LETTERS. 1804-ET. 45. TO REAR-ADMIRAL SIR EDWARD PELLEW, BART.' [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 362.] May 1st, 1804. You have always, my dear Sir Edward, proved yourself so equal to command a Fleet, that it would be a sin to place you in any other situation, and my services are very nearly at an end; for, in addition to other infirmities, I am nearly blind: however, I hope to fight one more Battle. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO J. B. GIBERT, ESQ., HIS MAJESTY'S VICE-CONSUL, BARCELONA. [Autograph draught in the possession of Earl Nelson, and Letter-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 1st May, 1804. Sir, I am much obliged by your letter of the 25th ultimo, respecting the Hindostan ; but I am afraid that little of value except anchors is unburnt, and, therefore, that it would hardly answer the expense of sending for Neapolitan divers. However, if any person save any of the effects, I am perfectly ready to allow them a most liberal salvage; but, as I said before, unless it is the people who live in the Bay, and watch the opportunity of fine weather, I much doubt if it would the expenses of the undertaking. Captain Le Gros certainly pay Afterwards Admiral Viscount Exmouth, G.C.B., who had then expressed his desire to serve under Lord Nelson. * Vide vol. v. p. 503. VOL. VL. B ought to have directed his letter to you: it would have gone more regularly to the Captain-General. I can only suppose that Mr. Gayner did what he thought for the best. Captain Le Gros has spoken of his kind attention in terms of great praise. I am, Sir, with great respect, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. TO J. B. GIBERT, ESQ., HIS MAJESTY'S VICE-CONSUL, BARCELONA, [Autograph draught in the possession of Earl Nelson, and Letter Book.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 1st May, 1804. I am much obliged by your letters of the 25th and 27th ultimo. The Englishmen belonging to the Cutter have behaved very ill, in not going on board the Juno; and I desire that you will not, upon any account, forward them to Gibraltar, or pay them, after their refusal to embark, unless they are lodged in gaol, to be delivered to the first King's Ship. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN SIR WILLIAM BOLTON, H.M. SLOOP CHILDERS. [Order Book.] Victory, at Sea, 3rd May, 1803. Having received information that there are three French Privateers (two of them Brigs) who have taken their station off Tunis, for the purpose of intercepting and capturing our Trade, You are hereby required and directed to take His Majesty's Sloop named in the margin' under your command, and proceed immediately in quest of them, passing the Southwest end of Sardinia in your way; and if the weather be favourable, send a Boat into St. Pierres, in order to obtain information respecting them. Having so done, you will make the best of your way to the Island of Galita, and run close round it, where it is probable you may fall in with the said Privateers. Should you not, you will proceed inside the Cannes, passing between Plane Island and the Point of Porto Farino, to the Island of Zimbra; from which place, the French Privateers, last year, made several captures of our Ships, as mentioned in the Memorandum which accompanies this, to which, I desire you will particularly attend, in order that, if possible, these Privateers may be captured or destroyed, strictly consistent with the Neutrality of Tunis, should you fall in with them at the Island of Zimbra, or near the Rocks called the Cannes, or in fact, any way near those places without gun-shot of the Bey of Tunis' forts or batteries. Not falling in with them at either of these places, you will stand over to Pantellaria, and from thence to Maritimo, where you will make every inquiry respecting them, and also, at Trepani. In the event of your capturing these Privateers or any of them, you will proceed with them to Malta, giving particular directions that neither the Captains nor Officers of them are to be liberated on any account whatever. After having seen them in safety to Valetta Harbour, and completed your provisions and water, &c., to the usual time, (which is to be done with the utmost dispatch,) you will return and join me without loss of time on Rendezvous No. 102, where you will find me, or orders for your further proceedings; but, should you not fall in with the Privateers before-mentioned, or receive certain information respecting them at Pantellaria, Maritimo, or Trepani, you will return and join me immediately on the said Rendezvous. NELSON