TO CAPTAIN SIR EDWARD BERRY, H. M. SHIP FOUDROYANT. [From a Copy in the Nelson Papers. On the 9th of February, his Sicilian Majesty went on board the Queen Charlotte, and on the following day he visited the Foudroyant. She received some Sicilian troops for Malta, and sailed for that Island on the 12th, in company with the Queen Charlotte, bearing Lord Keith's flag. Passing through the Faro of Messina, they made the Island of Malta on the 15th, and early in the morning of the 18th, fell in with a small French Squadron, under Rear-Admiral Perrée, in Le Généreux, 74, bound from Toulon to Malta with troops. The fate of those Ships is described in Lord Nelson's official letter to Lord Keith, of the 18th of February.] My dear Sir Edward, Palermo, February 7th, 1800. You shall rally-you shall be well: young men will be young men, and we must make allowances. If you expect to find anything like perfection in this world you will be mistaken therefore do not think of little nonsenses too much. Such strictness as you show to your duty falls to the lot of few, and no person in this world is more sensible of your worth and goodness in every way than myself. Let all pass over, and come and dine here. As you are ready to execute my orders, take this of coming to this house as a positive and lawful one. When I see a Ship better ordered than the Foudroyant, I will allow you to confine yourself on board. Ever, my dear Sir Edward, believe me your truly sincere friend, BRONTE NELSON. Lady Hamilton humbly insists that you come on shore. TO VICE-ADMIRAL LORD KEITH, K.B. [From the Letter-Book, and the "London Gazette" of the 29th of March 1800. Lord Keith wrote to the Admiralty, on the 20th of February, the following dispatch, transmitting Lord Nelson's letter: "Sir,-My letter of the 15th acquainted you, for the information of their Lordships, that I had received intelligence of the reported approach of an Enemy's Squadron towards this Island; and although I had considerable difficulty in persuading myself that they would hazard the attempt in the face of so superior a force, I nevertheless considered it incumbent upon me to take the necessary precautions of reconnoitring the quarter in which they were to be expected, and, at the same time, guarding most particularly the entrance of the harbour of Valetta, as the only point in which they could secure themselves, and debark their troops and stores. The wind being strong from the S.E., and accompanied with rain, I could only communicate by signal. I accordingly denoted the bearing and reputed force of the Enemy, and directed the Foudroyant, Audacious, and Northumberland to chase to windward, and the Lion to look out off the passage between Gozo and Malta, while the Queen Charlotte was kept as close in with the mouth of the harbour as the batteries would admit of; the Alexander, at the same time, was under weigh on the South-East side of the Island. On the 16th, I was joined by the Phaeton, from Palermo; and the wind having shifted to the N.W., which afforded a favourable opportunity for landing the Neapolitan troops at Marsa Sirocco, I accordingly embraced it, and in the afternoon returned off the harbour of Valetta. Signals were made from various parts of the Island, of an Enemy's being in sight, and with the Queen Charlotte, Phaeton, Sirena Neapolitan Frigate, and Minorca Sloop, I anxiously continued to maintain a position near the shore, to prevent the Enemy from passing within us, and to expose them to the attack of his Majesty's Ships that were in pursuit of them. On the morning of the 19th, El Corso joined with a large French armed Store Ship, which she took possession of at four o'clock in the afternoon of the 18th, by signal from Lord Nelson, whose Squadron was then engaged with the French. Captain Ricketts reported this Ship to be the Ville de Marseilles, loaded with salt meat, brandy, wine, clothing, stores, &c., &c. She sailed from Toulon on the 7th instant, in company with the Généreux, seventyfour, Admiral Perrée, Badine, twenty-four, and two Corvettes, having near four thousand troops on board for the relief of Malta. At four, P.M., the Foudroyant and Audacious joined me, and I was acquainted by Rear-Admiral Lord Nelson, that the Généreux had surrendered without any action, and that the three Corvettes had escaped, from all the Line of Battle Ships having anxiously pressed after the French Admiral. I have the