night, and at daylight on Monday morning did not see them. Monday and Tuesday, was with the Frigates, light breezes Southerly and Easterly. On Thursday morning, Phœbe joined me off Toro, with fresh breezes N.W. At 3 P.M., the Active joined. On Friday, it was fresh breezes Northerly-to-day, calm. I have two Frigates on the Barbary Coast; have sent one off the Straits of Bonifaccio, on the East side of Sardinia; and am myself, till to-morrow, stationary, between Sardinia and Galita, when I shall stand to cover Naples and Sicily. You will, my dear Sir, readily conceive my anxiety at this moment; but I ever am your most obliged and faithful servant, NELSON AND Bronte. TO SIR ALEXANDER JOHN BALL, BART., MALTA. [Autograph, in the possession of Sir William Keith Ball, Bart.] Victory, April 6th, 1805. My dear Ball, As Admiral Murray tells me that one of our Transports will be clear to-night, I shall let her take her chance of getting safely to Malta. The Cartel from Barcelona would have informed you of the French Fleets being at sea, and that Moubray lost sight of them on Sunday night. I shall repeat their position from the accounts of Capel and Moubray on the other side. I am, in truth, half dead; but what man can. do to find them out, shall be done; but I must not make more haste than good speed, and leave Sardinia, Sicily, or Naples for them to take, should I go either to the Eastward or Westward, without knowing something more about them. Ambuscade has been sent to Galita; Active, to the Coast of Africa; and, last night, I sent Moucheron to cruize between Galita and the shore, and to go to Tunis for information; Seahorse and Ætna are off Toro; Hydra is gone along the East side of Corsica, to find out if they passed through the Straits of Bonifaccio; Ambuscade is now in sight, but not having any signal flying, of course has seen nothing; Amazon will go to Naples the moment Active joins, which I expect will be to-night or to-morrow morning; and if I still get no information, Phoebe will go off St. Sebastians, to speak my look-out Ship there, and try to find out where they are; .... [?] to examine Toulon. I shall take a position off Ustica, ready to communicate with the Vessels which will join me; and by this position, to be ready to push for Naples, should they be gone there, or to protect Sicily. I am very uneasy and unwell; therefore, I cannot write more. God bless you, my dear Ball, and believe me ever, most faithfully, your obliged friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. The French Fleet put to sea from Toulon on Sunday morning, the 31st of March. At ten o'clock, they were seen at Cape Sicie, bearing N. b E. ten leagues, the wind at N.E., and they steering with their larboard steering-sails set S.S.W. Light breezes. At noon, the wind came to the N.N.W., and they hauled to the Westward, as wishing not to let our Frigates near them. At sunset, Cape Sicie bore N. b E., true, twenty leagues. It came to blow fresh at W.N.W. Phoebe steered for Toro. Next day, Tuesday, and Wednesday, she had little winds Southerly and Easterly, and rain till Wednesday night, when it blew fresh at N.W. On Thursday morning, she joined me off Toro. At 3 P.M., the Active joined, having kept his wind to the S.W. all Sunday night, and seen nothing of the Enemy. Captain Mundy thinks they must have bore away to the Southward or Eastward. 5 P.M.-The Ambuscade is not in sight, which rather surprises me, as we are only five leagues from Galita. Can the French have chased her to the Eastward? TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ. [Autograph, in the possession of Colonel Davison.] My dear Davison, Victory, April 6th, 1805. I have desired Captain Conn' to call upon you. He will tell you of all my present anxiety. I can neither eat, drink, or sleep. It cannot last long what I feel; but I am ever, my dear Davison, faithfully yours, NELSON AND BRONTE. You will tell Captain Conn, who is a most worthy man, whether Lady Hamilton is in Town, or at Merton, as he has a letter for her. 1 He was superseded in the command of the Canopus, when she became the Flag-Ship of Rear-Admiral Louis, by Captain Austen. TO CAPTAIN MUNDY, H. M. SHIP HYDRA. [From the "Naval Chronicle," vol. xxxix. p. 11.] Victory, April 6th, 1805. Sir, Proceed as expeditiously as possible along the Coast of Sardinia, and off the Madalena Islands, but do not go into the harbour or anchor; and send your Boat on shore to the Town of Madalena, to inquire if the Governor has seen or heard of the French Fleet having passed the Straits of Bonifaccio. You will then join me off Palermo, which is my next Rendezvous. After leaving Sardinia, should you see the Termagant or Childers, you will direct them to join me. As this is a service of great importance, I rely upon your exertions to execute it. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO HIS EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT, ESQ., NAPLES. My dear Sir, [Autograph, in the Elliot Papers.] Victory, South End of Sardinia, April 7th, 1805. I send you a copy of my letter to the Commissioner at Gibraltar; therefore, you will know all that I do of the French Fleet. I am most unlucky, that my Frigates should lose sight of them; but it is in vain to be angry, or repine: therefore, I must do the best I can. I am this moment bearing up to go off Palermo, and shall wait most anxiously the return of the Amazon. I must be guided in my further movements by such information as I may be able to obtain; but I shall neither go to the Eastward of Sicily, or to the Westward of Sardinia, until I know something positive. I am uneasy enough; but I must bear it as well as I can. You must forgive a short letter; for I have nothing worth relating. I am ever, my dear Sir, your Excellency's most faithful and obedient TO CAPTAIN SOTHERON, H. M. SHIP EXCELLENT, NAPLES. My dear Sir, [From a Copy in the Elliot Papers.] Victory, South End of Sardinia, April 7th, 1805. Don't keep Amazon one moment longer than my orders to Captain Parker; and if Termagant is still at Naples, send her to me; for I want all the Vessels I have under my command to send for information. I am entirely adrift by my Frigates losing sight of the French Fleet so soon after their coming out of Port. I am ever, my dear Sir, most faithfully yours, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO SIR ALEXANDER JOHN BALL, BART., MALTA. [Autograph, in the possession of Sir William Keith Ball, Bart.] Victory, April 10th, 1805, off Palermo. My dear Ball, I am most unfortunate, not having yet heard a word respecting the French Fleet; every Frigate is out upon the search, and I shall now stand towards Madalena and Cape Corse. I can hardly suppose that any Expedition would be sent to this Country, without my having some intimation, and I have not the most distant idea of such a thing.' If they are sent, they will be taken, for the French know everything which passes in England. However, I can do no more than I have done, for I am sorely vexed at the ignorance in which I am kept. 7, A.M.-Hallowell is just arrived from Palermo. He brings accounts that the great Expedition is sailed, and that seven Russian Sail of the Line are expected in the Mediterranean; therefore I may suppose the French Fleet are bound to the Westward. I must do my best. God bless you. I am very, very miserable, but ever, my dear God bless Ball, [sic.] 1 Vide pp. 406, 418, post. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. .... · 4 [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 11th April, 1805. I am extremely concerned to acquaint you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that Lieutenant ...., (son to that excellent and respectable Officer Captain. ,) from an unfortunate desire to travel, and perhaps an imprudent attachment to an Italian female, quitted the Hydra when she was last at Malta, without, I fear, the smallest inclination of ever returning to his duty in that Ship. I have, in consequence, removed the Honourable Lieutenant Waldegrave, of the Victory, into the Hydra, and appointed Mr. William Ram,' of the Spencer, in his room, a copy of which is herewith transmitted for their Lordships' approbation; and also a copy of a Commission which I have given to Mr. George Scott, a former Admiralty recommendation, and also of Admiral Lord Keith's, to be Lieutenant of the Childers, in the room of the Honourable Lieutenant Maitland,' ordered to England by their Lordships, which you will be so good as lay before them for confirmation; and I must beg that you will interest their Lordships in favour of this unfortunate young Officer, Lieutenant....., whose youthful imprudence I trust their Lordships will take into consideration, and, on account of his worthy and respectable father, Captain . . . . ., allow his name to remain on the list of Lieutenants. Their Lordships will readily conceive the feelings of Captain . . . . ., and, I hope, enter into my wishes on this occasion. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. Now Rear-Admiral Lord Radstock, C.B. Lieutenant William Ram was killed in the Victory, at Trafalgar. Promoted to the rank of Commander, in 1812, for his gallantry while Senior Lieutenant of the Phoebe in action with an Enemy's Squadron off Madagascar, and made a Post Captain in February 1830. Now Rear-Admiral the Honourable Sir Anthony Maitland, K.C.M.G., and C.B. Lord Nelson's intercession was successful. The Officer alluded to was, many years afterwards, promoted, and is still living. |