to the limitation of your Squadron between Toro and Maritimo, I only mention it as the most likely place to fall in with any Expedition which the Enemy may attempt against those places from Toulon, but must leave this important trust to your judgment, and to act as from certain circumstances of information you shall judge best, to prevent their effecting a landing at Sardinia, Sicily, or Egypt. As the Anson and Convoy are ordered to proceed to England, I have strengthened it with the Hydra as far as Carthagena, and then to return and join you; but must desire that you will cruize off Toro or Maritimo, for the purpose of falling in with it, and affording Captain Cracraft such further protection as he, from circumstances of information, shall judge necessary. I have ordered the Etna to proceed to Naples with my dispatches, and desire the moment you join her that you will send her away with them, and write Mr. Elliot and Captain Sotheron, who will give you all the information relative to the Enemy's intentions, which they may be in possession of. As the Thunder will be in want of provisions you will send her to Malta, and by that opportunity, or any other that may offer, you will communicate with Sir Alexander Ball, requesting him to furnish you, from time to time, with such information of the Enemy as he may obtain, sending it to Palma, where you will constantly leave a letter for any of his Majesty's Ships calling there, [stating] where you are to be found, in case the Enemy's movements with Troops should induce you to quit that Station. I have only to add, that the frustrating the Enemy's intentions in their attempt to invade either Sardinia, Sicily, or Egypt, is an object of the highest importance, and therefore deserves your utmost vigilance to prevent it. I am satisfied with your zeal for his Majesty's Service, and therefore shall only say, that there never was a greater occasion for your exertions than at this most important moment. The instant I have obtained information of the Enemy, I shall send you an account thereof: at any rate a Vessel will be dispatched to you from Gibraltar. You will send orders to the Juno by the first opportunity going to Malta, to join you the moment Captain Richardson returns from Constantinople. The Victuallers and Coal-ships brought from Gibraltar to Rendezvous No. 97, by the Fisgard, are ordered to St. Vieves. [?] You will therefore send them to Malta by the Thunder or Ætna, when she returns from Naples. They are to remain in Valetta Harbour for further orders. NELSON AND Bronte. N.B.-A copy of the above Order was delivered to RearAdmiral Sir R. Bickerton. TO SIR ALEXANDER JOHN BALL, BART., MALTA. [Autograph, in the possession of John Darlington, Esq.] Victory, April 19th [1805], 10 leagues, West. [West from Toro.] My dear Ball, My good fortune seems flown away. I cannot get a fair wind, or even a side wind. Dead foul!-dead foul! But my mind is fully made up what to do when I leave the Straits, supposing there is no certain information of the Enemy's destination. The Officer who commands the Prize sent from Gibraltar will tell you all the news. I believe this ill luck will go near to kill me; but as these are times for exertions, I must not be cast down, whatever I feel. Ever, my dear Ball, yours faithfully, NELSON AND Bronte. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, April 19th, 1805. Sir, Should their Lordships think it right to return any of this Fleet to the Mediterranean, or other place abroad, I beg leave to point out those Ships which want nothing from England: Victory, Spencer, Leviathan, Tigre, Conqueror, Swiftsure. If the Service presses, the other Ships, except the Superb, who must be docked, could stay out the summer months, but want coppering, more particularly the Royal Sovereign, who has been six years coppered. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO COMMISSIONER OTWAY, GIBRALTAR. [Autograph, in the possession of Rear-Admiral Inglefield, C.B.] My dear Sir, Victory, April 19th, 1805. You will guess at my uneasiness at not having met the French Fleet; but I could not quit my charge of Egypt, Morea, Sicily, Naples, and Sardinia, until I was sure that the Enemy were gone to the Westward; for any of these Countries would have been lost for ever if the French had twenty-four hours' start of me. We have been nine days coming sixtyfive leagues. We have had nothing but gales of Westerly winds. I now hope that you will soon see us pass the Rock. I am ever, my dear Sir, with the greatest esteem, your much obliged friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Autograph, in the Admiralty.] Victory, April 19th, 1805; 10 leagues West from Toro. Wind N.W. The Enemy's Fleet having so very long ago passed the Straits, and formed a junction