leave Boyle with directions what to do, and come to me with the Cameleon Brig, as I have a little service for you to perform. I send not Amazon's orders, as I want to see Parker before he goes off. We have nothing new; ever yours most faithfully, NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN DONNELLY, H.M. SHIP NARCISSUS. Dear Sir, Victory, July 8th, 1804, 7 P.M. I was sending the Seahorse to relieve Amazon, and to desire you and Cameleon to come to me; but as I find the Thunder so short of water, and it blows fresh, I fear that she may not beat up to windward, therefore I send her to get water: therefore, you will remain in your command, which you so ably fill, and send the Cameleon to me without a moment's loss of time, and also, the Amazon. I am, dear Sir, most faithfully yours, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN PULTENEY MALCOLM, H.M. SHIP KENT. [Autograph, in the possession of Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Malcolm.] My dear Sir, Victory, July 8th, 1804. You may be sure that when I can I shall always be glad to meet your wishes, in respect to your changing into a Lineof-Battle Ship, likely to remain in this Country. You will see by my joint-letter to you and Captain White, that I have given my consent to all convenient changes; but, with respect to men, you will be glad of my refusal; for, I never knew a Captain to take followers, but that he took so many ungrateful people, and always troublesome ones. It is possible that it may be very inconvenient for Mr. Frisilique' to go to England: if so, and that you are inclined to receive him into the Renown, I can have no objection. 4 Query, Froessolecque ? The Rope sent by Termagant was received from the Kent, I understand, but that the Boatswain of the Sloop gave a receipt to Mr. James for it, when he ought to have given it to the Boatswain of the Kent; then, unless the Contractor makes up the deficiency, it would have been properly charged against the Boatswain of the Kent's wages, for receiving it without measuring. This must be very carefully done in future; and if Mr. James does not make up the deficiency of the last, I desire that nothing more of any kind or sort may be taken of him; for Government must not be defrauded. You will, I am sure, take care that nothing is got off publicly, which can in the least bring on difficulty with the French and the King of Naples. I am ever, my dear Sir, your most obedient and faithful Servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN PULTENEY MALCOLM, H.M. SHIP KENT. [Order-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 8th July, 1804. Should any political change of affairs at Naples render it necessary for his Majesty's Subjects to leave that place, his Excellency Mr. Elliot will, of course, give due notice thereof to the Merchants and others residing at Naples. You are, therefore, hereby required and directed, upon receiving such intimation from his Excellency Mr. Elliot, to take all the Merchant-Vessels, with the persons, property, and effects of his Majesty's Subjects at Naples, under the cover of your guns, and afford them every assistance and protection in your power for their safety. NELSON AND Bronte. TO HIS EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT, ESQ. [Autograph, in the Elliot Papers.] My dear Sir, Victory, July 9th, 1804. The Acheron last night brought me your Excellency's letter of June 28th, with the inclosure from the Queen. I • Pro-Consul at Naples. hardly see what I can answer to her Majesty, for her continued good opinion of me, except that it shall be my study to continue to deserve it. There is but little in your Excellency's letters to comfort any well-wisher for the honour of Europe; and the arrival of Russian Troops at Corfu and the Morea may hasten the attack upon Naples. I had a letter yesterday from Rear-Admiral Cochrane," who commands off Ferrol. The French Fleet at Brest, Rochford, and Ferrol, are perfectly ready for sea; and we know they are ready at Toulon; and I have no doubt but that the Mediterranean will be the scene of Action. I only hope that it will very soon happen, or I shall have nothing to do with it; for I do assure you that every part of my constitution is broke up. I never hear from England, but as we manage to get the Paris papers regularly through Spain. From ten days to a fortnight we get them from their date at Paris: therefore, we know the very great events which are passing in Europe-at least, as much as the French people. A great expedition seems fitting out. I fear it is to send abroad, when I think it might be much more usefully employed in the Mediterranean, and in taking Belleisle. I send you our Pro-Consul's letter from