TO HIS EXCELLENCY SIR JOHN ACTON, BART. [From a Press-copy in the possession of the Right Hon. John Wilson Croker.] My dear Sir John, Victory, Gibraltar Bay, July 21st, 1805. I arrived here [the day before] yesterday, and shall sail tomorrow morning; for having got not even a drop of water in the West Indies, we had nothing in the Fleet. I may, if it is possible, be yet ahead of the Enemy; but I almost despair of their coming this road. I know scarcely anything of what is passing up the Mediterranean; for I have seen neither the Admiral from Carthagena or Cadiz, who have between them all the letters; but public rumour says here, that Buonaparte has threatened Naples with his vengeance. I hope the Allies of our good Sovereign will not any longer be deterred from acting an honourable and vigorous part. When the destination of the Enemy's Fleet is fixed, I shall proceed to England, to try and recruit myself; and nothing shall be wanting on my part there to be useful to the Two Sicilies. I am ever, my dear Sir John, your Excellency's most obliged and faithful servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO SIR ALEXANDER JOHN BALL, BART., MALTA. [From a Press-copy in the possession of the Right Hon. John Wilson Croker.] Victory, Gibraltar, July 21st, 1805. My dear Ball, I arrived here before the Martin, (on Friday.) I have little to add to my letter by her, having heard nothing of the Enemy's Fleet; but it is possible I may be ahead of them, for I have carried every rag, night and day. We have lost neither Officer or man by sickness since we left the Mediterranean. The Enemy's Squadrons have been very sickly. I shall sail at daylight for outside the Straits, to try and meet, or be ready to pack after, them, if they are gone to the Bay, which many think, and that Ireland is the great object. I hear the Admiralty—indeed, I have seen it-have ordered all your Sloops of War from the service of Malta. I am all astonishment, and shall send them up again. I fancy the folks at home have lost their recollection. God bless you, my dear Ball, and believe me ever your most attached friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF NAPLES. [From a Press-copy in the possession of the Right Hon. John Wilson Croker.] Victory, Gibraltar, July 21st, 1805. Madame, I was only nine days in my tour round the West India Leeward Island; therefore, I had not an opportunity of getting any of the produce of those Islands, which might be acceptable, except a few tamarinds, and a little preserved ginger, which I beg your Majesty to accept from your faithful Nelson. The Fleet having received not the smallest refreshment, or even a cup of water in the West Indies, I have been obliged to put in here for a few hours; but I sail to-morrow, and it is still possible I may be sure of [a line is illegible.] I rather think most of the Spanish Ships are gone to the Havannah. Both French and Spaniards are dreadfully sickly. They landed 1000 sick when they arrived at Martinico, and buried full that number during their stay. The Fleet under my command, thank God, has lost neither Officer or Man by sickness since I left the Mediterranean. When I think of the situation of my benefactors, and their Kingdoms, I shudder; but God is good, and he may do much by driving a spirit of firmness into the councils of many of the Sovereigns of Europe. Your Majesty will readily perceive that I mean more than I choose to commit to paper. I write Mr. Elliot a line; but as I have seen none of the Admirals since my arrival here-one being off Cadiz, and the other off Carthagena-I know nothing but from public rumour. I shall only assure your Majesty that I am, as I have ever been, and shall be, your and the King's most devoted, grateful, and attached, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO REAR-ADMIRAL SIR RICHARD BICKERTON, BART. [From a Press-copy in the possession of the Right Hon. John Wilson Croker.] My dear Sir Richard, Victory, July 21st, 1805. If the orders of the Admiralty force you to remain off Carthagena, with all your Squadron, and that the Queen cannot be spared from that service, then I must desire (as I am ignorant of what orders the Admiralty have given since my departure) that you will proceed and join me in the Amphion, calling at Gibraltar for any orders I may have left with either Admiral Knight, or the Commissioner. And as it is of the greatest consequence that they should be acquainted at Naples and Malta of my