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Convoy, on account of their perishable cargoes; also, that it is the opinion of Sir Alexander Ball, and the Officers of the Yard at Malta, that the Hirondelle will answer better in her present state, than as a Schooner. In answer to which, I am perfectly satisfied with the orders you gave Captain Corbet, and am very glad that Mr. Longford and suite are at last safe arrived at Tripoli. The list of Convoy which accompanied your last-mentioned letter has been received; and your intentions of sending the Niger to Gibraltar with the Convoy, under the circumstances stated in your said letter, would have met my approbation, although it would very much [have] interfered with my arrangement, as, in the event of the Agincourt not arriving, I had intended the Maidstone to have taken the Convoy from Malta to England. I am perfectly satisfied with the Hirondelle's remaining in her present state, and hope she may soon be actively employed for the service of Malta. I must desire you will direct the Masters of any of the Transports coming to the Fleet with stores or provisions, to receive such articles as the Naval Storekeeper or Agent-Victualler may have to send to the Squadron. Mr. Taylor mentions his having applied to one of the Transports to receive twelve barrels of lime, which he declined doing, notwithstanding he had previously spoken to Captain Lamb. I am, &c. NELSON AND Bronte.

TO CAPTAIN SCHOMBERG, H. M. SHIP MADRAS.

[Letter Book.]

Sir,

Victory, at Sea, 28th July, 1804.

As it is my intention to appoint the Maidstone to convoy the Trade bound from Malta to England, about the middle or latter end of September next, I must request you will inform me as early as possible if the Trade (which, I suppose, cannot be many) will be ready by that time, or whether a fortnight later will answer better, in order that the Maidstone may be at Malta by the period you may judge proper to fix for their sailing; and you will, in the interim, use every possible exertion to collect the Merchant-Vessels from Fiume, and other Ports in the Adriatic and Archipelago, and have them in readiness to proceed at the time appointed.

The Agent-Victualler having applied to me for a Transport, or Transports, to carry five hundred pipes of wine from Marsala to England, I request you will be pleased to order such Vessels as the Agent of Transports may be sending home to proceed to the above place for the said wine, and join the Convoy before mentioned. And I must also desire that you will in future, (in case there should not be sufficient time to obtain my order for that purpose,) cause the Naval Storekeeper to furnish you with the particular articles he may want to purchase: and after your being fully satisfied with the indispensable necessity of such purchase, you will direct it to be made, enumerating every article most strictly on the said order-a copy of which, together with the stores so ordered for purchase, you will transmit to me for my information, as I am by no means satisfied with the loose manner these purchases are made by the Storekeeper. I trust the stores that are arrived in this Country from England will preclude the necessity of any purchase whatever for a considerable time. The stores ordered from Fiume, by the Naval Officer, appears to me a very extraordinary measure. I am, &c., NELSON and Bronte.

TO CAPTAIN PHILIP LAMB, AGENT FOR TRANSPORTS, MALTA.

[Letter-Book.]

Sir,

Victory, at Sea, 28th July, 1804.

I have received your letter of the 7th instant, acquainting me that you had ordered the Ellice to England, under convoy of the Agincourt, and transmitting a state of the Prisoners of War and Transports on this station. In answer to which, I approve of your having sent the Ellice to England, as mentioned in your said letter. As the Naval Storekeeper, and other Officers of the Yard, have frequently occasion to send things to the Fleet, you will be good enough to direct the Master of any of the Transports leaving Malta for the Squadron, to receive such articles as either of those Officers may have to send, if it can be stowed; and not to object, as was lately the case, on the Naval Storekeeper's applying for twelve barrels of lime being received for conveyance to the Fleet. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE.

Sir,

TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY.

[Original, in the Admiralty.]

Victory, at Sea, 29th July, 1804.

You will please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that his Majesty's Ship Ambuscade joined the Squadron this morning, and that I have taken Captain Durban and the said Ship under my command, agreeably to their Lordships' order of the 16th May. The Ambuscade has brought six Victuallers and two Store-ships under her Convoy to the Fleet, and as it has blown a gale of wind for these two days past, and still continues, with every appearance of its doing so, I shall proceed immediately with the Squadron to the Gulf of Palma, in order to complete the provisions and water of the different Ships, and furnish them with such a proportion of stores as the quantity sent out will admit of. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE.

TO MAJOR-GENERAL VILLETTES.

[From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 376.]

[About July, 1804.]