Barcelona. I very seldom hear from Mr. Frere, although Cochrane's letter must have passed through his hands, yet I have not a scrap of a pen. The Renown goes to replace the Kent, who goes direct for England. Gibraltar is absent. Belleisle leaves me to-night; for she cannot keep the sea even these summer gales: therefore, I shall be left with only seven to ten, and that I expect reduced by the miserable state of the hulls and rigging, &c., of the Ships. Adieu, my dear Sir, and believe me ever your Excellency's most obedient and obliged servant, 6 Nelson and Bronte. Afterwards Admiral the Honourable Sir Alexander Forrester Inglis Cochrane, G.C.B.; he died in June 1832. TO CAPTAIN THE HONOURABLE T. B. CAPEL, H.M. SHIP PHŒBE. [Order-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 9th July, 1804. Whereas I have received information that the Enemy are collecting troops and stores at Porto Ferraio, in the Island of Elba, with an intent of making a descent on the Island of Sardinia, You are, therefore, hereby required and directed to take his Majesty's Sloop named in the margin' under your command, and proceed, without a moment's loss of time off Porto Ferraio, where you will cruise very diligently for the space of ten days, between that place and Leghorn, and endeavour to capture or destroy any of the Enemy's Vessels of War or Transports which you may fall in with. You are at liberty, during the said period of time, to extend your cruising ground as far as Port Specia, if, from information, you should judge it more likely to fall in with the Expedition before mentioned, taking care to join the Squadron by the 25th instant on Rendezvous No. 102, where you will find me, or orders for your further proceedings. NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN MALCOLM, H. M. SHIP KENT. [Autograph, in the possession of Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Malcolm.] Victory, July 9th, 1804. Many, many thanks for your Papers, which are very interesting. My dear Sir, The Acheron joined me last night with your letter of June 28th. I am glad you have stopped the making of beds. I had not an idea that there was a single bed at Malta till Captain Keats's arrival a week ago. I wrote you yesterday about the rope. I, for one, am glad at Monarchy, under any shape, being restored in France. It may be better for uscannot be worse. I am much obliged by your kind offers of service. The Renown will part the moment the weather moderates that I can get water from her. I am ever, dear Sir, your most obliged serv NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE QUEEN OF NAPLES. [From "The Life of the Reverend Doctor Scott," p. 114.] Madam, Victory, 10th July, 1804. Majesty's gracious and I have been honoured by your condescending letter of June 28th. make to such flattering expressions of confidence, than to offer my most devoted thanks, and my assurances of always studying to merit your Majesty's favourable sentiments, and those of my benefactor, the King. It would be presumptuous on my part to venture to speak of political matters in a letter to your Majesty; but I cannot help wishing that Europe was like a handful of rods against France. If it be proper to give way to the times, let us temporise: if to make War, let us all make it. On this principle, I could have wished that Russia had avoided War, unless she had been joined by Austria. Then, acting honourably side by side, there would have been some hope from such a coalition. If Russia sends men and Vessels to the Ionian Republic, and into the Morea only, I have no hesitation in saying, that she compromises Naples much more than if she had, for the moment, bent to the storm. At least, 50,000 troops (it should be 100,000) are necessary to answer for the safety of Italy. To say the truth, I do not believe we had in the last War, and, according to all appearance, we shall not have in the present one either, plans of a sufficiently grand scale to force France to keep within her proper limits. Small measures produce only small results. I dare not let my pen run on. The intelligent mind of your Majesty will readily comprehend the great things which might be effected in the Mediterranean. On this side Buonaparte is the most vulnerable. It is from here that it would be most easy to mortify his pride, and so far humble him, as to make him accept reasonable conditions of Peace. I entreat your Majesty's pardon for having expressed my sentiments with such boldness. Mr. Elliot has informed me, by writing, of what your Majesty wished to say on the subject of writing to the Minister, respecting the pension for your Emma. Poor Sir William Hamilton believed that it would have been granted, or it would have |