till you hear that, thank God, we are entirely free from it, and in the most perfect health, not one man being ill in the Fleet. The cold weather will, I hope, cure the disorder. Whilst I am writing this letter, a Cutter is arrived from England with strong indications of a Spanish War. But, I hope, from my heart, that it will not prove one. however that is, my die is cast; and, long before this time, I expect, another Admiral is far on his way to supersede me. Lord Keith, I think a very likely man. I should, for your sake, and for many of our friends, have liked an odd hundred thousand pounds; but, never mind. If they give me the choice of staying a few months longer, it will be very handsome; and, for the sake of others, we would give up, my dear Emma, very much of our own felicity. If they do not, we shall be happy with each other, and with dear Horatia.... ... Tell my brother, that I have made Mr. Yonge a Lieutenant, into the Seahorse Frigate, Captain Boyle. . . . . . . I have scrawled three lines to Davison, that he should not think I neglected him in his confinement. I have received the inclosed from Allen. Can we assist the poor foolish man with a character? Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 13th October, 1804. I request you will be pleased to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that his Majesty's Ships and Vessels under my command are in momentary readiness for any service, and that their respective Companies are all in most perfect health, and scarcely a man in the Squadron confined to bed for any complaint whatever. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO MR. JOHN DEBRETT. [From "The Naval Chronicle," vol. xv. p. 189.] Victory, at Sea, October 13th, 1804. I am favoured with your letter of August 22nd. Your observation, with regard to the Dukedom of Bronte, in Sicily, I take to be perfectly just;3 and I cannot, therefore, have any objection to your making what use of it you think proper. I will not fail sending the Gazette to Rome by the first opportunity; and desiring you will believe me thankful for your kind wishes, I remain your most obedient, humble servant, Nelson and Bronte. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 14th October, 1804. I received by the John Bull, Hired Armed Cutter, which joined the Squadron yesterday about noon, from Plymouth, your secret letter, dated the 19th September, and a copy of their Lordships' order, dated also the 18th of that month (therein mentioned), addressed to the Honourable Admiral Cornwallis, off Brest. And you will please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that the most strict attention shall be paid to their Lordships' instructions therein contained. As the Triumph is outside the Straits, with the Medusa and Amphion, I trust their vigilance will prevent the escape of the Treasure-Ships, coming from South America to Cadiz, and the reinforcement their Lordships have sent, has enabled 3 Mr. Debrett, Editor of the well-known Peerage, bearing his name, had written to Lord Nelson, stating that, "when the King of the Two Sicilies conferred the title of Bronté upon his Lordship, he perhaps was not aware of its appropriate meaning. It is the Greek word for thunder. The name of the individual Cyclops, who, in poetic fable, is described as forging the thunder of Jove, was Bronte. His residence was, of course, at Etna."-Naval Chronicle, vol. xv. p. 189. me to dispatch the Donegal on this service, under the directions of Sir Richard Strachan, whose zeal for the Public Service is well known. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO LIEUTENANT KORTWRIGHT, COMMANDING HIS MAJESTY'S HIRED ARMED CUTTER JOHN BULL. [Order-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 14th October, 1804. You are hereby required and directed to receive my public dispatches, addressed to Mr. Secretary Marsden, on board his Majesty's hired Armed Cutter under your command, and proceed with them immediately to Plymouth, with the utmost possible expedition. You are to keep a proper weight constantly affixed to the above-mentioned dispatches, and, in case of falling in with an Enemy of superior force, and seeing no probability of escaping capture, you are to throw them overboard, and sink them. You are carefully to avoid speaking with any Ship or Vessel which you may happen to meet with during your passage, particularly on your entering the Straits of Gibraltar, where you may expect to meet with some of the Enemy's Cruizers, on which account you are to keep the most vigilant look-out, and to be as much upon your guard as possible. You are on no account whatever to communicate with Gibraltar, or receive any letters, &c. from any Boat or Vessel coming from that place, on account of the dreadful malady which has broke out there. On your arrival at Plymouth, you will deliver my dispatches to Admiral Young, or the Commanding Officer for the time being at that place, who will forward them to the Admiralty. Having so done, you will remain at Plymouth for their Lordships' further orders. NELSON AND BRONTE. These are to certify that his Majesty's Fleet under my command is in most perfect health, and that, at this moment, there is not a man on board either of the Ships confined to bed, on account of sickness, or any complaint whatever. NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 14th October, 1804. I herewith transmit you a letter from Captain Pearse, of His Majesty's Ship Halcyon, dated the 23rd September last, giving an account of his having captured L'Esperance, French Privateer, on the 20th of that month, 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 Captain Pearse's exertion on the present and several former occasions, for the protection of our Trade and destruction of the Enemy's Privateers in the vicinity of Gibraltar, very justly entitles him to my warmest approbation. I am, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN HENRY RICHARDSON, H. M. SHIP JUNO. [Order-Book.] Victory, 15th October, 1804. Most Secret. Whereas, from the recent conduct of the Spaniards at Ferrol, the greatest circumspection becomes necessary on the part of his Majesty's Ships, either in communicating with the Spanish Ports, or on falling in with any of their Ships or Vessels of War, You are therefore hereby required and directed in your future communications with Rosas, Barcelona, or any other Spanish Port, to do so with the utmost caution, taking care to anchor His Majesty's Ship under your command well out of reach of shot from their Forts or Batteries, and always to be on your guard against surprise. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN ARTHUR FARQUHAR, HIS MAJESTY'S BOMB VESSEL ACHERON. [Order-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 15th October, 1804. You are hereby required and directed to take the Transport named in the margin' under your protection, and proceed with her immediately to the Bay of Rosas, where you will moor her in safety, and leave her in the execution of my orders. The Agent Victualler having ordered two hundred quintals of onions from Mr. Gayner for the use of the Fleet, you are to receive a sufficient number of empty bags from the Victory to hold that quantity; and the moment you have received them from Mr. Gayner, which will not require more than twenty-four or thirty hours after your arrival, you will proceed with all possible expedition to the Madalena Islands, where I expect the Fleet will arrive about the 20th instant, and remain there till you receive my further orders for your proceedings, taking care to anchor the Acheron free from the place occupied by the Ships of the Line. You are on no account to remain longer than the time above mentioned at Rosas, and be particularly careful in not suffering your people to communicate with the shore, or afford them any opportunity for desertion. NELSON AND Bronte. N.B. This order is to be kept secret, and none of your Officers or other person made acquainted that the Fleet is going to the Madalena Islands. N. AND B. TO CAPTAIN THE HONOURABLE COURTENAY BOYLE, H. M. SHIP SEAHORSE. [From the "Naval Chronicle," vol. xxx. p. 37. "Thursday, 18th October. A.M. At 9.50, shortened sail, and anchored in Agincourt Sound. At Noon, the Royal Sovereign, Conqueror, Belleisle, and Leviathan, anchored in the Eastern anchorage. Active and two Transports at anchor here."—Victory's Log.] |