no one word to say upon that subject; the channel was open, "he observed, but ours was not that chan"nel-**

"The conversation then closed with such assurances of a sincere pacific disposition on "the part of Spain, that if Count Fernan "Nunez reports fairly and is not imposed on,

our business seems to be in an auspicious "train

My gratitude to Sir William Burnaby and his officers induced me to address the following letter and request to Lord Hillsborough, which I made separate, and sent under cover of the same dispatch.

"To the Earl of Hillsborough."

"My Lord,

May the 20th 1780 "Milford frigate off Belem. "I cannot let this opportunity go

by without expressing to your Lordship, and through you to Lord Sandwich, my most "thankful acknowledgments for indulging my

wishes by putting me on board the Milford "under the care and command of Sir William "Burnaby, whose unremitted kindness and at"tention to me and my family, I can neither 'duly relate nor repay. Throughout a long "and an eventful passage, whether we were struggling with a gale, or clearing ship for action, both he and his officers uniformly "conducted themselves with that harmony,

temper and precision, as seemed to put them "in assured possession of success; the men "themselves have been so long attached to "their officers, and all of them to the ship it"self, that the severest duty is here directed "without an oath, and obeyed without a mur

mur.-Though we have been encumbered "with such a crowd of prisoners, many of "whom seemed to possess the spirit of mutiny "in full force, our discipline has kept all in

perfect quiet, and such humane attention "has been paid to their health, that not a sin

gle prisoner has sickened or complained.

"I take the liberty of intruding upon your 'lordship with these particulars to introduce a suit to you, which I have most anxiously "at heart, and in which I am joined with equal "anxiety by my friend Mr. Hussey: it is, my "lord, to beseech you to promote the applica"tion made by Sir William Burnaby to Lord "Sandwich in behalf of his first lieutenant "Mr. William Grosvenor to be made master "and commander; an officer of ten years "standing, well known in the navy and dis

tinguished for activity, sobriety and profes"sional skill and ability: he went round the "world with Admiral Byron, and is highly respected by him; he has been in this ship du

ring the whole war, and assisted in the cap"ture of near four-score prizes, by which he "has acquired very little more than the appro "bation of his captains, and the love and re"verence of the men.

"Had our prize been a king's ship Mr. "Grosvenor would have come home in her, "and his promotion would most probably

"have followed in train; however, as she is a

66

very fine new frigate and will I dare say be

reported fit for the king's use, the opportu "nity is judged favourable for recommending "Mr. Grosvenor's pretensions, and as the "Milford may be said to be now acting under

your lordship's orders, I flatter myself you "will take her under your protection by "granting your good offices with Lord Sand"wich in Mr. Grosvenor's behalf; an obligation, that I shall ever gratefully carry in re"membrance.

"I have the honour to be, &c. &c.

"R. C."

This letter produced no advantage to Mr. Grosvenor, nor any other gratification to me except the recollection that I had done my best to serve a meritorious officer.

At Buenos Ayres I was visited by our minister Mr. Walpole, Commodore Johnstone, Sir John Hort the consul, Captain Payne and several gentlemen of the factory. On the 25th instant the ceremony of the Corpus Christi took place in a day excessively sultry, when the king and prince walked with the patriarch of Lisbon, the religious orders, knights of