4 8

THE RUSSIAN FLEET

duly weighed may prevent any censure on thisPrince’s conduct in the frequent removal of hisofficers.

Matters adjusted to the best advantage, theTsar, determining to send out in quest of theSwedish fleet, ordered Captains Baker of theArundel, and Deane of the Samson, to wait uponthe British Admiral and desire to know if he wouldappoint any cruisers ; and if answered in theaffirmative, to signify they had orders to jointhem : but Sir John Norris not thinking it properto send any of his squadron, the Tsar commandedDeane in the Samson to find out the Swedes andbring him intelligence where they lay, as likewise oftheir number and force.

In pursuit of a stipulation between the Tsar andthe King of Denmark, that which Prince soeverpresent should command the forces of both nationsby land or sea, the Tsar hoisted his standard ; andbeing saluted by the British Admiral with 21 gunsreturned the salute with the same number. TheDanes and Hollanders also saluted.

About the 5th they sailed. The British Admiral,with his squadron, some Dutch men-of-war, and agreat fleet of merchants’ ships under his care, sailedalso in conjunction with them to Bornholm; and theSamson met them on the 8th with advice that theSwedes were gone into Karlskrona. 1

The Strafford, Captain Lobanoff, was employedas a store-ship.

After some few days’ stay the Tsar left hissquadron in conjunction with the British and Danes,and went to the Island Rugen, from thence byStralsund to Copenhagen.

By the beginning of September all the men-of-war, except the English and Dutch sent convoy up

1 MS. ‘ Carlescrown.’