Westward, as I do not think the French will make Toro. I can tell him no more, as my movements must be very uncertain; but, I believe, the French, if they do not make Toro, will make Galita. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, NELSON AND Bronte. first equinoctial gale which should disperse the English, was to sail from Brest with twenty-one Ships, the best of this arsenal, steer for Ferrol, be joined by the French division in Port there, and the Spanish division which would be ready to sail, and then steer for Martinique, where Villeneuve would be awaiting him. After this general assemblage, which presented but few real difficulties, there would be at Martinique twelve Sail under Villeneuve, six or seven under Gravina, five under Missiessy, and twenty-one under Ganteaume, besides the Franco-Spanish Squadron of Ferrol, that is to say, about fifty to sixty Sail-an enormous force, the concentration of which had never been witnessed at any time, or on any sea. The plan was now so complete, so well-calculated, that it necessarily produced in the mind of Napoleon a rapture of hope. Even the Minister Decrès confessed that it presented the greatest chances of success. It was always possible to run out of Toulon with the (Mistral) north-west wind, as the late sortie of Villeneuve showed, The junction with Gravina at Cadiz, should Nelson be outwitted, was easy, for the English had not yet thought it necessary to blockade that Port. The Toulon Squadron, thus increased to seventeen or eighteen Sail, was almost certain to reach Martinique. Missiessy had touched there without meeting anything during his voyage, except some Merchantmen, which he captured. The most difficult point was to get out of Brest Road. But in March there was every reason to expect some equinoctial gale. Ganteaume, on arriving before Ferrol, which was only blockaded by five or six English Ships of the Line, would, on presenting himself with twentyone, put all idea of fighting out of their minds, and, without striking a blow, succeed in adding to his force the French division commanded by Admiral Gourdon, and those Spanish Vessels which were ready, and then proceed to Martinique. It could not be suspected by the English that there was any design of assembling, at a single point like Martinique, from fifty to sixty Sail of the Line at once. It was probable that their ideas would turn towards India. At all events, Ganteaume, Gourdon, Villeneuve, Gravina, and Missiessy, having once effected a junction, no English Squadron that they might meet, and numbering at most only from twelve to fifteen Sail, would venture to oppose fifty, and the return into the Channel was consequently secured. All our forces, then, were to be assembled together between the shores of England and France, at the moment when the Fleets of England would be sailing towards the East, America, or in India. Events speedily proved that this grand plan was practicable even with an inferior execution. "Every precaution was taken to preserve the most profound secrecy. The plan was not confided to the Spaniards, who had engaged to follow with docility the directions of Napoleon. Villeneuve and Ganteaume alone, of the Admirals, were to be entrusted with the secret, and they were not to have it on sailing, but when fairly at sea, and without opportunity of communicating with land. Then their sealed orders, which they were only to open on reaching a certain latitude, would instruct them what course to steer. None of the Captains of these Ships were let into the secret of the expedition; but they had certain fixed points at which to rejoin each other in case of separation. None of the Ministers were acquainted with the plan except Admiral Decrès. He was expressly instructed to correspond TO CAPTAIN DURBAN, H. M. SHIP AMBUSCADE. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 401.] 4th April, 1805. Proceed to Galita, communicate with the fishermen, and try and find out if they have seen the French Fleet. I shall lie-to all night, and drift for Galita, and I shall try to keep within Sardinia and Galita till you join. If I am led away by information, I shall endeavour to send a letter to Palma, St. Pierres, or Cagliari. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 4th April, 1805. Sir, In consequence of His Majesty's Sloop Childers not having joined the Fleet, and being desirous that the Renown and Convoy from Gibraltar should not be detained a moment, I have given a Commisson to Captain Corbet of the Bittern, to be Captain of the Amphitrite in the room of Sir William Bolton, and appointed the Purser of the Bittern also to that Frigate; I have likewise given a Commission [to Lieutenant] Louis, who I had appointed to supersede Sir William Bolton in the Childers, to be Commander of the Bittern, and appointed Mr. George Voller Oughton' (who was intended to directly with Napoleon, and to write his dispatches with his own hand. The report of an expedition to India was circulated in all the Ports. It was pretended that great numbers of Troops were embarked; in reality, the Toulon Squadron was charged to take scarcely three thousand men, and the Brest Squadron six or seven thousand. The Admirals were instructed to land half that force in the West Indies, to reinforce the garrisons there, and to bring back four or five thousand of the best soldiers, to add to the force of Boulogne. By arranging matters thus, the Fleets would not be greatly encumbered, but free and comfortable. They were all victualled for six months, so that they might remain at sea a long time without putting into Port. Couriers were despatched to Ferrol and Cadiz, bearing orders to have everything prepared for weighing, because, at any moment, the blockade might be raised by an allied Fleet, without saying which or how."-Ibid. p. 166. 