TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Letter-Book. "Thursday, 17th May.-At 5, P.M. weighed, as did the Squadron. Made sail into the Eastern Bay. At 6-10, anchored: Squadron anchored here. Friday, 18th May, A.M. At 6.30, weighed and made sail to the Eastward, through the Biche Channel, as did the Squadron for Terranova Bay. At 1, P.M. shortened sail and anchored: Squadron anchored here. Saturday, 19th May, A.M. At 5.30, weighed and made sail out of Terranova Bay. Stood to the Eastward, as did the Squadron. Termagant rejoined. Three Algerine Cruizers in the N.W.; showed our Colours to them. At 8, P.M. a Ship in the S.W. made the signal of distress, and wanting immediate assistance. Sent the Pinnace to her assistance. The Ship that wanted assistance proved to be the Excellent, which struck on an unknown reef in the Eastern passage to the Madalena Islands."-Victory's Log.] Sir, Victory, Madalena Islands, 17th May, 1804. I have received your letter of the 4th ultimo, together with a copy of a memorandum from Captain Bligh, respecting the variance in the two Charts, made by Captain Ryves, of the Madalena and Barelino Islands, and also the copies of them, signifying their Lordships' direction to transmit such remarks as may contribute to the perfection of the said Charts. In answer thereto, you will please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that Captain Ryves, and the Masters of the Gibraltar and Victory, have strictly examined the said two copies, and cannot discover any material difference, except the soundings marked in red ink, taken by the Victory, and a few small rocks, which are visible above water, in what is called Agincourt Sound, but of no consequence whatever. Captain Ryves's Chart is, therefore, as perfect in its original state as can be made, except by the nice and accurate hand of an expert Surveyor, and then it would not be more useful. I am, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. P.S.-On passing by the East entrance of the Madalena Islands, on the 20th instant, his Majesty's Ship Excellent struck on a reef of rocks, which is not laid down in Captain Ryves's Chart. She received no hurt whatever, being perfectly smooth water when she struck. The bearings, &c., of this reef, taken by Mr. Atkinson, Master of the Victory, are herewith inclosed. N. AND B. TO CAPTAIN GEORGE COCKS, H.M. BOMB-VESSEL THUNDER. Sir, [From a Copy in the Admiralty.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 17th May, 1804. I have received your letter of yesterday's date, acquainting me that you had confined James Braid of the Royal Artillery, agreeably to the tenour of your instructions from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, dated the 28th March 1804, for disobedience to your orders in replying to your command, 'that he was ordered neither to pull nor haul till he received that order from his own Officer.' In reply thereto, I must express my surprise that you have not either communicated my order of the 13th instant to the Officer of Artillery on board the Thunder, or, if you have, that he has been guilty of so much neglect of his duty, as not to have informed, in a regular manner, the Artillerymen that they must, upon every occasion, be obedient and respectful to all commands of the Officers of the Ship; and that, if they have any cause of complaint, they will report it to their Officer, who will represent it in a respectful manner to the Commander of his Majesty's Bomb, that any real grievance may be immediately redressed. If the man confined has not been informed of my order of the 13th instant, he may have erred through ignorance; but if the Officer of Artillery, being informed of my order, has neglected to inform the Artillerymen of it, you will acquaint him that he has been guilty of a great neglect of his duty. I am, &c., There being reason to suppose that the coals supplied by Mr. Master of the Harmony Transport, from improper measure in the hold of that Vessel, have been delivered to the respective Pursers of the Squadron nearly an eighth short, I therefore transmit you a copy of a letter from the Transport Office, stating the quantity of coals shipped on board the Harmony for the use of the Navy, and desire you will, the moment that Transport arrives in Valetta harbour, take her alongside the wharf, and see the coals, which may be remaining on board her, measured with the strictest attention; and in order to ascertain the exact quantity supplied the Pursers, you will call upon the Master of the Harmony for the receipts from them respectively, which you will tottle up and add to the quantity you may find remaining, which, consequently, when compared with the original quantity shipped, will show what may have been defrauded by improper delivery, which overplus quantity I am to desire you will seize and detain, as the right and property of the Pursers of the Ships supplied from the Harmony at this anchorage. You will take into account (if it does not appear that Mr. has purchased private coals for the use of his Transport) the quantity he may reasonably have used from the time of his leaving England, and furnish me with the particulars of your proceedings by the first opportunity. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. N.B.-The deficiency of coals is supposed to have arisen from the Master of the Harmony not having acquainted the Officers attending the delivery, that the basket ought to be heaped, which, consequently was not done. TO CAPTAIN GEORGE COCKS, H. M. BOMB-VESSEL THUNDER. [Autograph draught in the possession of the Reverend Henry Girdlestone, and a Copy in the Admiralty.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 19th May, 1804. From representations made to me, it appears that the Officers of Artillery embarked on board his Majesty's Bombs Thunder, Etna, and Acheron, are entirely ignorant of the Act of Parliament for the regulation of his Majesty's Ships, Vessels, and Forces by Sea; it is, therefore, my directions that you deliver to the Officer of Artillery embarked to serve on board his Majesty's Bomb Thunder, under your command, the Act of Parliament inclosed in a letter, in order that in future, he may not plead ignorance of the Act above mentioned, as he will be made answerable for a breach of it. You will direct the Officer of Artillery to muster, when you think necessary, the clothes of the Artillery, and direct him to take care that the men are kept in cleanliness and discipline, becoming such a fine body of men. You will give directions that the mortars and Artillery-stores are examined occasionally, in order that they may be always fit for service, and direct the Officer of Artillery to report to you any defect in them, that such directions may be given as the case shall require. And in every respect you will pay the same attention to the Artillery embarked on board the Bomb under your command, as is paid to Officers and Men of the Navy of like rank. I am, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. N.B.-A letter of the above tenour and date was delivered to the Commanders of the Etna and Acheron Bomb-Vessels. NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN THE HONOURABLE COURTENAY BOYLF, H. M. SHIP SEAHORSE. [Letter-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 19th May, 1804. Sir, Should this, contrary to my expectation, find you at the Madalena Islands, I am to desire you will join the Squadron (who is proceeding by Cape Corse to Rendezvous No. 102) without a moment's loss of time. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Letter-Book.] Victory, 19th May, 1804. Sir, I herewith transmit you a letter from Mr. Bauguier, Purser of his Majesty's Sloop Termagant, which you will please to lay before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty for their consideration; and, at the same time acquaint their Lordships that I have not thought proper to comply with his request without their direction, as it is not possible for me to judge how far the necessary attention has been paid to the preservation of the provisions and stores committed to his charge, since his appointment to that Sloop. I am, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN RYVES, H. M. SHIP GIBRALTAR. [Letter-Book.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 19th May, 1804. On examining the Vouchers for the purchase of provisions for the Company of his Majesty's Ship Gibraltar, under your command, between the 21st September 1803, and the 6th instant, at Naples, there appears a charge of upwards of a hundred pounds sterling, for onions, cabbages, leeks, and pumpkins, for the people during the said time. I must therefore desire, as it was the duty of the Purser of the said Ship to have purchased a sufficient quantity of vegetables for the Ship's Company's soup, the fresh meat days, which ought not to have been included in the vouchers, that you inform me with the reason of this very extraordinary charge. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Letter-Book.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 19th May, 1804. In answer to your letter of the 6th ultimo, I request you will be pleased to inform the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that although Mr. Thomas Pearse' did not produce documents for having served his time, yet the Passing Captains were satisfied that he had done so, and that he had taken out Query, if the present Lieutenant Thomas Pearse, who obtained that rank on the 1st of August 1807 ? |