and what is more curious, an English Ship from London, which came out under Convoy of the Lively, entered Cadiz, the day of the Action. The Merchants are pulling me to pieces for Convoy, and I have been obliged to order the Arrow (Captain Vincent having made such complaints of her), and the Acheron Bomb, to take charge of the Convoy from Malta. Sir Richard Strachan is gone outside the Straits, and a Frigate must go in the room of the Amphion. The Sophie has so many complaints, that I much doubt her being reparable; but if it is a Spanish War, these gentlemen may not be so anxious to get home. The Admiralty have directed me to keep a Frigate with the King of Sardinia, (I have sent Juno to Gaeta,) and to place a Naval Force for the protection of Sardinia. Sometimes I smile, sometimes I am angry; for in the same packet, Lord Melville says, We can send you nothing.' I have before wrote to General Villettes to keep the 2000 Troops ready for embarkation, and I shall touch upon it again.

The Milbrook arrived at Lisbon, October 9th-five days from Falmouth. Mr. Frere received the ultimatum of our Government the 16th. It was to be decisive in twenty-four hours; but 20th he had an audience-no result; and he had the tertian ague. On the 27th he had not had a second. audience, saying he was ill, and could not attend to business. Could you believe all this? But it is too true-shame, shame! therefore, here I am completely in the dark. I wonder my successor is not arrived: I shall have a winter's passage.

The fever abates at Gibraltar: 500 Troops have died—1612 Inhabitants. At Malaga it has ceased, and at Alicant. Mr. Price, our Pro-Consul at Carthagena, is dead. Deaths at Malaga-Clergy, 114; Friars, 81; Nuns, 76; Physcians, 20;

9 On the 5th of November, Mr. Frere demanded his Passports: on the 27th, the Court of Madrid issued a Decree, stating that the English having attacked Spanish Ships of War, and detained Merchant Vessels, reprisals were to be made on British property; and on the 12th of December, Spain formally declared War against England. On the 19th of December, an Order in Council appeared, forbidding any British Ship to enter any Port of Spain, and directing a general Embargo to be laid on all Spanish Ships in the Ports of Great Britain, which was followed on the 11th of January, 1805, by a Declaration of War.

Troops in Garrison, 1206; African Corps, 101; Individuals, 19,843.

God bless you, my dear Ball; ever most faithfully your friend,

NELSON AND BRONTE.

TO CAPTAIN WILLIAM DURBAN, H.M. SHIP AMBUSCADE.

[Order-Book.]

Victory, at Sea, 12th November, 1804.

You are hereby required and directed to proceed immediately, with his Majesty's Ship Ambuscade under your command, off Barcelona, and send an Officer on shore with my Public dispatches, herewith transmitted to Mr. Gibert, his Majesty's Pro-Consul at that place, with directions to wait in his Boat until the Pro-Consul has answered my letters; and the moment he has received it, with such other letters, &c., as Mr. Gibert may have to send, you will direct his immediate return to the Ambuscade. In the meantime, you will send an Officer to an English Merchant-Vessel laying at Barcelona, who, I should suppose, from the late circular letter from Mr. Hunter, would be desirous of quitting that place; and in case the Master of her should be so disposed, it is my directions that you take the said Vessel under your protection, and convoy her to the Fleet: otherwise, you will demand his reasons for not accompanying you, in writing. As you are apprised of the doubtful intentions of Spain, it is not necessary to recommend the greatest caution in performing this service, which you will do with as much expedition as possible, and join me on Rendezvous No. 97 with all dispatch.

NELSON AND Bronte.

Sir,

TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY.

[Autograph, in the Admiralty.]

Victory, off Barcelona, November 15th, 1804.

The appearances of a rupture with Spain induced me to proceed off this place, in hopes of hearing from his Majesty's Minister at the Court of Madrid; or, should he not think it

proper to write to me, that I might be able to form a judgment whether War or Peace was likely to take place, of the uncertainty which, for some weeks past, has prevailed. For this purpose I sent the Fisgard to Rosas for the purpose of watching, and desiring water and refreshments. The Governor seemed very anxious that he should anchor between the Forts, when he told the Officer the Ship should be furnished with whatever she wanted. In short, his conduct, from rudeness, was so polite, that no doubt was entertained in Lord Mark Kerr's mind of the views of the Spanish Governor, and he joined me last night.

The Ambuscade, which I stationed off Barcelona, joined me this morning, with a Merchant Brig which was lying in Barcelona Roads. She was yesterday, on her attempting to join the Ambuscade, fired at by the batteries, and very much damaged, but she escaped. The enclosed letter from Mr. Frere has made me give orders for the general seizure of all Spanish Vessels, whether of War or Merchandize. I have the honour to be, &c.

NELSON AND Bronte.

