§ The Speaker acquainted the House, that he had received from admiral lord viscount Exmouth the following Letter, in return to the thanks of this House:
§ "Sir, "London, 5th February, 1817.
§ "I have had the honour to receive your letter of the 3d instant conveying to me the unanimous thanks of the House of Commons for my humble services before Algiers on the 27th of August last, together with their thanks to rear admiral sir David Milne, and the several captains and officers of the fleet employed upon that occasion, and their acknowledgment and approbation of the services of the seamen and royal marines then serving in the fleet under my command: also communicating to me the thanks of the honourable House to vice admiral baron Van de Capellan and the naval forces of his majesty the king of the Netherlands under his command, for their cordial assistance and co-operation on the same occasion.
§ "It will be a most gratifying part of my duty, in compliance with the request of the honourable House, to make known these resolutions to the several officers under my command, and also to those of our ally acting in co-operation with his majesty's navy on that service; and I can assure you, Sir, as well in their names as in my own, that this honourable testimony of the approbation of the House of Commons will be received by them as it is by me, as the greatest reward that can be conferred upon an officer for any act of his public duty, and the recollection of it will, I am confident, stimulate our future exertions whenever our country may call for our services.
§ "I have now to request, Sir, that you will permit me to return you my sincere thanks for the very gracious manner in which you have been pleased to communicate to me the resolutions of the House, and the flattering expressions with which 219 you have appreciated the importance of the service confided to my execution.
§ I have the honour to be, Sir, &c.
§ EXMOUTH."