of our Enemies have been made manifest. In that case, I am clearly of opinion, that on the spot where the breach of Neutrality has been committed by the French, the Enemy has no right to claim the protection of Neutrality, if he should be overpowered. I am sure it is the furthest from the wish of our Government to break the Neutrality of any State, although the French may; but it is no longer a Neutral spot, if the French are permitted to commit hostilities against us. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN VINCENT, H. M. SLOOP ARROW. [From "The Naval Chronicle," vol. xvii. p. 278.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 2nd September, 1804. I have received your letter of the 8th of August last, with the several enclosures therein mentioned, and very highly approve of your complying with Mr. Foresti's request in conveying his dispatches to Venice, and landing the Russian courier at that place. I am very much obliged by the information contained in your said letter and enclosures; and particularly satisfied with the whole of your proceedings. With respect to the line of conduct necessary to be observed in the destruction of the Enemy's Privateers, I must beg to remark to you the same as I have done to Captain Raynsford-viz., "It is impossible for me," &c. [Vide p. 185, ante.] I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN PHILIP LAMB, RESIDENT AGENT OF TRANSPORTS, Sir, MALTA. [Letter-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 2nd September, 1804. I have received your letter of the 20th ultimo, transmitting, for my information, the state of the Transports and Prisoners of War, under your charge. I am perfectly satisfied with your ready acquiescence in every point of service, and I am equally so, that your future attention to the good and interest of his Majesty's Service in your department, will be unremitting. I am, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. TO LIEUTENANT HARDING SHAW, COMMANDING H. M. BRIG SPIDER. Victory, at Sea, 2nd September, 1804. Sir, In I have received your letters of the 9th July and 20th ultimo: the former acquainting me with the detention of the Ragusa Brig, Madonna del Rosario, from Canea, Island of Candia, bound to Marseilles, with oil; and the latter questioning the existence of a British Consul at Canea, by the name of Bertrand, who it appears had signed some of the said Vessel's papers as such, observing, at the same time, that it might be to the advantage of our Cruizers to ascertain this fact, and to permit your going there for that purpose. answer thereto, I hope the concealed papers you mention, and other circumstances, may determine the Judge of the Vice-Admiralty Court at Malta to deem her a legal prize; but I cannot see the necessity of your proceeding to Canea, for the purpose stated in your said letter, as there is no doubt that you will be able to ascertain the fact from Sir Alexander Ball, who must know all the British Consuls, and from any Vessel arriving at Malta from that place, or Merchant who may have correspondents at Canea. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN CHARLES MARSH SCHOMBERG, H.M. SHIP MADRAS. [Letter-Book.] Dear Sir, Victory, at Sea, 2nd September, 1804. I am sorry to observe that his Majesty's Ship Madras, under your command, bears a Lieutenant more than her established complement, in consequence of Lieutenant Isaac Strutt's being invalided as belonging to that Ship, and from the report of survey on the said Lieutenant, stating him as one of her proper Officers, I appointed Mr. Charles Royer in his room, without adverting to the circumstance of Lieutenant • He died a Lieutenant, about 1823. Strutt's having belonged to the Donegal, and exchanged duties with Mr. Seymour,' who was appointed to the Madras in the room of Lieutenant Coltman, invalided from that Ship on the 14th January last, and afterwards succeeded by Lieutenant Adderley,' appointed by the Admiralty. This late appointment of Mr. Adderley's, led, in the first instance, to the mistake; and the suffering Lieutenant Strutt, of the Donegal, to be invalided from the Madras, when in fact he ought to have been returnedto his proper Ship, or discharged from the Service on Lieutenant Adderley's joining, has led to a subsequent one. But we must endeavour to get rid of it the best way we can, and, therefore, I have enclosed an Acting-Order for Mr. Royer, in the room of Lieutenant Waller, and request you will be so good as date the said order the day after Mr. Waller may be invalided, and acquaint me therewith, that I may also date the copy in my possession. I am, with much regard, dear Sir, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN CHARLES MARSH SCHOMBERG, H. M. SHIP MADRAS. [Letter-Book.