The Fleet is perfection itself. We have just captured a complete Regiment going to Minorca.'

TO THE RESPECTIVE CAPTAINS AND COMMANDERS OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS AND VESSELS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN STATION.

[From a Copy in the Admiralty.]

Victory, at Sea, 15th November, 1804.

Whereas Hostilities have commenced between Great Britain and the Court of Spain; You are hereby required and di

166 Thursday, 15th November. A.M. Boarded an Imperial Ship from Barcelona. At 7-15, Ætna boarded a Spanish Bark, having Troops onboard. At 9.30, Ambuscade boarded a Vessel under Spanish colours, having troops onboard. At 10:30, Spencer boarded a Ship, under Russian colours, having Spanish troops onboard." -Victory's Log. "On the 18th of November, Lord Nelson sent the Officers, &c. belonging to the Spanish Regiment onboard a Swedish Ship for Barcelona."—Ibid. Monday, 19th November. A.M. At 7-20, Excellent detained the Bona Adventura Spanish Schooner of War."-Ibid.

66

The Batteries of Barcelona having, as Lord Nelson supposed, fired on an English Brig; but it appears, from his letter to Mr. Marsden, of the 23rd of November, that he had been misinformed. Vide p. 277, post.

rected, on falling in with any Spanish Ship or Vessel of War, or Merchantman belonging to the Subjects of his Catholic Majesty, or which may have Spanish property on board, and on doing so, you will use your utmost endeavour to capture, seize, burn, sink, or destroy them. In the event of your capturing any of their Merchant Vessels, or which may have Spanish property on board, I must desire that the strictest orders are given to the Officers sent into Port with such Merchant Vessels, to see that their hatches are immediately locked and sealed up, and also that all the Ship's papers are sealed up and taken care of, that no embezzlement of any kind whatever do take place, as they will answer the contrary at their peril. As condemnation cannot take place until his Majesty's pleasure is signified, it is my most positive directions that all Vessels having perishable cargoes on board are, immediately on their arrival in Port, delivered into the hands of the ViceAdmiralty Court, to be disposed of as the Judge shall think proper to direct.

NELSON AND Bronte.

TO CAPTAIN HILLYAR, H. M. SHIP NIGER.

[From a Copy in the Admiralty.]

Victory, at Sea, 15th November, 1804. You are hereby required and directed to proceed with the utmost expedition, in his Majesty's Ship Niger, under your command, through the Straits and off Cape Spartel, where you may expect to meet his Majesty's Ship Donegal, or between that and Cape St. Vincent, and on joining her, you will deliver my letter, herewith transmitted, to Captain Sir Richard John Strachan, Bart., put yourself under his command, and follow his orders for your further proceedings. In the event of your falling in with any Spanish Ship or Vessel of War, or Merchantman, on your way to join the Donegal, you will detain her, and send her to Gibraltar or Malta, as may be most convenient, agreeable to the copy of my general order of this date, herewith delivered.

If

NELSON AND BRONTE.

you see either Halcyon or Sophie, they will probably be

able to tell exactly the position Sir Richard Strachan may have taken. Keep company with the Tigre until you are past Cape de Gatte, and Captain Hallowell makes the signal to separate.

TO THE RESPECTIVE CAPTAINS AND COMMANDERS OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS AND VESSELS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN STATION.

[From a Copy in the possession of Miss Bolton, of Burnham ]

Victory, at Sea, [about 15th] November, 1804.

Whereas I judge it proper, under the present uncertain state of affairs between Great Britain and the Court of Spain, that all Spanish Ships and Vessels of War, as well as the Trade of his Catholic Majesty, shall be detained till further orders, You are hereby required and directed to detain all Spanish Ships and Vessels of War, or Merchantmen (Vessels laden with corn excepted) belonging to the Subjects of his Catholic Majesty, which you may fall in with, and send them either to Gibraltar or Malta, as circumstances shall render necessary; but I must desire that the Masters and such of the Crews of the said Vessels as may be left on board and sent into Port, are treated with the utmost attention, and allowed to remain in their respective Vessels, under the necessary precaution, till further orders: and it is my most positive directions that the Officers sent into Port with such detained Vessels, see that their hatches are immediately locked and sealed up, and that all the Ship's papers are likewise sealed up, and kept in the Officer's possession, till orders are given for their being delivered up to their owners, or otherwise disposed of; and on no account or consideration whatever, to suffer any part of their cargoes to be taken away, or otherwise embezzled, as they will answer the contrary at their peril.

Vessels whether Neutral, or belonging to the Subjects of his Catholic Majesty, laden with corn, are not to be detained for the present, but suffered to proceed to their destination, (if to any Port in Spain,) as mentioned in their Lordships' order, dated the 24th August 1804, and issued to the Fleet on the 4th October following.