taken. I wish I had them; but they are all gone, as irretrievably as the dispatches-unless we may read them in a book, as we printed their correspondence from Egypt. But, from us, what can they find out? That I love you most dearly; and hate the French most damnably. Dr. Scott went to Barcelona, to try to get the private letters; but, I fancy, they are all gone to Paris. The Swedish and American Consuls told him, that the French Consul had your picture, and read your letters; and, the Doctor thinks, one of them probably read the letters. By the Master's account of the Cutter, I would not have trusted a pair of old shoes in her. He tells me, she did not sail, but was a good Sea-boat. I hope, Mr. Marsden will not trust any more of my private letters in such a conveyance; if they choose to trust the affairs of the Public in such a thing, I cannot help it. I long for the Invasion being over; it must finish the War, and I have no fears for the event. . . . . TO CAPTAIN CRACRAFT, H.M. SHIP ANSON. [Order-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 6th May, 1804. Whereas, it has been represented to me that the Private Marine named in the margin, had for some particular reasons entered into the service by that name, but is, in reality, a young man of genteel family, with good expectations, and his discharge having at the same time been solicited, you are hereby required and directed to discharge the said Charles Taylor from his Majesty's Ship under your command, into the first Ship of War going to England, directing the Commander of such Ship to state to the Admiralty the particulars of his case, in order that their Lordships may grant him his discharge from the Service, in such manner as may appear to them proper. NELSON AND BRONTE. Vide vol. v. p. 503, note 4. TO CAPTAIN MOUBRAY, H.M. SHIP ACTIVE. [Order-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 10th May, 1804. 6 Whereas, it is my intention to proceed immediately with the Squadron to the Madalena Islands, for the purpose of completing the wood and water of the different Ships, and procuring the necessary refreshments for their Companies, which will not detain me more than five or six days at that anchorage; You are, therefore, hereby required and directed to take his Majesty's Ships named in the margin under your command, and remain on Rendezvous No. 102, for the purpose of watching the Enemy's motions at Toulon, and acquainting any of his Majesty's Ships or Vessels in search of the Squadron where I am gone to. You will take an early opportunity of reconnoitring the Enemy's force at the above mentioned place, and as they are occasionally in the habit of sending out two or three of their Frigates, (sometimes under cover of a Ship of the Line), you will perform this service with proper caution, so as to enable you to ascertain their real situation, without the risk of being captured. And as it will be desirable for me to know the Enemy's motions, you will on the first examination of Toulon, after my leaving you, send a Frigate to Madalena with an account thereof, and continue frequently with the rest of your Ships to reconnoitre them, during my absence as above mentioned; taking particular care that some Vessel of War is left upon Rendezvous No. 102, in order to acquaint anything in search of the Fleet where it is gone to, calculating from the time I leave you, when the Squadron may be able to gain the anchorage at Madalena, and bearing in mind that it will only remain there five or six days for the purpose before mentioned; and afterwards, if the wind is from the Eastward, the Squadron will proceed on the West side of Corsica, but if from the Westward on the East side of that Island, to Rendezvous No. 102, where you will keep a good look-out for my return, in order that I may be joined by the Frigates the moment I arrive on the said Rendezvous. Should the Enemy in the meantime Active, Seahorse, Phoebe, Amazon. put to sea, you will be governed in communicating an account thereof to me, from the circumstances above stated, sending a Vessel on the East and West side of Corsica to fall in with me, in case the Squadron should have left the Madalena Islands, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 10th May, 1804. Sir, I have received your letter of the 4th ultimo, with a copy of the letter therein mentioned, which has been written by the Secretary of State to Sir Alexander Ball, respecting the appropriation of the Palace of Bugia for the service of a Naval Hospital; and you will please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that I have sent Doctor Snipe to Malta to consult with Sir Alexander Ball, and to assist in forming an estimate of the expense attending the same for Lord Hobart's information. You will, at the same tine, acquaint their Lordships, that the additional building to the said Palace mentioned by Doctor Snipe is absolutely necessary, for the convenience and comfort of a Naval Hospital, and that a certain space of ground attached to the said building is also indispensably necessary for a garden, a place for the convalescent Seamen and Marincs to enjoy a little exercise and fresh air. