force which can be brought against these Pirates. The most strict orders have and shall be given to the Commanders of Convoys bound from Malta up the Adriatic and Archipelago, to see the Ships and Vessels under their charge in safety to their destination, and inquiry made into the circumstances attending the capture of the Ship Betsy, before mentioned, and report made accordingly. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE COMMISSIONERS FOR VICTUALLING HIS MAJESTY'S NAVY, LONDON. [Letter-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 7th August, 1804. Gentlemen, I have received your letter of the 26th March, respecting the claims of Mr. Gibert, Vice-Consul at Barcelona, for his losses, in endeavouring to supply the Fleet under my command with wine; stating, at the same time, that you consider the investigation into the said losses may be more efficiently accomplished under my authority. In answer thereto, I offered to take the said wine from Mr. Gibert at an advanced price, previous to the arrival of Mr. Ford, the Agent Victualler to the Fleet, and have since, through him; but Mr. Gibert will not fix any price, and only wishes us to take the wine, which has been since kept in store at Rosas, and I presume by this time is entirely sour. I shall make another official offer, and endeavour to bring the business to issue, the result of which shall be transmitted to your Board. I am, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 7th August, 1804. Sir, I herewith transmit you a copy of a contract entered into by Doctor Snipe, Physician of the Fleet, and Mr. Gray, Surgeon of the Naval Hospital at Malta, with Mr. John Broad bent, Merchant at Messina, for supplying thirty thousand gallons of lemon juice, for the Sick and Hurt Board, which you will please to lay before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty for their information, as it appears to me, from the low price contracted for, to be an object of great consideration in the Victualling Department, and by which immense sums might be saved by that Board in their future purchase of this article, which I understand from the Physician of the Fleet, may be had in any quantity. I must here beg to observe, that Doctor Snipe went from Malta (where he was on service) to Messina, for the purpose of accomplishing this contract: and when it is considered that lemon juice in England (if so it may be called) costs eight shillings per gallon, and in the contract before-mentioned only one shilling for the real juice, it will, I am sure, entitle Doctor Snipe to their Lordships' approbation for his conduct and perseverance on the occasion; and I understand from him, that Mr. Broadbent's profits are still very fair. I judge it proper to remark that two Pursers, who have been dismissed their situations for improper conduct, are both employed at Malta; one, Mr. as Agent to the Hospital, and the , as Agent to the Contractor for Prisoners. of War. The conduct of the former has already been extremely improper, as represented by Doctor Snipe to the Sick and Hurt Board; and it will naturally occur to their Lordships the impropriety of appointing such characters to Public other, Mr. situations abroad. I am informed it is the intention of the Agent to the Contractor for Prisoners of War, to discontinue giving them fresh beef, and to supply them with salt in lieu, on account of the latter being so much more reasonable than the former. I must, therefore, beg to observe to their Lordships, that as Prisoners of War are not allowed wine, the giving them salt beef instead of fresh, will, from their long and close confinement, naturally produce disease and very dangerous consequences; and it is with much deference I take the liberty of mentioning to their Lordships (that as Frenchmen are in the habit of drinking small wine in their own Country) the propriety of allowing Prisoners of War a certain quantity each per day. I am, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO THE COMMISSIONERS FOR SICK AND WOUNDED SEAMEN, Gentlemen, LONDON. [Letter-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 7th August, 1804. I have received your letter of the 27th April, acquainting me that, in consequence of directions from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, you had dismissed Mr. from the situation of Dispenser at Gibraltar Hospital, and appointed Mr. Christie in his room. In answer thereto, I am extremely happy that a character so dangerous, not only to the individual, but also to the Public Service, is dismissed from it with disgrace; and I hope it may be a warning to all in subordinate situations, and prevent them from attempting, by such infamous means, to succeed in their advancement, at the expense of sacrificing the upright and honest man. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN JOHN GORE, H.M. SHIP MEDUSA. [Letter-Book.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 7th August, 1804. As no General Order can, on all occasions, embrace the good of the individual, and at the same time prevent his Majesty's Service from being imposed on, by the invaliding improper objects, (too frequently done to get clear of bad and worthless characters,) my order of the 10th May, directed to the Senior Officer, was meant, as much as possible, to do away this lastmentioned custom; and to prevent every Senior Officer from ordering Surveys at Gibraltar Hospital, when they thought proper, and by no means intended to preclude discreet Officers from holding Surveys on proper objects. You will, therefore, order such men to be examined as may appear to you proper objects for invaliding, and continue to do so on all future occasions when you may deem it necessary; but I have desired the Surgeon of the Hospital to consider my said order still in force, except when you might think proper to direct it otherwise, so that this service is entirely at your discretion, and I must desire that no other Officer may interfere with it. I am, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Letter-Book.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 7th August, 1804. I have received your letter of the 14th May, acquainting me that their Lordships had ordered Captain Durban to be furnished with two Time-keepers, and that he has provided himself with instruments necessary for making observations and surveys, their Lordships intending that he should be employed in the Black Sea, for the further purposes communicated in your said letter. In answer to which, you will please to acquaint their Lordships that with Sir Evan Nepean's letter to me, of the 28th September last, was transmitted a copy of a letter from Count Woronzow, the Russian Minister at our Court, to Lord Hawkesbury, and of one from Count Alexander Woronzow, at St. Petersburg, prohibiting, in the strongest manner, the navigation of the Black Sea, by any description of Armed Vessels. Under such instructions, it is impossible that their Lordships' intentions, communicated to me in your letter before-mentioned, can for the present be put in force; and I am also informed that there is an objection, on the part of the Porte, to any Ships passing beyond the Seven Towers, without a particular convention. On this subject I have wrote to Mr. Stratton, our Minister at Constantinople. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Letter-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 7th August, 1804. I have received your letter of the 9th April, with the inclosure therein mentioned, from the Spanish Minister to Lord Hawkesbury, complaining of the conduct of the Commander of the British Privateer Les Deux Frères, in capturing a Spanish Vessel close off the Port of Palamos, in Catalonia, and signifying to me their Lordships' direction to make the necessary inquiry into the circumstances therein stated, and take such steps as the case may require. In answer thereto, you will please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that if I had the least authority whatever in controlling the Privateers, whose conduct is so disgraceful to the British Nation, I would instantly take their Commissions from them; but as Naval Commanders have no power over them whatever, I am obliged to hear from the Sardinian Government and others, of their daily depredations, without being able either to check, or put a stop to it. The only thing I can, therefore, do in the present instance (as I have in several other similar ones) is to transmit your letter, and its enclosure to the Governor of Gibraltar, that he may take such steps as may appear to him proper, to put a stop to the piratical proceedings of such a hoard of sanctioned robbers. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN GEORGE RYVES, H.M. SHIP GIBRALTAR. [Letter-Book.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 7th August, 1804. I have received your letter of the 15th June, together with a copy of the one therein-mentioned from Commissioner Otway; and I am very much pleased, and extremely happy that you proceeded to England with the Gibraltar, instead of re-joining me, as I have long seen the necessity of that Ship's being in dock. I am, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. VOL. VI. L |