the Convoy under their charge, so far as I have yet been informed, is highly meritorious, and much to their credit. It was unfortunate that the Fisgard, which, with the Wasp, were off Cape Pallas, and within a few leagues, perhaps miles, of the Convoy when the Action took place, did not arrive up with them, as mentioned in an extract from Lord Mark Kerr's letter to me, dated the 12th February, which is also herewith transmitted for their Lordships' information. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty. "March 27th [i. e. 26th]. Off Toro, P.M. At 2, observed a Frigate standing out of Palma Bay, having a Rear-Admiral's flag (Blue) which proved H.M. Ship Ambuscade. At 2:50, the Ambuscade saluted with thirteen guns. At 3, returned the salute with eleven guns, which proved to be Rear-Admiral Louis from England. At 4:40, shortened sail and anchored in the Gulf of Palma. Squadron anchored here."-Victory's Log.] Sir, Victory, in Palma Bay, Sardinia, 26th March, 1805. You will please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that, on the Fleet's arrival here this evening, I was joined by Rear-Admiral Louis' in the Ambuscade, and that I have, agreeable to their Lordships' order of the 11th February, taken the said Rear-Admiral and Ambuscade under my command; and that, in obedience to their direction, communicated to me in your letter of the 31st January, I have directed Rear-Admiral Louis to hoist his Flag in the Canopus, which he will do to-morrow morning, and Captain Austen, who came out with him, [will] consequently supersede Captain Conn in the command of that Ship. I take this opportunity to acquaint you for their Lordships' information, that a better or more zealous Officer than Captain Conn is not in his Majesty's Service, and beg to recommend him to their Lordships' patronage for immediate employment. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. Rear-Admiral Thomas Louis, who commanded the Minotaur at the Battle of the Nile. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, in Palma Bay, Sardinia, 26th March, 1805. I have just received your letter of the 5th ultimo, with the extract of the letter therein mentioned from Mr. Stanley, his Majesty's Consul at Trieste, to the Masters of Lloyd's CoffeeHouse, which shall be communicated to Captain Raynsford of the Morgiana. I have also to acknowledge your letter of the 15th ultimo, acquainting me that their Lordships intend ordering Captain Bennett of the Tribune to be tried by a Court-Martial, for his conduct in returning to England, and not putting himself under my command as he was directed. Their Lordships' duplicate order of the 12th January, relative to the seizing and destroying all Ships and Vessels belonging to Spain, together with their Lordships' printed Orders for that purpose, and likewise their printed Orders of the 4th February, with his Majesty's Orders in Council of the 1st of that month, relative to the importation of grain into Spain in Neutral bottoms being permitted, agreeable to the instructions therein contained, have been received, and shall be issued to the respective Captains and Commanders of the Fleet under my orders, and duly attended to, agreeably to their Lordship's direction. I am Sir, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO HIS EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT, ESQ., NAPLES. [Autograph, in the Elliot Papers.] My dear Sir, Victory, Gulf of Palma, March 27th, 1805. Your letters of January 19th, by Renown, with one from the King, and another from the Queen, I received on March 15th, when the Renown joined me off Toulon. Your others of the several dates from that time to March 1st, I received last night on my anchoring in this Bay, where I am come to clear the Transports with provisions. The Queen's letter' of "The following is one of the letters written by the Queen of Naples, at that time, to Lord Nelson; and Mr. Elliot, in transmitting it, on the 20th of January, said, January 29th I have received, but the one of February 21st is not arrived; but it will come forth when I next have the pleasure of hearing from you. The original destination of the French Fleet, I am every day more and more confirmed, was Egypt. To what other Country should they carry 5000 saddles, &c. &c., and flying artillery? The Commander of the Bomb, who was a prisoner on board the Hortensia (one of the Ships who might, but did not, take our Convoy-only six Sail being taken and destroyed) says, the Frigates had each 300 Troops, Swiss, on board. He could never learn their destination. However, they are ready for sea again, and I hope they will come forth; for, if they defer it one month from this time, they will not come forth this summer, unless the Brest Fleet comes into the Mediterranean. I shall, therefore, when I believe the danger from the Fleet is passed, take the opportunity of getting a few months rest, and return here before the next winter, which is the dangerous time for a run. Rear-Admiral Louis, who was in the Minotaur, and is known to "I expect to receive a letter from the King to you upon the same subject to-morrow morning, after the Queen's return from Caserta": "J'ai reçu, mon digne Milord, votre lettre du mois de Decembre, et je profite de l'occasion du départ du Vaisseau pour vous écrire. Je ne puis vous dire assez, mon respectable et digne Général, combien le Roi et moi nous regardons comme une vraie calamité de plus aux malheurs qui nous accablent, votre depart du Commandement de la Méditerranée. Votre cœur, votre attachement, votre bravoure, votre nom inspirent cette confiance que l'expérience a justifiée, et qui ne se remplacera jamais. Ainsi je le regarde comme un vrai malheur, et me croirois bien heureuse si cela pouvoit se changer, ou au moins être retardé. Je suis convaincue que la crise doit bientôt arriver, ou l'asservissement de toute va l'Europe, être constaté, consolidé, ou qu'il va naitre de grands évenemens. L'ambition et le bonheur effréné du Corse venant de créer son frère Joseph Roi héréditaire de la Lombardie, ou pour dire vrai de l'Italie, ceci doit éveiller de l'assoupissement tous les Souverains, ou consolider leur esclavage. C'est dans ce moment de lutte et indécision, que nos dangers étant infiniment plus grands, s'augmente le vif désir de votre permanence auprès de nous, mon digne et respectable Général et vrai ami. Considérez avec votre sagesse, et surtout avec votre cœur, les circonstances actuelles, et vous trouverez justes mes souhaits; en un mot, mon digne et respectable ami, continuez à être notre sauveur, et comptez sur l'eternelle et sincere reconnoissance de gens qui sentent et meritent de vivre dans un autre siècle que celui de la boue actuelle. Le bon attaché Elliot vous expliquera mieux nos pénibles circonstances. Je me borne à vous exprimer notre vif souhait, que vous ne nous quittiez point, et que vous soyez encore une fois notre sauveur. Je sais que le Roi, mon innocente famille, et tous les gens bien pensans font les mêmes souhaits. Puissent-ils se réaliser. Cela augmentera la reconnaissance, avec laquelle je suis, et serai pour la vie votre bien attachée et reconnoissante amie,-CHARLOTTE."