honour to enclose a copy of Lord Nelson's letter. His Lordship has on this occasion, as on all others, conducted himself with skill, and great address, in comprehending my signals, which the state of the weather led me greatly to suspect. Captain Peard has evinced excellent management from the moment he first discovered the Enemy off the South-West end of Sicily, until the period of the capture; and Lieutenant William Harrington, commanding the Alexander in the absence of Captain Ball, has shown great merit in so ably conducting that Ship in presence of so superior a force, previously to the appearance of Lord Nelson. I beg leave to recommend him to their Lordships' consideration. I have detached Ships in all directions to endeavour to pick up the stragglers. I have the honour to be, &c., KEITH."-London Gazette 29th of March, 1800.] Foudroyant, at Sea, off Cape di Corvo, eight Leagues West of Cape My Lord, This morning at daylight, being in company with the Ships named in the margin,' I saw the Alexander in chase of a Line of Battle Ship, three Frigates, and a Corvette. At about eight o'clock she fired several shot at one of the Enemy's frigates, which struck her colours, and leaving her to be secured by the Ships astern, continued the chase. I directed Captain Gould of the Audacious, and the El Corso brig, to take charge of this prize. At half-past one P.M., the Frigates and Northumberland, Audacious, and El Corso Brig. Corvette tacked to the westward; but the Line of Battle Ship not being able to tack without coming to action with the Alexander, bore up. The Success being to leeward, Captain Peard, with great judgment and gallantry, lay across his hawse, and raked him with several broadsides. In passing the French Ship's broadside, several shot struck the Success, by which one man was killed, and the Master and seven men wounded. At half-past four, the Foudroyant and Northumberland coming up, the former fired two shot, when the French Ship fired her broadside, and struck her colours. She proved to be the Généreux, of seventy-four guns, bearing the Flag of Rear-Admiral Perrée,' Commander in Chief of the French Naval force in the Mediterranean, having a number of troops on board from Toulon, bound for the relief of Malta. I attribute our success this day to be principally owing to the extreme good management of Lieutenant William Harrington, who commanded the Alexander in the absence of Captain Ball, and I am much pleased with the gallant behaviour of Captain Peard, of the Success, as also with the alacrity and good conduct of Captain Martin and Sir Edward Berry. I have sent Lieutenant Andrew Thomson, First Lieutenant of the Foudroyant, to take charge of the Généreux, whom I beg leave to recommend to your Lordship for promotion, and [have] sent her under care of the Northumberland and Alexander to Syracuse, to wait your Lordship's orders. I have the honour to be, &c. BRONTE NELSON. Captain Shuldham Peard, of the Success, was made a Superannuated RearAdmiral in 1814, but was placed on the Active List in 1827, and died a Vice-Admiral of the White, in December 1832. Rear-Admiral Perrée was struck by a shot from the Success, and died of his wounds on the following day; and on the 19th, the Major of Division, Poulain, wrote to Lord Nelson, requesting him to order that funeral and military honours should be rendered to the deceased, adding—“ Veuillez ne point me refuser cette faveur, que je regarderai comme un hommage rendu aux manes d'un brave homme, qui emporte avec lui les regrets et l'estime de tous ses camarades."—Autograph, in the Nelson Papers. • Lieutenant William Harrington, who obtained that rank in 1796. In 1802, he commanded the hired armed Brig La Védette, and appears to have died a Lieutenant before 1809. • Lieutenant Andrew Thomson was not promoted until October 1801, and died a Commander in 1828. TO LADY HAMILTON. [From the "Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton," vol. i. p. 15.] My dear Lady Hamilton, Off La Valetta, February 20th, 1800. Had you seen the Peer' receive me, I know not what you would have done; but I can guess. But never mind! I told him, that I had made a vow, if I took the Généreux by myself, it was my intention to strike my Flag. To which he made no answer. If I am well enough, I intend to write a letter to Prince Leopold, and to send him the French Admiral's flag; which I hope you will approve of, as