TO LIEUTENANT HENRY FREDERICK WOODMAN. [Autograph, in the possession of Robert Fitch, Esq., of Norwich.] Victory, October 20th, 1804. Sir, I have read with much satisfaction your letter of October 8th, 1804, giving the account of the Black Sea, of its Ports, and what you think may be procured from thence; the clearness with which everything is stated, does you the greatest credit. I shall not fail to transmit your very interesting letter to Lord Melville; and from his Lordship's liberal way of thinking, I flatter myself he will be induced to notice, in a satisfactory manner, your indefatigable and important exertions. For myself, I selected you for this service of observation' from the character I had heard of you, and which your conduct has most fully justified, and I beg you will accept my sincere thanks for your services. As you must necessarily have been at some expenses, I desire you will send me an account of them, that they may be paid. In addition to your other interesting papers, I beg you will send me a copy of your LogBook, that courses, distances, marks for anchorage, &c. &c. may be known, and I beg you to be assured that I am, Sir, your much obliged and faithful servant, NELSON AND Bronte. TO MR. THOMAS ATKINSON, MASTER OF H. M. SHIP VICTORY. [Order-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, Sardinia, 20th October, 1804. Memorandum. Having directed Captain Cocks to receive you on board the Thunder, and to proceed with her to the Island of Cabrera, in order to afford you every assistance with Boats, &c. for the purpose of ascertaining correctly the soundings and bearings, &c. of the Shoal Rock, which his Majesty's Ship Excellent struck upon in May last, I am therefore to desire you will proceed immediately on board the Thunder, and survey the said Shoal, taking the most correct soundings on every part of Vide p. 21, ante. Vide vol. v. p. 470. it, and between that and the Isle of Biche, its bearings, and every particular remark necessary to prevent any accident to his Majesty's Ships in future, which I expect will not detain you more than forty-eight hours, when you will report to Captain Cocks, and return immediately to the Victory. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO SIR ALEXANDER JOHN BALL, BART, MALTA. [Autograph, in the possession of Sir William Keith Ball, Bart.] My dear Ball, Victory, October 22nd, 1804. Many thanks for your kind letter, and for all your continued kindnesses to me, and you may rely in every situation in life, I shall cherish your friendship. Hallowell thinks the Ministers will not name another Commander-in-Chief, but see if I am able to return. I do not think so, for they are so beset by Admirals. Sir John Orde, I am told, is likely. Lord Radstock is trying; so is Sir Roger Curtis: and if a Spanish War comes, Lord Keith loves a little money, and a great deal much better. Time will bring many strange things to pass, but I believe can never alter the sincere, affectionate regard of your most attached and sincere friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE MASTERS OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS. [Order-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 22nd October, 1804. The Agent-Victualler at Malta having acquainted me, by letter of the 11th instant, that the provisions mentioned in the margin were put on board the Eliza and Brumgrove, Transports, in the River Lima, in July and August last, by William Eaton, Esq., for the Victualling Stores at Malta; and whereas this is a new mode of supplying his Majesty's Stores, it becomes necessary to be most correctly ascertained whether they are good of their kind, and fit for his Majesty's Service, You are therefore hereby required and directed to repair on board the said Transports (or to his Majesty's Victualling Stores, if the Provisions before-mentioned are landed,) and take a most strict and careful survey on the pork, tongues, hog's-lard, pease, and wheat, before stated, to see whether they are all sound and good of their kind; and in order to judge of the meat when boiled, that it does not shrink more than the pork used in the Navy, you are hereby required to take a certain number of pieces, out of one or more of the casks promiscuously, as they come to hand, and boil them on board the Senior Officer's Ship. You will also take a bushel of pease, in the same way, from one or more of the bags, and see them also boiled, paying very particular attention that neither the pork or pease are too much done, or otherwise. With respect to the wheat, you will adopt such measures as may be judged proper to ascertain its quality and fitness for his Majesty's Service. And as this is a service of very great importance, as well for preventing complaints or discontent amongst the Seamen, from the issue of bad provisions, as to provide against the serious consequences which would result from having a quantity of supposed good provisions in store, when in fact it might be otherwise, it is my positive directions that the strictest attention is paid to every circumstance which may tend fully to ascertain the real quality of the before-mentioned provisions, and also the comparative quality between them, and those from England. I would, therefore, recommend your calling upon the Agent-Victualler to attend you on this service, as his experience in these matters will render his assistance very useful; reporting to me, from under your hands, a most full and particular account of your proceedings on this service, which you will deliver to the Senior Officer, in order that it may be transmitted to me by the very first opportunity. NELSON AND Bronte. