the purpose of being repaired, but am sorry to find that the Halcyon is constantly in want of something done to her. It is unpleasant that any differences between our Boats' Crews and L'Aigle's' should have taken place; but I am glad to find the circumstance should have been so amicably settled between you and the French Captain, and that their Seamen in future are prevented from wearing arms. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO SIR ALEXANDER JOHN BALL, BART., MALTA. [Letter-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 12th May, 1804. I beg leave to enclose you a copy of a letter from Mr. Secretary Marsden, dated the 4th of April, together with a copy of the one therein referred to, from Mr. John Sullivan, communicating Lord Hobart's directions on the subject of converting the Palace of Bughay, in Malta, to a Naval Hospital, lest the original of the last-mentioned letter should not have reached you. I have also thought it proper to send Doctor Snipe, Physician to the Fleet under my command, to Malta, on this occasion, in order that he may consult with you, as to the necessity of wings being built to the intended Naval Hospital at Bughay, or any other circumstance which may relate thereto, and assist in forming the estimate alluded to in the said letter. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN PHILIP LAMB, AGENT FOR TRANSPORTS, MALTA. Sir, [From a Copy in the Admiralty.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 12th May, 1804. I herewith transmit you a copy of a letter from Mr. Secretary Marsden, together with the lists No. 1 and 2, therein referred to, directing that the Transports on the highest terms of hire may be sent home as soon as possible after the arrival The French Line-of- Battle Ship at Cadiz. of those which are now about to sail, according to the lastmentioned list. I must, therefore, refer you to my letter of the 20th March, with its inclosure, on the subject of sending all the Transports to England without delay, except those absolutely wanted for the service of Malta and the Fleet under my command; and desire that the most strict attention is paid to their Lordships' instructions contained in the copy of Mr. Secretary Marsden's letter above-mentioned, as well on the present as on all future occasions, that Government may not be put to unnecessary expense by the detention of Transports in the Mediterranean, which may not be wanted. The moment the two coppered Transports, under the charge of Lieutenant Woodman, return from the Black Sea, (provided neither of them are wanted to bring the residue of the provisions or Naval stores purchased by Mr. Eaton at Odessa for the Fleet in these seas,) you will send them also to England, under the first Convoy. I must also desire that you will communicate to MajorGeneral Villettes the orders you have received to send all the Transports which are not wanted for the immediate service of this Country to England; and, at the same time, beg of the General to inform you whether the Transports now at Malta ready to embark Troops, are wanted for that service? otherwise, that you will include them in the number for England. I am not aware that there are Troops at Malta intended for distant service at this moment; but should that hereafter be the case, I trust the transportation of them will not be difficult, as I presume a sufficient number of Vessels will soon be procured to answer the purpose. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN STEPHEN PETER MOUAT, AGENT FOR TRANSPORTS ETC., MALTA. [Letter-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 12th May, 1804. Sir, I have received your letter of the 21st ultimo, with the list of Transports that arrived at Gibraltar, under convoy of the Leviathan the tioned, and a daily account of Prisoners of War, from the 8th to the 21st of April, acquainting me also that the Harmony and Ibbetson are laden with coals for the Fleet-that the former was sent to Malta, and the latter detained at Gibraltar, by order of the Senior Officer, to supply the Ships that may want coals, until further directions should be given respecting her. In answer thereto, I have to acquaint you that the Harmony arrived under convoy of the Leviathan, and has supplied the different Ships of the Squadron with the coals that were wanted, and proceeded to Malta with the residue, for the use of his Majesty's Yard, at that place. I approve of the Senior Officer's having detained the Ibbetson, for the purpose of supplying the different Ships; and must desire that the remainder is received into his Majesty's Stores at Gibraltar, for the use of the Yard, and to answer any future emergency of service. I am glad that the postscript of your letter takes notice of the quantity of coals which were on board the Harmony on Government account, and am rather surprised that there was not a regular Bill of Lading sent out with them from England, that it might have been ascertained what quantity the Master had actually to deliver, independent of his private consumption, and that, from comparing the whole issues with such Bill of Lading, it might have appeared how far the Pursers, and stores at Malta, had been done justice by. I am, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN THOMAS BRIGGS, H. M. SHIP AGINCOURT. Sir, [Letter-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 12th May, 1804. I received a letter from his Majesty's Vice - Consul at Cagliari, in the Island of Sardinia, acquainting me that he had supplied his Majesty's Ships named in the margin,' with six bullocks each, when they were last in the Bay of Palma, which were not paid for, and requesting that I would remit him the amount. It appears very extraordinary that no mention was made to me of this circumstance, when the Agincourt was last Argo, Agincourt. in company with the Fleet, or that the Purser of that Ship did not transmit the Agent-Victualler an account thereof, as well as of their produce, the same as Captain Hallowell of the Argo. I must, therefore, desire you will immediately acquaint me with the particulars of this transaction, that I may be governed in the payment of the said cattle, and, at the same time, transmit me a regular account of their produce, signed by all the Signing Officers. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [From a Copy in the Admiralty.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 13th May, 1804. I have received your letter of the 6th ultimo, together with a list of all the regular Transports now in the Mediterranean, and of those under orders to proceed hither, signifying their Lordships' directions to send home the Transports on the highest terms of hire, as soon as possible after the arrival of those which are now about to sail, according to the last-mentioned list, reserving in preference, if necessary, the lowest-priced coppered Ships. In answer thereto, I herewith transmit you a copy of my letter of the 20th of March last, to Captain Lamb, Agent for Transports at Malta, with a copy of the one therein alluded to; also copy of my letter, of the 15th April, to Captain Mouat, Resident Agent for Transports at Gibraltar, together with a copy of my letters of yesterday's date to those Agents, which you will please to lay before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, for their information; and, at the same time, acquaint their Lordships that, aware of the great expense incurred by the Transport Service, every means in my power has been taken to prevent the detention of Transports in this Country, except those absolutely wanted for the Island of Malta, and the Fleet under my command. The Transports mentioned in the last part of my letter of yesterday to Captain Lamb, it appears, were thought necessary by General Villettes and Sir Alexander Ball to be held in readiness to convey Troops from Malta to Sicily. I have, however, not conceiving the immediate want of them, directed their return to England. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE COMMANDERS OF H. M. BOMB-SHIPS ETNA, THUNDER, AND ACHERON. Memorandum. [From a Copy in the Admiralty.] Victory, Agincourt Sound, 13th May, 1804. It is my directions that the Artillery embarked on board the Bomb-Ships do, when in Port, keep watch as sentinels, and, when at sea, in the same manner as the Ship's Company. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE RESPECTIVE OFFICERS OF HIS MAJESTY'S YARD AT Gentlemen, MALTA. [Letter-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 14th May, 1804. The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having directed the Niger to be put on the establishment of a twenty-eight gun Ship, it is my intention to send her to Malta, in the course of a few days, for the purpose of getting carronades fitted in the room of her guns. I therefore desire you will have everything ready for mounting the Madras's carronades, and such as may have been moved from the late Raven on board the Niger, on her arrival in Valetta Harbour. I have wrote to Captain Schomberg on this subject, who will order the carronades to be sent you from the Madras, and assist in facilitating the Niger's equipment as far as may depend upon him. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO MAJOR-GENERAL VILLETTES. [Autograph, in the possession of J. B. Heath, Esq.] My dear General, Victory, May 14th, 1804. Nothing particular has happened in the Fleet since I had the pleasure of writing you some time ago; the French Fleet I am satisfied have an object in view, and the longer it is deferred the nearer must be its attempt at accomplishing it; |