dear Sir, there are so many things that I have to intrude upon your goodness for, that I hardly see how to make you any amends for the trouble I shall give. We shall lay to; therefore, will you come on board this morning, and you will very much oblige, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO REAR-ADMIRAL CAMPBELL [From a Copy in the Admiralty.] Victory, December 4th, 1804. Sir, It was with the sincerest sorrow that I received your letter of yesterday's date, stating the melancholy account of your bad state of health, and that in your opinion it was absolutely necessary you should go immediately to England for its reestablishment, of which opinion I find is also the Physician of the Fleet and other Medical Gentlemen. I shall therefore order the very first Frigate that comes to the Fleet, to bear your Flag, and to proceed with you to such Port in England as you shall direct her Captain; and I do most sincerely hope that your health will be soon re-established, and that you will very shortly be again at sea, where you have so long served with both honour and advantage to your King and Country; and I beg you to be assured that my most sincere good wishes will ever attend you, and that I am, with the highest esteem and regard, Sir, your most faithful and affectionate Servant, NELSON AND Bronte. TO REAR-ADMIRAL GEORGE CAMPBELL, H. M. SHIP CANOPUS. [From a Copy in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 4th December, 1804. Having directed the Captain of his Majesty's Ship Ambuscade to put himself under your command, and follow your orders for his further proceedings, you are hereby required Rear-Admiral Campbell died an Admiral of the Red, and a Grand Cross of the Bath, on the 23rd of January, 1821. The Ambuscade, Captain Durban, having rejoined the Squadron at Noon, on the 4th, Lord Nelson ordered her to take Rear-Admiral Campbell home. and instructed to shift your Flag from his Majesty's Ship Canopus into his Majesty's Ship Ambuscade, and proceed direct to any Port in England, which you may find most convenient; and on your arrival you will direct Captain Durban, of the said Ship, to wait at such Port until he receives their Lordships' orders for his further proceedings. NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 4th December, 1804. You will please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that there has no particular occurrence happened in the Squadron, since my letter to you of the 15th ultimo, only the detention of two or three Spanish Vessels, which have been sent to Malta; one of them, the Pearl, from Buenos Ayres and Monte Video, had upwards of 106,000 dollars on board, in gold and silver, and otherwise a valuable cargo. By a letter from Minorca to Barcelona, detained by the Squadron, it appears by some of the intercepted letters, that they have been some time expecting a War with England, and have been putting the Forts of that Island, and their Gun-boats, &c. in a state for active defence; but I am perfectly satisfied that no succour of Troops has yet been landed on that Island. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO SIR ALEXANDER JOHN BALL, BART., MALTA. [Autograph, in the possession of Sir Willam Keith Ball, Bart.] My dear Ball, Victory, December 5th, 1804. No Sir John Orde, no orders, no letters from England; very extraordinary. I almost begin to think that he is sent off Cadiz to reap the golden harvest, as Campbell was sent off Cadiz by Cornwallis (by orders from England) to reap my sugar harvest. It's very odd, two Admiralties to treat me so: surely I have dreamt that I have done the State some ser vice.' But never mind; I am superior to those who could treat me so. When am I to be relieved? Seventy-six days since my last letter from the Admiralty. Poor Admiral Campbell sailed yesterday for England, very ill with debility, hectic fever, &c., but he cheered up on going away. I shall not trouble you with all my conjectures about Sir John Orde's never communicating with me for the three weeks he has been off Cadiz. I am ever, my dear Ball, yours most faith fully, A Man of War is in sight, South. NELSON AND Bronte. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty. 'Wednesday, 13th December. P.M. At 10, shortened sail, and came to in Pula Roads, in the Gulf of Cagliari. Squadron anchored and moored per Signal."] Sir, Victory, in Pula Bay, Sardinia, 14th December, 1804. 