return into the Mediterranean, you will send some Ship with my letters for Naples, Sicily, and Malta. I am ever, my dear Sir Richard, your most faithful servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO REAR-ADMIRAL SIR RICHARD BICKERTON, BART. [From a Press-copy in the possession of the Right Hon. John Wilson Croker.] Victory, July 21st, 1805. My dear Sir Richard, I would have you turn in your mind the probability of falling in with me, should you come outside the Straits after me. I intend, in case I cannot get to Tetuan to-morrow, to get clear of the Gut, and join Collingwood. From thence, probably, I shall go to, or towards Lagos Bay, until I think all chance is past of the Enemy's Fleet coming towards the Mediterranean, when, if I hear nothing from Lisbon or Ferrol of the arrival of the Enemy's Fleet in the Bay, I shall, if I cannot water at Lagos, come to Tetuan Bay. I wish to see you, that I may arrange a proper force for the service of the Mediterranean, when I go off, unless Collingwood is, in that case, to take the command. I am surprised at the orders for drawing all our Sloops from Malta. The Island must starve, besides the other distresses which the Army and Island must suffer. I shall make VOL VL I I L arrangements for all these services, and the Admiralty may censure me if they please. I am ever, my dear Sir Richard, with the greatest regard, your most faithful friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO REAR-ADMIRAL KNIGHT, GIBRALTAR. [From a Press-copy in the possession of the Right Hon. John Wilson Croker.] Victory, July 21st, 1805. My dear Admiral, When the Pickle is refitted send her to me, if in Tetuan Bay if I am out of the Mediterranean, send her to Admiral Collingwood. You will, of course, signify to the Governor, that she will proceed to England, and receive the mails and dispatches. Admiral Cornwallis certainly commands the Fleet, and they say Nugent is First Captain; but this I cannot believe. I see, in an Admiralty Order to Collingwood, that you are to hoist your Flag in a Frigate; but all these matters I shall fully and clearly arrange, and I hope to your satisfaction, and the good of the Public Service. I am, my dear Admiral, your faithful servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. As the Pickle goes home, the Prévoyante need not wait for my letters. TO CAPTAIN KEATS, H. M. SHIP SUPERB. [From a Copy.] Victory, July 21st, 1805. The Superb will be the first Line-of-Battle Ship, which proceeds to England; but that may not take place for one month, and it may take place in a few days: therefore, if the Merchants choose to send money to the Superb under these circumstances, they will be acquainted with all that may happen. NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, in Gibraltar Bay, July 21st, 1805. I herewith transmit you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a copy of an Acting-Order, which I have given to Mr. John Chrystie,3 Midshipman of the Victory, to act as Lieutenant of his Majesty's Ship Guerrier, in the room of Lieutenant William Tiller,' invalided. Mr. Chrystie is an Admiralty recommendation, and received a severe wound in his left cheek in an Action between the Anson and La Loire,' by having a musket-ball shot through it. He is also a very deserving young man. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN BAYNTUN, H. M. SHIP LEVIATHAN. [From a Press copy in the possession of the Right Hon. John Wilson Croker.] Sir, Victory, July 21st, 1805. If the Fleet cannot water at Tetuan, I would have you go off Tetuan, take the Amazon under your orders, and receive all the bullocks and refreshments which Mr. Ford may have procured for us, and join me off Cadiz. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. 3 Mr. John Chrystie. His Commission was dated on the 27th of December, 1805, and he died a Lieutenant about 1834. He died a Lieutenant in 1814. On the 18th of October, 1798, the Anson of 44 guns, Captain Philip Charles Durham, in company with the Kangaroo Sloop, off the Coast of Ireland, captured La Loire of 46 guns. The Anson had two Seamen killed, a Lieutenant of Marines, and two Marines; nine Seamen, and two Marines wounded.-London Gazette, 30th October, 1798. It is remarkable that Mr. Chrystie's name is not among the wounded; but he may have been wounded in the Action of the 12th, between Sir John Borlase's Squadron and that of Commodore Bompard, when the Anson and La Loire were engaged. |