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 2nd September, 1804. Lord Elgin having requested through Sir Alexander Ball that I would allow a Ship to call at Cerigo, to bring from thence to Malta some marble antiquities, and as I am perfectly disposed to meet his Lordship's wishes on this occasion, I am to desire you will send a small Transport to Cerigo, with the first Convoy going up the Levant, and leave her there, for the purpose of receiving the antiquities before-mentioned on board (provided it is a safe place for her to remain at) till the return of the Convoy, when you will direct the Officer in charge thereof to call at Cerigo, and bring the Transport with his Lordship's antiquities on board, safe under his protection to Malta, when Sir Alexander Ball will direct the disposal of them; and if it is intended to send them to England, you will give the necessary orders accordingly. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. 1 Vide vol. v. p. 415. TO MAJOR LOWE. [Autograph, in the possession of Josiah French, Esq.] Dear Sir, Victory, September 6th, 1804. I have been favoured with your letter of August 21st, and Stephano Scapero shall be sent to Comte Revel, who I have also wrote to upon the subject, assuring him that it was undesignedly Captain Morati enlisting him; but Captain M. has trusted, as Comte Revel writes me, unfaithful people in the environs of Sapire to recruit for him. Considering upon what tender ground the recruiting is upon everywhere, we should be very guarded in our conduct, and not commit the only Power who overlooks our recruiting in their Dominions. I am sure your orders have been correct. I am, dear Sir, wishing you every success in completing your Corps, your very faithful servant, NELSON AND Bronte. TO MAJOR-GENERAL VILLETTES, MALTA. [Autograph, in the possession of Mr. M. M. Holloway.] My dear General, Victory, September 6th, 1804. Scapero is received, and I have wrote to Comte Revel, that if the man is not really a deserter, he may be returned. But, in fact, the Sardinian Government allowing our recruiting at Madalena, is such an act of kindness in them (when none of the Great Powers will permit it) as demands all our attention with respect to the consequences of giving up this Sardinian; it is but an act of common justice, as they give up all ours. And, to say the truth, I had rather that not one Corsican or Italian was raised, if it is to be at the expense of perhaps losing double the number of English Seamen; for such is the love for roaming of our men, that I am sure they would desert from heaven to hell, merely for the sake of change. Of this Officer, some account will be found in vol. i. p. 378. He died a Lieutenant-General, while commanding the Forces in Jamaica, on the 13th of July 1808, aged 54. A Memoir of him is given in the Gentleman's Magazine, vol. lxxix. part i. p. 297, and part ii. p. 798. I should be very sorry if the few Recruits we get for the Marines, should interfere with recruiting for the Army. I never wish to see an Italian recruit. If they come, I must receive them; but I give no encouragement to the raising Italians. Good Germans I cannot have any objections to. If the Russians continue increasing their Naval Force in this Country, I do not think the French will venture to the Eastward; therefore, I rather expect they will, as the year advances, try to get out of the Straits; and should they accomplish it with 7000 Troops on board, I am sure we should lose half our West India Islands, for I think they would go there, and not to Ireland. Whatever may be their destination, I shall certainly follow, be it even to the East Indies. Such a pursuit would do more, perhaps, towards restoring me to health than all the Doctors; but I fear this is reserved for some happier man. Not that I can complain; I have had a good race of glory, but we are never satisfied, although I hope I am duly thankful for the past; but one cannot help, being at sea, longing for a little more. La Touche has given me the slip he died of the colic; perhaps Buonaparte's, for they say he was a rank Republican. Dumanoir is the RearAdmiral at present in Toulon. God bless you, my dear General, and believe me ever, your much obliged friend, NELSON AND Bronte. TO REAR-ADMIRAL SIR RICHARD BICKERTON, BART. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 386. "Thursday, 6th September. 6 A.M. Parted H. M. Ships Royal Sovereign, Spencer, Leviathan, Excellent, Belleisle, Thunder, and Acheron. . . . . Out all reefs of the topsails. At 9:45, wore and stood in for Toulon under all sail with the Starboard Division, except the Spencer. Niger rejoined. Mustered at quarters: Larboard Division in the offing. Squadron in Company. At Noon, Cape Sicie North, eight leagues. P.M. At 1·45, shortened sail, tacked, and hove to. At 2:45, made sail on the larboard tack. At 5.10, set royals. Joined H.M. Ships Royal Sovereign, Spencer, Belleisle, Excellent, Leviathan, Thunder, and Acheron."-Victory's Log,] Victory, September 6th, 1804. Starboard Division, and I present position. I shall I shall stand inshore with the therefore desire you to keep your come back again in the evening, merely wishing to take a look who are out; for I think they will now push to the |