it, and as far as that sum, if no one subscribes, I will be answerable. If those of the 14th February" are to be allowed the honour of subscribing, I then think we ought to subscribe £500-a less sum would not be proper for such a body. Pray let me know the intended subscription, for we must take care not to say too much, or too little. The language must be plain, as if flowing from the heart of one of us Sailors who have fought with him. Whatever you arrange in this matter, I shall agree to. If our friend Davison will receive the subscription, and take the matter in hand, it can be nowhere so well placed. I am truly concerned about Mr. Fellowes,' but what can I do? I have signed every paper for the victualling those men which he says stop his accounts, and have told him that as Lord Hood and myself were then in London, we could clear him of any blame for victualling men by our order. I will with pleasure do anything I am desired: I would lend him money, but in truth I have it not. As far as we can judge of the San Josef, she will answer all our expectations. She is ready this moment to go alongside the finest Ship out of France; and on such a happy occasion I can assure you that there is not that man in the service I would sooner select as my second than yourself. My brother is with me, and joins in best respects to Mrs. Godfrey, Lady Berry, and all your family, and believe me as ever, your most sincere friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO REAR-ADMIRAL COLLINGWOOD. [Autograph, in the possession of the Hon. Mrs. Newnham Collingwood. Admiral Collingwood's Flag, as Rear Admiral of the Red, was flying on board the Barfleur 98. He was hourly expecting Mrs. Collingwood at Plymouth, when orders arrived for him to proceed immediately to Torbay. They met, however, for a few hours, and in a letter to Mr. Blackett, his father-in-law, on the 6th of February, Admiral Colling. wood said: "Sarah will have told you how and when we met. It was a joy to me that I can not describe, and repaid me, short as our interview was, for a world of woe which I was suffering on her account. I had been reckoning on the possibility of her arrival that Tuesday, when about two o'clock I received an express to go to sea im The Captains who were at the Battle of St. Vincent. Mr. Thomas Fellowes, who was Purser of the Agamemnon in 1793. Vide vol. i. pp. 300, 483, and post. mediately, with all the Ships that were ready; and had we not been then engaged at a Court-Martial, I might have got out that day; but this business delayed me till near night, and I determined to wait on shore until eight o'clock, for the chance of their arrival. I went to dine with Lord Nelson, and while we were at dinner their arrival was announced to me. I flew to the inn where I had desired my wife to come, and found her and little Sarah as well after their journey as if it had lasted only for the day. No greater happiness is human nature capable of than was mine that evening, but at dawn we parted, and I went to sea."-Memoirs of Lord Collingwood, vol. i. p. 111. The following allusion to Lord Nelson, in a letter from Admiral Collingwood to Mr. Blackett, dated on the 25th of January, is remarkable :-" Lord Nelson is here, and I think he will probably come and live with me when the weather will allow him; but he does not get in and out of Ships well with one arm. He gave me an account of his reception at Court, which was not very flattering, after having been the adoration of that of Naples. His Majesty merely asked him if he had recovered his health; and then, without waiting for an answer, turned to General- -, and talked to him near half an hour in great good humour. It could not be about his successes."-Memoirs of Lord Collingwood, vol. i. p. 110.] My dear Friend, Tuesday, [27th January, 1801.] I truly feel for you, and as much for dear Mrs. Collingwood. How sorry I am! For Heaven's sake do not think I had the gift of foresight; but something told me so it would be. Can't you contrive and stay to-night? it will be a comfort, if only to see your family one hour. Therefore had you not better stay on shore, and wait for her? Ever, my dear Collingwood, believe me, your affectionate and faithful friend, NELSON AND Bronte. If they would have manned me, and sent me off, it would have been real pleasure to me. How cross are the fates! Sir, TO EVAN NEPEAN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Letter-Book.] San Josef, Plymouth, 28th January, 1801. I have to acknowledge the receipt of their Lordships' order of the 26th instant, directing me to put myself under thecommand of Admiral the Earl of St. Vincent. I am, &c., NELSON. TO LADY HAMILTON. [From "Lord Nelson's Letters to Lady Hamilton," vol. i. p. 20.] January 28th, 1801. What a fool I was, my dear Lady Hamilton, to direct that your cheering letters should be directed for Brixham! I feel, this day, truly miserable, in not having them; and, I fear, they will not come till to-morrow's post. What a blockhead, to believe any person is so active as myself! I have this day got my orders, to put myself under Lord St. Vincent's command; but, as no order is arrived to man the Ship, it must be Friday night, or Saturday morning, before she can sail for Torbay. Direct my letters, now, to Brixham. My eye is very bad.' I have had the Physician of the Fleet to examine it. He has directed me not to write, (and yet I am forced this day to write Lord Spencer, St. Vincent, Davison, about my law-suit, Troubridge, Mr. Locker, &c., but you are the only female I write to;) not to eat anything but the most simple food; not to touch wine or porter; to sit in a dark room; to have green shades for my eyes-(will you, my dear friend, make me one or two?