AND BRONTE. MEMORANDUM FOR CAPTAIN SIR WILLIAM BOLTON. [Autograph draught, in the possession of Earl Nelson, and Order-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 3rd May, 1804. In looking for these Privateers mentioned in my order of this date, I would recommend, if the wind is favourable, sending a Boat into St. Pierres, South-West end of Sardinia, for information, as last year that was their place of great resort ; but it is possible they may lay under the Isle of Vache or Toro, and keep people on the top to give them information. From St. Pierres, or Toro, I would advise making Galita, running close round it. This Island I do not consider as belonging to any State which can give it Neutrality. From thence, passing under the Cannes, and either pass between Plane Island, and the Point of Porto Farino, or outside of it, steer for the Islands of Zimbra, from which place last year one of these Captains of French Privateers made captures of our Ships passing, using the Tunisian flag, and dressing their men with turbans &c.; and on representing the capture to the Bey of Tunis, his answer was, that the Islands of Zimbra were Rocks in the sea, from which the English might look out, as well as the French, but that Prizes must not be taken within gun-shot of his Coast. It is therefore evident that the Bey did not consider the Zimbras as part of his Coast, and therefore that you may take Vessels close to Zimbra, and you may do the same close to the Rocks called Cannes, which are several miles from the shore; but you will be very careful not to infringe the Neutrality of Tunis, by making captures within cannon shot of the shore. Should you gain no information of the Privateers, you will stand over to Pantellaria, and from thence to Maritimo, inquiring at those places, and Trepani, for information; and not being able to get such information as may lead you to suppose it in your power to get at them, you will return and join me. I would recommend disguising both the Brigs from the moment of separation, and I rely upon your exertions in getting hold of these gentry; and if you do, take them to Malta, and take care the Captains and Officers of the Privateers are not liberated upon any account. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD HOBART, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE WAR DEPARTMENT. [Autograph, in the Colonial Office.] My dear Lord, Victory, May 3rd, 1804. In addition to what I have formerly said about Sardinia, I have only to add, that such is its present state, that an offer will generally be made of it to the French, if we will not take it, by treaty, or some other way; for under the present Government the Inhabitants do not wish to live. Having, in former letters, stated its immense importance, I only now presume to bring the subject forward to your Lordship's most serious consideration. The question is not, shall the King of Sardinia keep it? that is out of the question; he cannot, for any length of time. If France possesses it, Sicily is not safe an hour; and the passage to the Levant is completely blocked up. Pardon me, my Lord, for bringing this important subject again before you: but I really think that I should not do my duty to my Country if I did not. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO J. B. GIBERT, ESQ., HIS MAJESTY'S VICE-CONSUL, BARCELONA. [Letter Book.] Victory, at Sea, 3rd May, 1804. Sir, In answer to your letter of the 1st instant, I herewith enclose you a list of the late Swift Cutter's crew, received by his Majesty's Ship Juno, and Cameleon Sloop. I am happy to find that our two Countries still continue in amity, though I have very much to complain of the limited supplies of bullocks and fresh beef at Rosas, as contrary to the subsisting treaties between them, and request you will officially mention this to his Excellency, the Captain General at Barcelona. I am, with much respect, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO LADY HAMILTON. [From "Lord Nelson's Letters to Lady Hamilton," vol. ii. p. 37.] Victory, May 5th, 1804. I find, my dearest Emma, that your picture is very much admired by the French Consul at Barcelona; and that he has not sent it to be admired—which, I am sure, it would be-by Buonaparte. They pretend, that there were three pictures On the 3rd of May 1804, Lord Nelson signed an acknowledgment to have received from J. B. Gibert, Esq., his Britannic Majesty's Vice-Consul at Barcelona, by the Jano and Camelcon, Mr. Isaac Watson, Master, the Gunner, Boatswain, and fifteen Seamen, late belonging to the Swift Cutter.-Letter-Book. |