I am of no party: I hope and believe that any Administration would ever act to the best of their judgment, for the power and advantage of their Country. I am not one of those who think, that the safety of the State depends on any one, or upon one hundred men; let them go off the stage, and others would ably supply their places. I am, &c.,

NELSON AND BRONTE.

TO MR. R. WILBRAHAM.

[From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 379.]

[About July, 1804.]

The coalition of parties the most opposite in principles ought not to surprise us. Windham and Fox may again meet at Holkham, and Pitt join the party-such things are. Politicians are not like other men; and probably all other men would be politicians, if they had the sense. I am, &c.,

NELSON AND BRONTE.

TO JAMES DUFF, ESQ., CONSUL AT CADIZ.

[From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 379.]

[About July, 1804.]

I live in hopes yet to see Buonaparte humbled, and Spain resuming her natural rank amongst the Nations, which that clever scoundrel prevents: he wants to have her revolutionized, or that he should have more money for preserving the name of the Spanish Monarchy. I sincerely hope England and Spain will long remain at peace. I am, &c.,

NELSON AND BRONTE.

TO THE CAPTAIN OR COMMANDER OF ANY OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS OR VESSELS PROCEEDING FROM GIBRALTAR TO ENGLAND.

[Order-Book.]

Victory, at Sea, 31st July, 1804. Whereas Mr. M'Donough, his Majesty's late Consul at Tripoli, intends proceeding to England by the first opportunity from Gibraltar, You are hereby required and directed to receive the said Mr. M'Donough, his servant, and baggage, on board his Majesty's Ship under your command, and give them a passage to England, with such accommodation as his situation entitles him to, bearing them on a supernumerary list for victuals, at whole allowance of all species, during their continuance on board.

NELSON AND BRONTE.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD MAYOR.

[From "The Annual Register,” vol. xlvi. p. 415. “ Tuesday, 31st July. P.M. At 7:40, shortened sail and came to in Palma Bay. Squadron anchored here. . . . Changed the Right Honourable Lord Viscount Nelson's Flag, Blue at the Fore to White."" Wednesday, 1st August, A.M. Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton changed from White at the Mizen, to Red; and Rear-Admiral Campbell from Blue at the Mizen, to White."]

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My Lord,

Victory, August 1st, 1804.

This day, I am honoured with your Lordship's letter of April 9th, transmitting me the Resolutions of the Corporation

Sic, but more probably the first of July, as it follows the order to Captain Pettet, of that date, in p. 93, ante.

Vide vol. v. p. 513.

of London, thanking me as commanding the Fleet blockading Toulon. I do assure your Lordship that there is not a man breathing who sets a higher value upon the thanks of his Fellow-Citizens of London than myself; but I should feel as much ashamed to receive them for a particular service marked in the Resolution, if I felt that I did not come within that line of service, as I should feel hurt at having a great Victory passed over without notice. I beg to inform your Lordship that the Port of Toulon has never been blockaded by me quite the reverse-every opportunity has been offered the Enemy to put to sea, for it is there that we hope to realize the hopes and expectations of our Country, and I trust that they will not be disappointed.

Your Lordship will judge of my feelings upon seeing that all the Junior Flag-Officers of other Fleets, and even some of the Captains, have received the thanks of the Corporation of London, whilst the Junior Flag-Officers of the Mediterranean Fleet are entirely omitted. I own it has struck me very forcibly; for, where the information of the Junior Flag-Officers and Captains of other Fleets was obtained, the same information could have been given of the Flag-Officers of this Fleet and the Captains; and, it is my duty to state, that more able and zealous Flag-Officers and Captains do not grace the British Navy, than those I have the honour and happiness to

command.

It likewise appears, my Lord, a most extraordinary circumstance, that Sir Richard Bickerton should have been, as Second in Command in the Mediterranean Fleets, twice passed over by the Corporation of London: once after the Egyptian Expedition, when the First and Third in Command were thanked, and now again! Conscious of high desert, instead of neglect, the Rear-Admiral resolved to let the matter rest until he could have an opportunity personally to call upon the Lord Mayor, to account for such an extraordinary omission; but from this second omission, I owe it to that excellent Officer not to pass it by. I do assure your Lordship, that the constant, zealous, and cordial support I have had in my Command, from both Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton and Rear-Admiral Campbell, has been such as calls forth all my thanks and admiration. We have shared together the constant attention of being fourteen months

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