-From a Copy in the Elliot Papers. their Majesties, is arrived in the room of Admiral Campbell. I observe what you are pleased to tell me may, if necessary, be your intentions.' It is too delicate a subject for me to enter into. Your experience as a Diplomatic character will duly appreciate the consequences which may attend leaving your post. If Acton had not gone, he might have stayed; but once gone, never could be suffered to return. May not that be the case with you? But I am sure I beg your pardon for intruding an opinion on a subject which you can so much [more] ably determine than I can pretend to. I write a line to their Majesties to tell them that, from October, when I got my permission to go home for a few months' rest, I had, in consequence of my belief of the French Fleet intending to put to sea, and afterwards their having come to sea, and my belief In a letter written on the 1st of March, Mr. Elliot informed Lord Nelson that, on the 14th of February, an Aide de Camp of General St. Cyr arrived from the French Army, demanding, within three days, a categorical answer to certain demands, one of which was, that the British Minister, Mr. Elliot, should be obliged to quit Naples; and threatening hostilities if they were refused. In another letter, also dated on the 1st of March, Mr. Elliot wrote to Lord Nelson: "In my preceding letter I have acquainted you with the nature of the demand, relative to me, already made to this Court by General St. Cyr, which has been withdrawn for some time, but which is likely to be soon renewed. Had the French General insisted upon the dismission of the whole of the British Mission, as well as upon my removal from Naples, this would have amounted to an absolute act of hostility on the part of this Government against Great Britain, and I could have taken no other step, than to have protested officially against any measures which his Sicilian Majesty might have adopted, in order to oblige me to quit this Court, without receiving orders from my own Sovereign. But as I understand that the extent of General St. Cyr's demand at present is, that I personally should absent myself from Naples, without otherwise breaking up the Mission, it will remain to be determined by future considerations, whether I may think it more eligible for the good of His Britannic Majesty's Service, and for the benefit of the King of Naples to remain here, or to withdraw to some other situation -as if in consequence of a leave of absence received from my own Court, naming a Chargé d'Affaires to act here as is usual in such cases. The great object hitherto recommended to my attention has been, to temporize as much as possible, in order to gain time for the arrival of the foreign auxiliaries, Russian and English, which have been so long promised to co-operate in the defence of his Sicilian Majesty's Dominions. Should, therefore, their Sicilian Majesties secretly acquaint me, that they are desirous of my departure from hence, as if upon leave of absence, upon the condition of the French consenting to remain within their present limits, I may, perhaps, in that case apply to Captain Sotheron for a passage in the Excellent, for myself and my family, to Sicily, or to any other destination which I may think more expedient."—Original, in the Elliot Papers. It may be here remarked that Mr. Elliot appears to have obtained back the whole of his letters to Lord Nelson, as they are now among the Elliot Papers. that they may this spring put to sea again, deferred my departure through all the winter months, I can solemnly declare that nothing but my most particular gratitude to their Sicilian Majesties, with a due sense of what I owe to my own character, could have induced me to remain in the Mediterranean after my leave arrived; and I believe the French Fleet will not move until my return in the Autumn, should my health permit. I leave, my dear Sir, the finest Fleet in the world, with every Officer and man attached to me: therefore, you may easily believe that nothing but absolute necessity could induce me to go home for one instant. Sir Richard Bickerton will take a most active interest in the safety of their Majesties and their Kingdoms; and I feel confident that I may very essentially serve the good Cause by my personal communications in England. Wherever I am, be assured, my dear Sir, that I shall always feel your truly kind attentions for Your son is very well. He has received three hundred dollars Prize-money, and has as much more to receive, which I have begged Captain Parker to take from him. I am ever, my dear Sir, with the sincerest regard and esteem, your Excellency's most obliged and faithful Servant, me. NELSON AND Bronte P.S.-The Jalouse is arrived, and brought me duplicates of your letters and the letter of the Queen. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, in Palma Bay, Sardinia, 27th March, 1805. I have received their Lordships' order dated the 1st ultimo, directing me, from the reasons therein mentioned, to send to England, under a proper Convoy, all such Spanish Vessels and cargoes as may have been detained by the Fleet under my command, prior to the 11th day of January, 1805, (the date of the King's Proclamation for granting reprisals against Spain) and which may be at Gibraltar, with the exception of such parts of the cargoes as it may be necessary, from their perishable state, to dispose of at that place, and for the sale of |