TO CAPTAIN GEORGE COCKS, H. M. BOMB-VESSEL THUNDER. [Letter-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 17th September, 1804. Sir, As I intend proceeding from hence with the Squadron very shortly, and probably before the return of the Juno, I am to desire you will remain on Rendezvous No. 97, under Cape St. Sebastians, till you are joined by his Majesty's Ship Juno, when you will deliver the accompanying letter to Captain Richardson, and put yourself under his command. In the meantime, should any of his Majesty's Ships arrive on the above Rendezvous in search of me, you will detain them till the return of the Juno, who has my directions for their further proceedings. I am, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN RICHARDSON, H. M. SHIP JUNO. [Letter-Book.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 20th September, 1804. Having transmitted to Captain Cocks of the Thunder, a letter for you, dated the 17th instant, directing you to take that Bomb-Vessel under your command, and cruize off Cape St. Sebastians, and on Rendezvous No. 97, for the reasons therein mentioned, I am to desire you will make the signal for the Thunder to accompany the Juno, and proceed immediately, (without regard to the motions of the Squadron) to Rendezvous No. 97, for the purpose of acquainting any of his Majesty's Ships or Vessels which may be there in search of the Squadron, where I am, as when the weather comes fine, we have to clear the Transport with water. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO DR. BAIRD. [From "The Athenæum."] Victory, September 22nd, 1804. My dear Sir, I feel truly sensible of all your kindness and good wishes, for which I hope soon to thank you in person. We have been very near losing Dr. Snipe, in appearance by a consumptive complaint, but he is getting better. He is indefatigable in his duty, to which, and to his trip to Sicily about the lemon-juice for England, we attribute his very serious complaint, spitting blood, &c. My complaints have not been so violent, but are sufficient to make me require a few months' rest. Since the 16th June 1803, I have never set my foot outside the Ship. Experience teaches us that this climate is the worst in the world for hectic complaints-at least, it is so at sea. Of the few men we have lost, nine in ten are dead of consumption. Upon the best mode of keeping a Fleet healthy, much may be said, and much must be done— there are various opinions; suffice it for me, that although other places may be better, yet that we have no sick. We shall talk of this, and many other matters, before any great length of time. When you see the Earl, remember me kindly to him, and believe me, my dear Doctor, yours most faithfully, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO EDWARD CAREY, ESQ., MASTER SHIPWRIGHT, GIBRALTAR. [From a Copy in the Nelson Papers.] Victory, at Sea, 22nd September, 1804. Sir, I have received your letter of the 28th July last, with the enclosures therein alluded to, and in answer desire to acquaint you, that no endeavour to impress my mind with an unfavourable idea of your conduct has been attempted. The opinion of Captain Capel was honourable and public, and as such transmitted, that you might be made acquainted with it. Earl St. Vincent. With respect to your complying with the orders you receive for the repairs of any of his Majesty's Ships or Vessels sent to Gibraltar for that purpose, I take it for granted that every Officer and person under Government exert themselves to the utmost of their abilities in the faithful performance of the duty and trust imposed on them; and therefore have only to recommend to you the same line of conduct, which cannot fail to give satisfaction to Commissioner Otway, and the Commander-in-Chief of his Majesty's Ships and Vessels on this station. I am, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Autograph, in the Admiralty.] Victory, September 22nd, 1804. Sir, Herewith I transmit you a letter from Captain Hardy of H. M. Ship Victory. The measure of paying for such provisions which the Seamen do not either take up, or, which is not issued to them, either from scarcity, or from its not being in the Fleet, is so just that it cannot be controverted; but upon the present case there seems doubts whether the men have a right to be paid for the half allowance of oatmeal, when no molasses is to be procured. I am sure their Lordships will see the justness of the case as plainly as I do. Each man was formerly allowed a pint of oatmeal on certain days. As it was found that generally a man could not get a pint of dry oatmeal down his throat, and, I suppose, thinking it no longer necessary to present this saving to the Purser, half-a-pint of oatmeal was issued instead of the pint, and, in lieu of the other half-pint, a proportion of molasses. It has sometimes occurred in the Channel Fleet that no molasses could be procured, nor was there any allowance made for such temporary omissions. In the West Indies cocoa and sugar are allowed; in the Channel, I hear, tea and sugar in the Mediterranean we have no molasses, nor any substitute; nor is our want of molasses temporary, but lasting. I beg, therefore, with all due respect, to call their Lord ships' attention to the circumstance, and to propose that when molasses cannot be obtained, a proportion of sugar should be allowed to be mixed with the oatmeal, in lieu of molasses; and that if sugar cannot be obtained, the men having no substitute in lieu, should be paid the saving, as in all other species of provisions. It is not necessary to enter more at large upon this subject: their Lordships' wisdom will direct their proceedings. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 22nd September, 1804. Finding it necessary from the defects of his Majesty's Ship Childers, to send her to Gibraltar to have them made good, I avail myself of the opportunity to acquaint you for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that no news or intelligence of any kind has reached me since the sailing of his Majesty's Ship Triumph, on the 27th ult., as there have been no arrivals from Gibraltar, Malta, or Naples. I am, however, in daily expectation of something joining me from those places. As the Triumph was directed to cruise outside the Straits, for the greater security of any Convoy arriving from England, until the Maidstone (who was to sail about the middle of this month from Valetta Harbour) might be expected with the Trade from Malta, I therefore feel confident that L'Aigle will be prevented from making any attempt to intercept the said Convoy. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO J. B. GIBERT, HIS MAJESTY'S PRO-CONSUL AT BARCELONA. Sir, [Letter-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 25th September, 1804. As it is more than probable the four Seamen named in the margin, who deserted from his Majesty's Bomb-Vessel Acheron, in the Bay of Rosas, on the 17th instant, have, or will, come the way of Barcelona, I am to request you will give the most strict orders for their being apprehended as deserters from the said Bomb-Vessel; and you will be so good as pay the person who shall apprehend them the sum of eight dollars for each, which I shall cause to be reimbursed. Those men having most audaciously left their duty, cannot be considered as straggling; and, therefore, the greatest care is to be taken to prevent their escape. You will please to send them on board the first Ship, or Vessel of War, calling at Barcelona, that they may be brought to the Fleet. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO LADY HAMILTON. [From "Lord Nelson's Letters to Lady Hamilton," vol. ii. p. 73.] Victory, September 29th, 1804. This day, my dearest Emma, which gave me birth, I consider as more fortunate than common days, as, by my coming into this world, it has brought me so intimately acquainted with you, who my soul holds most dear. I well know that you will keep it, and have my dear Horatia to drink my health. Forty-six years of toil and trouble! How few more the common lot of mankind leads us to expect; and, therefore, it is almost time to think of spending the few last years in peace and quietness! By this time, I should think, either my successor is named, or permission is granted me to come home; and if so, you will not long receive this letter before I make my appearance; which will make us, I am sure, both truly happy. We have had nothing for this fortnight, but gales of Easterly winds and heavy rains; not a Vessel of any kind or sort joined the Fleet. I was in hopes Dr. Scott would have returned from Naples, and that I could have told you something comfortable for from that quarter; and it is now seven weeks since we heard from Malta, therefore I know nothing of what is passing in the world. I would not have you, my dear Emma, allow the work of brick and mortar to go on in the winter months. It can all be finished next summer; when I hope you, |