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 10th May, 1804. Sir, I have received your letter of the 16th March, together with a copy of the one therein mentioned from the Secretary to the Board of Ordnance, respecting the negotiation for arms at Vienna having failed, and signifying their Lordships' direc tion to me to recall the Ships named in the margin' from the Adriatic; In answer thereto, you will please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that the Monmouth proceeded direct for England, and that I have ordered the Agincourt, after receiving her guns at Gibraltar, and escorting the Argo and such Trade as may be under her protection, twenty or twenty-five leagues to the Westward of Cadiz, to return to Malta (calling in her way at Gibraltar for any Vessels which may be desirous of proceeding with her to Valetta Harbour) for the purpose of being joined by the Thisbe, and convoying our Trade from the Archipelago and Adriatic to England. I am, Sir, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE PRINCIPAL OFFICERS AND COMMISSIONERS OF HIS MAJESTY'S NAVY, LONDON. [Letter-Book.] Victory, at Sen, 10th May, 1804. Gentlemen, I have received your letter of the 14th February last, acquainting me that his Majesty's Store-ship Diligent is ordered to be loaded at Woolwich with stores for Gibraltar. As my letters of the 10th January last have reached your Board, as acknowledged by yours of the 6th March, I must request that you will reply to my letter under the first-mentioned date, inclosing a copy of one from Commissioner Otway, together with Vouchers for caulking his Majesty's Ship Victory, as therein set forth, in order that the Carpenter of the said Ship, and people employed on the occasion, may be satisfied that the discontinuing this necessary remuneration (should such be the case) for their extra labour, does not remain with me. It is to be lamented that the Carpenters and their Crews are not apprised of any circumstance of this nature, to prevent murmur or discontent amongst them. I am, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. Moumouth, Agincourt. Vide vol. v. p. 358. a TO CAPTAIN GORE, H. M. SHIP MEDUSA. [Letter-Book. Friday, 11th May, 1804. "At 10 A.M., shortened sail, and came to [in the Madalena Islands.] Superb, Triumph, Leviathan, Niger, and the Bombs with their Tenders, anchored here. Royal Sovereign, Canopus, Belleisle, and Donegal anchored in the Eastern Bay; Renown and Excellent in the Western Bay."-Victory's Log.] Sir, Victory, Madalena Islands, 12th May, 1804. I have received your letter of the 20th ultimo, and copies of the ones therein-mentioned, addressed to the Captains of the Orpheus and Amphion, which, from the reasons stated in your said letter, I very much approve of. I am sorry to find that the main-keel of the Medusa is so much injured, and hope an opportunity may soon offer for heaving down that Ship, and effectually repairing the damages she has sustained. It is rather unfortunate that the Maidstone should at this time have sprung her foremast and bowsprit; but I am satisfied that every exertion will be used in making good her defects, after the Halcyon is ready for sea. You have done perfectly right in anchoring the Maidstone off the Mole-Head: her apparent readiness for sea may check the Privateers from any depredation on our Trade. I must request, the moment the Halcyon is ready for service, that you will keep Captain Pearse on the alert, as I am sorry to observe that the Service has not derived that benefit from her which might have been expected from so fine a Vessel. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO CAPTAIN GORE, H. M. SHIP MEDUSA. [Letter-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 12th May, 1804. I have received your letter of the 12th ultimo, acquainting me with the loss of the Apollo, and Merchant-vessels therein mentioned, on the Coast of Spain. I approve of the order you have given Captain Pearse to proceed to Gibraltar for In a subsequent Toffer, Lord Nelson said he was mistaken on this point, and expressed himself ed with Captain Pearse's exertions. Vide p. 137, post. |