A look at Vice-Admiral Cotton, Rear-Admiral Smith and Portugal in 1808.

Memoirs

Start page 113.

https://books.google.ca/books?id=KCY6AAAAcAAJ&pg=PA113&dq=

The Inquiry

See letters 5 & 7.

https://books.google.ca/books?id=-TFbAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA281&dq=

Thanks!

I, of course, was using the Memoirs as a source for what happened between Cook and Sir Sidney. It's an interesting back and forth between the two admirals and an insight into the personal aspects of both men. I see nothing derogatory concerning Smith in these exchanges.

I had some acquaintance with the inquiry into the Convention of Cintra but had not paid attention to the correspondence concerning the Russian fleet. It never occurred to me that Portuguese historians would neglect easily available primary sources that clearly state that the reason for the Royal Navy blockade of the Tagus was in direct response to the Russian fleet being there. Hopefully, they will pay attention now and update their erroneous accounts stating that it was some sort of economic blockade.