416 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1809. 



juterests, bya constantand primary 

 regard to the security of property, 

 the iaterestsof the revenue, and the 

 accommodation of the trade, and 

 not in any case directed by narrow 

 views of present profit, in contra- 

 distinction to those more essential 

 objects. 



With the laws and regulations of 

 the revenue departments it is neces- 

 sary that the Company should co- 

 operate, and sometimes it has been 

 accused of disappointments, and 

 delays, originating solely in that 

 connection. But in respect to that 

 part of the system over which 

 your directors have control, they 

 are ready, at all times, to adopt sug- 

 gestions for improvement, whenever 

 they shall be found upon attentive 

 consideration to be compatible with 

 the great objects of the institution. 

 The principles by which the 

 court of directors have uniformly 

 governed their conduct, have been 

 those of sound discretion in the ap- 

 plication of the funds of the com- 

 pany, a liberal construction, and 

 performance, of its engagements 

 with the public, and a scrupulous 

 impartiality in the administration of 

 business. 



How far these objects have been 

 faithfully pursued, and successfully 

 accompanied, may be best evinced : 

 as to the first by the prosperous 

 state of your finances; as to the 

 second by the details furnished by, 

 and the facts connected with this 

 report ; and, as to the last, it may 

 fairly be demanded whether one sin- 

 gle instance of deviation can be 

 produced. 



Copy of a Letter from Vice- Admiral 

 Lord CoUivgtoood, Commander in 

 ^^i«f of his Majesty's ships and 



vessels in the Mediterranean, to 

 the Hon. W, W. Pole ; dated on 

 board the Ocean, off" Toulon, the 

 19th of October, 1808. 

 Sir, — I inclose a letter which I 

 have just received from the right 

 hon. lord Cochrane, captain of the 

 Imperieuse, stating the services 

 which he has been employed in on 

 the coast of Languedoc. Nothing 

 can exceed the activity and zeal 

 with which iiis lordship pursues the 

 enemy. The success which attends 

 his enterprizesclearlyindicates with 

 what skill and ability they are con- 

 ducted ; besides keeping the coast 

 in constant alarm, causing a total 

 suspension of the trade, and haras-, 

 sing a body of trctops employed in 

 opposing him, he has, probably, 

 prevented those troops which were 

 intended for Figueras from ad- 

 vancing into Spain, by giving them 

 employment in the defence of their 

 own coasts. — On the coast towards 

 Genoa, the enemy has been equally 

 annoyed by tiie Kent and Wizard. 

 Those ships have had that station 

 some time to prevent the French 

 ships sailing from Genoa, and have 

 almost entirely stopped the only 

 trade theenemy had, which isin very 

 small vessels ; — during their cruize 

 there they have taken and destroy- 

 ed twenty-three of those coasters.- — ■ 

 I inclose the letter of captain Ro- 

 gers, giving an account of the at- 

 tack made at Noli, and the capture 

 of the vessels in the road. 

 I have the honour to be. &c. 



COLLINGWOOD. 



Imperieuse, Gulf rf Lyons, Sept. 28. 

 My lord, — With varying oppo- 

 sition, but with unvaried success, 

 the newly-constructed semaphoric 

 telegraphs, which are of the utmost 

 consequence to the safety of the 

 numerous convoys that pass along 



the 



