PRIVATE DIARY. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 410.] 8th June, 1805. At daylight an Advice-Boat arrived in the Fleet from Barbadoes, with letters from Captain Maurice,' giving an account of the capture of the Diamond Rock; and also that the French and Spanish Squadrons had not sailed from Martinique, but that the French Commodore had told him, that the Ferrol Squadron, consisting of six Sail of French, and eight of Spaniards, had arrived in Fort Royal, June the 4th. TO LORD SEAFORTH, GOVERNOR OF BARBADOES. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 410.] 8th June, 1805. The information from St. Lucia of the Combined Squadron having been off that Island to Windward, must have been very incorrect. I have my doubts respecting the certainty of the arrival of the Ferrol Squadron, as I have always understood that nothing could pass in or out of Fort Royal without being seen; but, my Lord, powerful as their force may be, they shall not with impunity, make any great attacks. Mine is compact, theirs must be unwieldy; and although a very pretty fiddle, I don't believe that either Gravina or Villeneuve know how to play upon it. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. 'Captain James Wilkes Maurice's account of his gallant defence of the Diamond Rock against a French Squadron of one Three-decker, four Seventy-fours, three Frigates, &c., under Rear-Admiral Missiessy, on the 20th of February 1805, will be found in the Memoir of that Officer in Marshall's Naval Biography, Supplement Part i. p. 439. He was tried by a Court-Martial, and "unanimously and most honourably acquitted" by a Sentence expressed in very eulogistic terms. It was not, however, until January 1809, that he obtained Post rank; and he subsequently distinguished himself by an equally gallant, but more successful, defence of the Island of Anholt. 2 Vide vol. i. pp. 27, 79; ii. pp. 71, 131, 299. TO CAPTAIN J. W. MAURICE. [From Marshall's "Naval Biography," Supplement, part i. p. 441.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, June 8th, 1805. I have received your letter of the 6th instant, acquainting me with the surrender of the Diamond Rock under your command on the 2nd of this month, to a Squadron of the Enemy's Ships and Gun-Boats therein mentioned, together with the terms of capitulation which accompanied your said letter. In answer to which, while I regret the loss of the Diamond, I have no doubt that every exertion has been used by yourself, and those under your command for its defence; and that its surrender has been occasioned from the circumstances you represent. It is particularly gratifying that so few lives were lost in the contest, and I have very fully to express my approbation of the terms of capitulation, as well as with your conduct personally, and that of the Officers and Men under your command, which I have to request you will be pleased to communicate to them. I am, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO SIMON TAYLOR, ESQ., JAMAICA. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 412. “June 9th. A.M. 8:45, sent a Boat on board a Schooner. Saw the Island of Grenada N.N.W. P.M. At 12-15, hove to in George's Bay, Grenada, (a breast of Fort Royal.) The Garrison saluted us with 17 guns, which we returned with the same number. At 1-30 filled.”—Victory's Log.] My dear Sir, 10th June, 1805. I was in a thousand fears for Jamaica, for that is a blow which Buonaparte would be happy to give us. I flew to the West Indies without any orders, but I think the Ministry cannot be displeased. . . . When I am satisfied that they are on their return, after sending some of the Spanish Ships to the Havanna, I shall push hard to get off the Straits' Mouth; and kind Providence, may some happy day, bless my endeavours to serve the Public weal, of which the West India Colonies form so prominent and interesting a part. I ever have been, and shall die, a firm friend to our present Colonial system. I was bred, as you know, in the good old school, and taught to appreciate the value of our West India possessions; and neither in the field, nor in the senate, shall their just rights be infringed, whilst I have an arm to fight in their defence, or a tongue to launch my voice. We are nearly, my dear Mr. Taylor, thirty years' acquaintance; and I am, as ever, your faithful and obliged friend, NELSON AND Bronte. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Autograph, in the Admiralty. "June 11th. A.M. At 6, saw the Island of Dominica, bearing East. Noon, saw the Island of Guadaloupe, bearing E. b. S. Basseterre, Guadaloupe, bears S. 21 E., eight leagues. P.M. 6.50, North end of Montserrat, E. N., distant 6 miles."