with some Spanish Ships from Cadiz, I think it my duty, which must be satisfactory to their Lordships, to know exactly my intentions. I have detached the Amazon to Lisbon for information, and I am proceeding off Cape St. Vincent as expeditiously as possible; and I hope the Amazon will join me there, or that I shall obtain some positive information of the destination of the Enemy. The circumstance of their having taken the Spanish Ships which were for sea, from Cadiz, satisfies my mind that they are not bound to the West Indies, (nor probably the Brazils ;) but intend forming a junction with the Squadron at Ferrol, and pushing direct for Ireland or Brest, as I believe the French have Troops on board; therefore, if I receive no intelligence to do away my present belief, I shall proceed from Cape St. Vincent, and take my position fifty leagues West from Scilly, approaching that Island slowly, that I may not miss any Vessels sent in search of the Squadron with orders. My reason for this position is, that it is equally easy to get to either the Fleet off Brest, or to go to Ireland, should the Fleet be wanted at either station. I trust this plan will meet their Lordships' approbation; and I have the pleasure to say, that I shall bring with me eleven' as fine Ships of War, as ably commanded, and in as perfect order, and in health, as ever went to sea. I have the honour, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. I shall send to both Ireland and the Channel Fleet, an extract of this letter, acquainting the Commander-in-Chief where to find me. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 19th April, 1805. Sir, The black General and Servant, named in the margin,' having been sent from St. Domingo by the French, early in 1803, and captured in the Ambuscade by the Victory in June following, on her passage to this Country, I request you will be pleased to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that the said black General volunteered to serve with me during my stay in the Mediterranean, or till I should have an Action with the Enemy, when I promised him his discharge. I have, in consequence, ordered him and his Servant to be discharged from the Victory, and sent to England in the first The Squadron, on the 19th of April, consisted of the Victory, 110 guns, ViceAdmiral Lord Nelson, Rear-Admiral George Murray, Captain of the Fleet, and Captain Thomas Masterman Hardy; Royal Sovereign, 100, Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton, Bart., Captain John Stuart; Canopus, 80, Rear-Admiral Thomas Louis, Captain Austen; Spencer, 74, Captain the Honourable Robert Stopford; Leviathan, 74, Captain William Bayntun; Tigre, 80, Captain Benjamin Hallowell; Donegal, 74, Captain Pulteney Malcolm; Conqueror, 74, Captain Israel Pellew; Superb, 74, Captain Richard Goodwin Keats; Belleisle, 74, Captain William Hargood; and Swiftsure, 74; and the Active, Amazon, and Decade, Frigates. Camel, Store-Ship; and Childers and Ariel, Sloops. 3 Joseph Chrétien, General; Petit Désiré, servant. Ship of War leaving the Fleet, and directed Captain Hardy to give them the proper and usual Pay-Tickets, to enable them to receive the wages due to them for the Victory. You will, therefore, be so good as move their Lordships to order the said General and Servant to be paid the wages due to them for the Victory, and such Ship as they may be sent on board of to England; and also to direct their being received on board any Ship at the Port they may arrive, until an opportunity offers, in any King's Ship, for their going to Jamaica or St. Domingo, when their Lordships will be pleased to order them a passage in such Ship. The particular attention shown the said General may have a good effect, and hereafter be of great advantage, in case of disturbances at Jamaica, or any other of our West India Islands. At any rate, it is but justice that he should receive his wages; and their Lordships will see the further propriety of granting him and his Servant a passage to St. Domingo or Jamaica. He is a very good orderly man, and has done his duty as a Seaman on board the Victory with great attention. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO ADMIRAL LORD GARDNER, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, IRELAND. [Autograph, in the possession of Mr. Empson.] My dear Lord, Victory, April 19th, 1805. If the Toulon Fleet, with that of Cadiz, is gone your road, the Ships under my command may be no unacceptable sight. If you do not want our help, tell us to go back again. I feel vexed at their slipping out of the Mediterranean, as I had marked them for my own game. However, I hope, my dear Lord, that now you will annihilate them, instead of, my dear Lord, your most faithful, humble servant, Nelson and Bronte. |