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Sir, Victory, Madalena Islands, 24th October, 1804. I herewith transmit you a letter from Captain Pettet, of his Majesty's Sloop Termagant, of this date, together with the one therein mentioned, dated the 1st August, addressed to you, on the subject of an allowance for the expenses incurred by bringing Mr. Falcon, late Consul at Algiers, and his suite, from Gibraltar to the Victory, which I request you will be pleased to lay before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty for their consideration; and at the same time acquaint their Lordships that I have paid Captain Pettet the sum of twenty pounds sterling, for his expenses in accommodating Mr. M'Donough from the Fleet to Algiers on particular service, and from thence to Gibraltar, conceiving the sum to be moderate, and actually required for that purpose. I also beg to observe that I consider the sum of sixty pounds for stock, &c. purchased at Gibraltar for the accommodation of Mr. Falcon and his suite, as mentioned in Captain Pettet's letter, to have been necessary for that purpose, and that from the length of time they were on board the Termagant, every article so purchased was expended. I must also request you will acquaint their Lordships that Captain Pettet is an Officer of confined circumstances, with a large family. I am, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN GEORGE COCKS, H.M. BOMB-VESSEL THUNDER. [Order-Book. Friday, 26th October. A.M. At 10, weighed and made sail out of Agincourt Sound, to the Westward. At Noon, Squadron all under sail. P.M. Inclinable to calms. At 2.30, anchored. Squadron all anchored here. Thunder parted at 5, P.M. Saturday, 27th. A.M. At 6, weighed and made sail to the Westward. At Noon, Squadron in company."] Most Secret. Victory, Madalena Islands, 26th October, 1804. Whereas I have received information that the Enemy intend sending three Privateers from Ajaccio, with a hundred men, to surprise and take possession of the Town of Madalena, You are therefore hereby required and directed to proceed, with his Majesty's Bomb-Vessel under your command, close in with the said Town, and anchor her in such situation as you may judge best for its protection against invasion by the Enemy. You are to keep the Thunder in constant readiness to act with effect under any circumstances, and have Boats rowing guard, during the night, in such position as you shall judge best for discovering their approach; and in the event of their attempt upon the Town or Island of Madalena, you will consult with the Governor thereof, and render him every assistance in your power for its protection and safety; but on no account let the object of your remaining behind be known, (except to the Governor and Mr. Brandi, who acts as English Consul,) but keep it a profound secret. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE VISCOUNT MELVILLE. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 390.] 30th October, 1804. The weather was very thick when I looked into Toulon, but I believe a Vice-Admiral has hoisted his Flag; his name I have not yet heard." They now amuse themselves with night-signals, and by the quantity of rockets and blue lights they show with every signal, they plainly mark their position. These gentlemen must soon be so perfect in theory, that they will come to sea to put their knowledge into practice. Could I see that day, it would make me happy. I am, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN SIR RICHARD JOHN STRACHAN, BART., H.M. SHIP DONEGAL. [From a Copy in the possession of the Right Hon. John Wilson Croker.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 30th October, 1804. Whereas I have reason to believe that the state of the Medusa's hull will soon make it necessary to send her to England for the purpose of being docked, I must therefore desire, upon Captain Gore's representing to you officially that his Majesty's Ship Medusa is in want of being docked, and unfit to remain longer in this Country, that you will order Captain Gore to proceed immediately to Rendezvous No. 97, as I intend the Medusa to take the Trade from 9 Vice Admiral Villeneuve, who commanded the French Fleet at Trafalgar. |