it was taken on the Coast of his Father's Kingdom, and by as faithful a Subject as any in his Dominions. I have had no communication with the shore; therefore, have seen neither Ball, Troubridge, nor Graham: nor with the Lion; but when I have, I shall not forget all your messages, and little Jack. I only want to know your wishes, that I may, at least, appear grateful, by attending to them. My head aches dreadfully, and I have none here to give me a moment's comfort. I send the packet to General Acton,' as I think it may go quicker, and he will be flattered by presenting the Flag and letter to the Prince. Malta, I think, will fall very soon, if these other Corvettes do not get in. Pray make my best regards acceptable to Mrs. Cadogan, Miss Knight, little Mary Ré Giovanni, Gibbs, &c., and ever believe me your truly faithful and affectionate, 1 Lord Keith. BRONTE NELSON. Sir John Acton wrote to Lord Nelson on the 27th of February, and after congratulating him on the capture of Le Généreux, which Ship, he said, "was certainly to belong to the Hero of the Nile," and conveying "their Sicilian Majesties thanks and most sensible congratulations," he added, " What can I express in the name of his Royal Highness Prince Leopold, to present his gratitude? I went immediately to his Royal Highness's apartments with your Lordship's letters, and the fine present of the French Admiral's flag. The young Prince was in raptures, and continues to be so. He answers himself to your Lordship, either with this occasion, or with a courier to Sorrenza. You have made happy all the Royal Family, and it is not certainly the first occasion of the many and most essential feelings which they have been beneficated with, from your loyalty and attachment."-Autograph, in the Nelson Papers. TO MAURICE NELSON, ESQ., NAVY OFFICE. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 246.] [About the 20th February, 1800.] I have written to Lord Spencer, and sent him my Journal, to prove that the Généreux was taken by me, and owing to my plan; that my quitting Lord Keith was at my own risk, and for which, if I had not succeeded, I might have been broke. If I had not, the Généreux would never have been taken. I am, &c. BRONTE NELSON. TO VICE-ADMIRAL LORD KEITH, K.B. [Letter-Book. On the 24th of February, Lord Keith issued an Order to Lord Nelson, which stated that he was "called from the Blockade of Malta, to attend to other services of public importance," and directed Lord Nelson to take the command of the Ships therein named, " and to adopt and prosecute the necessary measures for contributing to the complete reduction of Malta." Full and explicit directions were given for his conduct in the event of the surrender of La Valetta, and for the disposition of the Squadron, &c. As the remoteness of Palermo from Malta, rendered it an inconvenient place of rendezvous, Lord Keith directed it to be discontinued, and substituted Syracuse instead of it; but if Lord Nelson preferred Messina or Augusta, he was at liberty to use one of them, provided he made Lord Keith acquainted therewith. The Order concluded in these words-" During the progress of this complicated and important service, and on the eventual surrender of Valetta, many circumstances will naturally occur, and a variety of objects present themselves, for which it is impossible to provide. But impressed as I am with every conviction of your Lordship's ability, zeal, firmness, discretion, justice, and humanity, I rely, with all confidence, on your being prepared to act, on every exigency, for the honour of the nation, the advantage of the public, and the interest of the forces employed under your direction: and also, whenever it may depend upon you, for the protection of individuals, the security of private property, and the distribution of public justice."-Original, in the Nelson Papers. On the reception of this Order Lord Nelson wrote the following public and private letters:] My Lord, Foudroyant, off Malta, 24th February, 1800. My state of health is such, that it is impossible I can much longer remain here. Without some rest, I am gone. I must therefore, whenever I find the service will admit of it, request your permission to go to my friends, at Palermo, for a few weeks, and leave the command here to Commodore Troubridge. Nothing but absolute necessity obliges me to write this letter, being, with the greatest respect, &c. BRONTE NELSON. |