-Victory's Log.] Sir, Victory, under Guadaloupe, June 11th, 1805. Having no reason to doubt the information from St. Lucia, as sent by General Brereton, sent to you in my letter of the 4th of June, the Fleet weighed early in the morning of the 5th, with Lieutenant-General Sir William Myers, and about 2000 Troops. On the 6th, at noon, we were off Tobago, from whence I learnt that an American Ship had arrived there the day before, who said that he had been boarded by one of the Ships of the French Fleet, to windward of St. Vincent; three days before; that they were standing to the Southward; and he supposed they had passed the Island the night before. In the evening, being off Sandy-Point, a Schooner to leeward made the signal established by Admiral Cochrane, that the Enemy's Fleet was at Trinidada. On the 7th, in the afternoon, we anchored in the Gulf of Paria, it being calm. At daylight, on the 8th, as we were coming out of the Gulf, I received information from Captain Maurice (late of the Diamond Rock) that he heard the Enemy were to sail on the evening of June 4th, for an attack upon Grenada and Dominica. On the 9th, at noon, we were in St. George's Bay, • Brigadier-General Robert Brereton, Commandant of St. Lucia. Lord Nelson, in another letter, calls him his "old acquaintance," he having served as a Major at the Sieges of Bastia and Calvi, (vide vol. i. pp. 399, 447; ii. p. 375.) He died a Lieutenant-General. Grenada, and received accounts from General Maitland' that all was safe at Grenada, St. Vincent's, and St. Lucia; and that on the 4th, the Enemy had not moved from Martinico, proving all our former information to be false. At 1, P. M., I received a letter from General Prevost by the Jason, Captain Champain, of which, I enclose a copy. Captain Champain also being with General Prevost, saw the Enemy's Fleet pass Prince Rupert's head on the 6th of June, consisting of eighteen Sail of the Line, six Frigates, and three Brigs and Schooners: in the evening they were under the Saints, standing to the Northward. Whether the Enemy's object is to attack Antigua, or St. Kitt's, or to return to Europe, time must show. I shall guide my movements according to the best of my judgment, for I have too [often?] unfortunately, been deceived by false intelligence. Not a moment has been lost in following them, and my final procedure shall be stated when the Vessel sails for England. I have the honour to be, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Autograph, in the Admiralty. "June 12. A.M. At 6, saw Antigua, bearing S.E. b. E., seven or eight leagues. P.M. At 7, anchored, (in St. John's, Antigua.) Squadron anchored as convenient. Out all Boats, employed sending the Artillery Men and baggage on board the Northumberland. June 13. A.M. Fort St. John's saluted us with 17 guns, which we returned with the same number. At 11:50, weighed and made sail.] Sir, Victory, June 12th, 1805, under Antigua. Yesterday afternoon the Fleet fetched under Monserrat, from which Island I only got vague and very unsatisfactory intelligence. On June the 8th they had seen sixteen Sail beating to windward under Guadaloupe. On Sunday an American came from Guadaloupe who told them the Fleet Afterwards Lieutenant-General the Honourable Sir Thomas Maitland, Governor of Malta and Lord High Commissioner in the Ionian Islands, Grand Master of the Order of St. Michael and St. George, G.C.B.: he died in January 1824. Captain William Burgundy Champain: he died a Post Captain in August 1818. 3 Afterwards Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Bart., and Commander-inChief in North America: he died in January 1816. was gone, it was supposed, against Antigua; but they did not know, nor did it seem a matter of even curiosity to the good folks of Monserrat to inquire, very particularly. If I hear nothing of the Enemy from Antigua, I shall stand for Prince Rupert's Bay and form my judgment; but, I feel, having saved these Colonies, and two hundred and upwards of sugarloaded Ships, that I must be satisfied they have bent their course for Europe before I push after them, which will be to the Straits' Mouth, when I shall leave the Command with Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton, and take their Lordships' permission to go to England, to try and repair a very shattered constitution. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. The French Fleet passed to leeward of Antigua on Saturday last, standing to the Northward. All their Troops and Stores which they took from Guadaloupe are re-landed there: therefore, I am pushing for the Anchorage at St. Johns, to land the Troops, and hope to sail in the morning after them for the Straits' Mouth. NELSON AND Bronte. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, off Antigua, 8 o'clock P.M., 12th June, 1805. Memorandum Since closing my dispatches, I have received intelligence of importance, which I have directed Captain Bettesworth' to proceed with to the Admiralty, and communicate the same to their Lordships. NELSON AND Bronte. TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ. [Autograph, in the possession of Colonel Davison.] My dear Davison, Victory, June 12th, 1805. I have only one moment to say I am going towards the Mediterranean after Gravina and Villeneuve, and hope to 4 Captain Bettesworth of Le Curieux. |