-nobody else shall ;)—and to bathe them in cold water every hour. I fear, it is the writing has brought on this complaint. My eye is like blood; and the film so extended, that I only see from the corner farthest from my nose. What a fuss about my complaints! But, being so far from my sincere friends, I have leisure to brood over them. I have this moment seen Mrs. Thompson's friend. Poor fellow! he seems very uneasy and melancholy. He begs you to be kind to her! and I have assured him of your readiness to relieve the dear, good woman; and believe me, for ever, my dear Lady, your faithful, attached, and affectionate, NELSON AND BRONTE. I will try and write the Duke' a line. My brother intended off to-morrow afternoon: but this half order may to have gone stop him. 1 While at Plymouth, Lord Nelson suffered severely from ophthalmia in his only remaining eye, with acute pain and want of sight. He was attended by Dr. Trotter, Physician of the Fleet, who soon effected his recovery. 'Apparently the Duke of Hamilton. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. [Original, in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B., and Letter Book. On the 28th of January, Lord Nelson informed the Earl of St. Vincent that he had received the directions of the Admiralty to place himself under his command.] My Lord, San Josef, Plymouth, 29th January, 1801. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's two orders of yesterday's date (together with the several documents which accompanied them) directing me to put myself under your command, and as soon as his Majesty's Ship San Josef shall be in all respects ready for sea, to proceed in her to Torbay. I have the honour to be, &c., [Added by Lord Nelson, in his own hand.] NELSON. P.S.-The San Josef is directed to be manned with ordinary and landsmen. If they can be got on board in this gale, and the weather will permit the Commissioner to pay them tomorrow, she shall sail on Saturday. N. TO HERCULES ROSS, ESQ., ROSSIE CASTLE, N. B. My dear Friend, San Josef, Plymouth, January 29th, 1801. It was only yesterday I was favoured with your letter, enclosing one for your nephew, Captain Colquhoun. There is not the smallest foundation for the report of my going to the Mediterranean, nor of Lord Keith's coming home at present. I rather believe my destination is Northwards; but I will keep your letter, in case I should go to the Mediterranean, which is not impossible, after the affairs of the North are settled. In that case you may be sure of my attention to your relation. We are now arrived at that period, what we have often heard of, but must now execute-that of fighting for our dear Country; and I trust that, although we may not be able to With subdue our host of Enemies, yet we may make them ashamed of themselves, and prove that they cannot injure us. every good wish to yourself and Mrs. Ross, believe me, as ever, your obliged and affectionate friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. [Autograph, in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B.] San Josef, January 30th, [1801,] 8 p.m. My Lord, The Thames is anchored with a French Corvette3 from the Mauritius, and Captain Lukin,' this evening, off the Ram-head, found the dispatches sent herewith, concealed in the false bottom of a trunk belonging to the Officer who was charged with them, and I have thought them of so much consequence that I have sent Captain Parker to your Lordship with them. I opened the three noted, in order to ascertain their import ance. It was not Captain Lukin's intention, but the day was gone, and having 157 prisoners on board, and blowing fresh, he thought it proper to anchor, which I approved. The Ship having been at sea a length of time, is in some want of sails and provisions, and, also, her payment is due; but Captain Lukin says he is sure he can go to sea without any difficulty the moment he receives your Lordship's orders. I do not find that either Unicorn or Diamond are sailed, although Sir C. Cotton' tells me he has urged them to move. The Thames passed last evening, at dusk, our in-shore Squadron, and at ten o'clock, Sir H. Harvey, ten miles from Ushant, who spoke the Canada three days ago. I have the honour to be, &c. 6 * L'Huron, of 20 guns and 70 men, captured off Bordeaux. 1824. 1810. NELSON. Captain William Lukin. He died a Rear-Admiral of the White, in 1823 or Rear, afterwards Admiral, Sir Charles Cotton, Bart.: he died in February 1812. |