4 I herewith transmit you a copy of an acting order which I have this day given to Mr. George Magrath, Surgeon of his Majesty's Ship Victory, to be Surgeon of his Majesty's Naval Hospital at Gibraltar, in the room of the late Mr. William Burd, which you will be so good as lay before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty for their information; and I beg that you will acquaint their Lordships, that the conduct and very great professional abilities of this deserving Officer, merits my most full and entire approbation; not only in the discharge of his duty as Surgeon of the Victory, which reflects great credit on his knowledge, but also in several particular Surgical cases which he has performed with infinite judgment and skill. I therefore presume to hope their Lordships will confirm the appointment, as none can fill his intended [situation] with more credit to himself and benefit to the Public service. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. Now Sir George Magrath, K.H. Mr. Magrath was succeeded as Surgeon of the Victory, by Mr. William (afterwards Dr. Sir William) Beatty, who was previously Surgeon of the Spencer. TO COMMISSIONER OTWAY, GIBRALTAR. [Autograph, in the possession of Rear-Admiral Inglefield, C.B.] Sir, Victory, 14th December, 1804. Having thought it proper to appoint a Captain and Officers to the Spanish Frigate Amphitrite,' I have therefore to request that you will give such directions as may be necessary for surveying her hull, masts, and stores; and you will also be pleased to place her on the same establishment as the Endymion. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN SAMUEL SUTTON, H.M. SHIP AMPHION. [Autograph, in the possession of Captain Ives Sutton.] My dear Sutton, Victory, December 14th, 1804. The Purser of the Niger will be appointed to the Amphion, and will go down the very first opportunity after his survey. I have had a letter from Lieutenant Gates, saying that he wishes to go to England, and that he is a supernumerary Lieutenant on board the Amphion, she being only allowed three in War. If that is so, you may discharge him, writing an account to the Admiralty of your reasons, and directing his attendance at the Admiralty. For your and Hardy's sake, I wish you had been more fortunate; for my own, if you can destroy Privateers and Ships of War, I care not for Prizes. I do not think you will have a Spanish War. I rejoice you like the Amphion; so do I the Victory. Not a Ship here can beat her in moderate weather. We shall see and feel the French Fleet very soon. I am, dear Sutton, always your obliged and faithful friend, NELSON AND Bronte. 5 The Amphitrite was detained, or rather captured, by the Donegal, off Cadiz, on the 23rd of October, vide p. 292, post. Lord Nelson promoted Sir William Bolton into the Amphitrite. • Captains Sutton and Hardy had agreed to share Prize-money, by which arrangement the latter gained some thousand pounds. TO VICE-ADMIRAL SIR JOHN ORDE, BART., COMMANDER-INCHIEF OF A SQUADRON OFF CADIZ. Sir, [From a Copy in the Admiralty.] Victory, in Pula Bay, Sardinia, 16th December, 1804. Yesterday I received the honour of your letter, dated November 17th, off Cadiz, by his Majesty's Ship Anson, in which you are pleased to inform me that you arrived off that Port, in the Chief Command of a Squadron of his Majesty's Ships, and shall probably continue on that station some time. I have, therefore, only to request that you will have the goodness to give me timely information when you are likely to leave the station off Cadiz, that I may, as I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, place a proper Squadron on that part of the station, hitherto under my orders. I have the honour to be, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO HIS EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT, ESQ. [Autograph, in the Elliot Papers. "Monday, 17th December. A.M. At 5, weighed and made sail out of Pula Roads, as did the Squadron. Termagant rejoined." "Tuesday, 18th December. P.M. At 130, anchored in the Gulf of Palma. Squadron anchored here." 'Wednesday, 19th December. P.M. At 1, unmoored at 4, weighed and made sail out of Palma."] Sir, 66 Victory, December 19th, 1804. I send your Excellency a letter from Captain Corbet, of his Majesty's Sloop Bittern, together with the account of the Master, taken upon oath; and your Excellency will not fail to acquaint the Chevalier Micheroux of my surprise, as I am sure it will be of yours, to find that no complaint was preferred against the Officer of the Bittern, from the Minister or Consul of any Nation, of the Vessels boarded, for no French Vessel was boarded; and the Chevalier will, I hope, be desired by your Excellency to be more circumspect in accusing his Majesty's Officers, and be sure that the French Minister speaks truth, before he makes his complaint to your Excellency. I have the honour to be, &c. • Vide p. 224, ante. NELSON AND Bronte. |