9 Now a Knight of the Portuguese Order of the Tower and Sword; he was not confirmed as Purser until December 1807. supersede the Purser of the Childers) to be Purser of the Bittern; and herewith transmit you copies of the said two Commissions and Warrants, which I request you will be so good as lay before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty for their information, and move their Lordships to confirm the respective appointments. I am extremely concerned that the Childers has not joined, but trust their Lordships will approve of the arrangements I have made in consequence, and of the motives for not detaining the Renown and their public dispatches. I am, Sir, your most obedient, humble servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty, and Autograph draught, in the possession of the Reverend Henry Girdlestone.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 5th April, 1805. The French Fleet put to sea in the night of Saturday, March 30th, and on Sunday morning the 31st, at eight o'clock, they were seen by the Active and Phœbe, with a light breeze at N.E., steering S.S.W., with all sail set; their force is supposed by the Frigates to be eleven Sail of the Line, seven Frigates, and two Brigs. At eight o'clock in the evening Captain Moubray detached the Phoebe, (Cape Sicie then bearing N. b E., true bearings, twenty leagues) to join me, which she did off Toro yesterday morning April the 4th, and the Active joined at three o'clock in the afternoon. Captain Moubray, the night of the 31st ultimo, having kept his wind, with fresh breezes from the W.N.W., lost sight of the Enemy; and therefore thinks they either bore away to the Eastward, or steered S.S.W., as they were going, when first seen. From the morning of April 1st, the winds have been very variable and mostly Southerly and Easterly, till the night of the 3rd, when it set in fresh at N.W. I have placed Frigates on the Coast of Barbary, and off Toro, and am laying half-way between Galita and Sardinia; for, I am sure, if they are bound this route that they could not pass before this day. The Minister of the Marine is said to command them, and I have nothing to wish for but to meet them: the Fleet I have the honour to command is everything which I could wish in respect to health and discipline, and their Lordships may rely that nothing shall be left undone to get at them by, Sir, your most obedient, humble servant, NELSON AND Bronte. TO VISCOUNT MELVILLE. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 401.] My dear Lord, 5th April, 1805, Midway between the Coast of Barbary and Sardinia. Although I feel so far comfortable that the French Fleet is at sea, yet I must have a natural, and I hope a laudable anxiety of mind, until I have the happiness of seeing them. However, I have covered the Channel from Barbary to Toro, with Frigates and the Fleet. The French could not pass before today, if this be their route. I must leave as little as possible to chance, and I shall make sure they are to the Eastward of me, before I risk either Sardinia, Sicily, or Naples; for they may delay their time of coming even this distance, from an expectation that I shall push for Egypt, and thus leave them at liberty to act against Sardinia, Sicily, or Naples. I have taken everything into my most serious consideration; and although I may err in my judgment, yet your Lordship may rely, that I will do what I think is best for the honour of my King and Country, and for the protection of his Majesty's Allies. I will not say more. I am, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO EARL CAMDEN, K.G. [Original, in the Colonial Office. "April 5th. A.M. A Turkish Corvette came into the Squadron and saluted with fifteen guns, which we returned with an equal number. Amazon rejoined with three Transports. Bittern, Phoebe, and Moncheron joined. P.M. Moucheron parted.-Victory's Log.] My Lord, Victory, April 5th, 1805. Was the letter from the Grand Vizir only flattering to me, I should, perhaps, not send it; but it conveys such sentiments of gratitude to our Sovereign, that I feel I ought not to withhold it. I therefore inclose the translation sent from Con stantinople, which I hope your Lordship will approve. I have, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE GRAND VIZIR. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 401. After assuring the Grand Vizir of his inviolable attachment to the Sublime Porte, and to his Imperial Majesty; and that in having recently pursued the Common Enemy to the Morea and Egypt, believing that to have been their destination, he had only obeyed the orders of his Sovereign, he added:] 5th April, 1805. No particular merit is, I feel, due to an Officer for the performance of his duty. I think it is very possible that their destination may be either to the Morea or Egypt. I have placed his Majesty's Fleet in the narrow part between Sardinia and the Coast of Africa, therefore it is scarcely possible for them to pass without my seeing them, or receiving accounts from the Frigates. I have only to hope that God Almighty will deliver them into my hands, and give his blessing to my endeavours to serve the Public cause. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE.' TO COMMISSIONER OTWAY, GIBRALTAR. [Autograph, in the possession of Rear-Admiral Inglefield, C.B.] Sir, Victory, 6 A.M., 6th April, 1805. The French Fleet sailed from Toulon on Monday [Sunday] morning, March the 31st, at eight o'clock. When first seen, Cape Sicie, bearing North by East ten leagues, the wind at North East, light breezes. They were steering with their steering-sails set, S.S.W. At sunset, when Phoebe left them, their heads were to the South West, Cape Sicie N. b E., true, twenty leagues. In the evening, the wind came fresh from the W.N.W. The Active stood upon a wind to the S.W. all Statement of the two Fleets, as sent by Lord Nelson to Mr. Stratton, Minister at Constantinople. French Fleet: Eleven Sail of the Line, seven Frigates, two Brigs. English Fleet: Eleven Sail of the Line, four Frigates, two Corvettes. |