it from being annoyed by the Enemy's Gun-boats; and also, as a most essential advantage to his Majesty's Service, that the most perfect harmony and good understanding is preserved between you and the Governor, that a mutual and cordial co-operation may at all times take place for the defence of the Garrison. I must also desire that you transmit a copy of this order as early as possible to Vice-Admiral Collingwood, and to Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton, for their information. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ. [Antograph, in the possession of Colonel Davison.] My dear Davison, Victory, July 24th, 1805. As all my letters have been sent to England, I know nothing of what is passing; but I hope very, very soon to take you by the hand. I am as miserable as you can conceive. But for General Brereton's damned information, Nelson would have been, living or dead, the greatest man in his Profession that England ever saw. Now, alas! I am nothing-perhaps shall incur censure for misfortunes which may happen, and have happened. When I follow my own head, I am, in general, much more correct in my judgment, than following the opinion of others. I resisted the opinion of General Brereton's information till it would have been the height of presumption to have carried my disbelief further. I could not, in the face of Generals and Admirals, go N.W., when it was apparently clear that the Enemy had gone South. But I am miserable. I now long to hear that they are arrived in some Port in the Bay; for until they are arrived somewhere, I can do nothing but fret. Then I shall proceed to England. I can say nothing, or think of anything, but the loss my Country has sustained by General Brereton's unfortunate, ill-timed, false information. God bless you; and believe me ever, my dear Davison, your most faithful and affectionate friend, NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN PARKER, H. M. SHIP AMAZON. [From a Copy, in the Nelson Papers. "25th July. A.M. 3:30, hove to, and spoke H.M. Ship Termagant."-Victory's Log.]* My dear Parker, Victory, July 25th, 1805. Make haste and join me. If all places fail, you will find me at Spithead. Yours most truly, NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN PARKER, H. M. SHIP AMAZON. [From a Copy in the Admiralty.] Victory, off Cadiz, 25th July, 1804. Having received information that the Combined Fleet was seen on the 19th ultimo, steering to the Northward, I am proceeding with the Fleet in pursuit of them with all dispatch, You are, therefore, hereby required and directed to repair immediately in search of me off Cape St. Vincent; or, not finding me there, you will make the best of your way off Ferrol, if you shall judge, from information, that I have gone there; otherwise, you will proceed DIRECT off Ushant or IRELAND, where you will fall in with me, or gain intelligence where I am gone to. But, in the event of not gaining information of me, or, on your arrival at either of those places, you should learn that I am returned into Port, it is my direction that you immediately repair to Spithead, and acquaint the Secretary of the Admiralty thereof. As the Amazon is the only Frigate attached to the Squadron, I have no occasion to request that you will use your utmost endeavours to join me. NELSON AND BRONTE. "On the 24th of July, the Decade joined from Admiral Collingwood, yet still no information of the Enemy. The Fleet weighed at Noon and stood for Ceuta: during the night they remained in the Gut with variable winds and a thick fog. On [i. e. in] the next day, the 25th, the Termagant joined with an account that the Combined Fleet had been seen by the Curieux Brig, on the 19th, standing to the Northward. Having passed the Straits and communicated with Admiral Collingwood, the Squadron under Lord Nelson bore away to the Westward, and then proceeded off Cape St. Vincent, with a view to go more Northward, or to act as circumstances of intelligence might render necessary."-Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Autograph, in the Admiralty.] Victory, July 25th, 1805, off Cape Spartel. At four o'clock this morning I received from Lisbon, through a newspaper, an account of the arrival of the Curieux, and of her having fallen in with the Enemy's Fleet from the West Indies, and I know it's true from my words being repeated: therefore, I shall not lose a moment, after I have communicated with Admiral Collingwood, in getting to the Northward to either Ferrol, Ireland or Ushant, as information or circumstances may point out to be proper. I shall wish to bring eleven Sail of the Line with me, although, when a junction is formed, two Sail of the Line will be wanted for the Mediterranean service, and one or two off Cadiz, if the Ramilies and Illustrious' do not return here from the West Indies. I have pointed out to Vice-Admiral Collingwood and Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton, my ideas of the services required of them, particularly the latter, inside the Mediterranean. I will not detain the Pickle one moment longer than to say that I am, Sir, &c. Victory-Fit for service. NELSON AND Bronte. Canopus-Ditto, but would be better docked before the winter. Spencer-Fit for service. Superb-Must be docked, and a new fore-mast. Belleisle-Wants docking. Donegal-Wants docking; but not so much as Belleisle. The whole of the Ships are complete to bear four months, and in perfect health. 1 Vice-Admiral Collingwood had sent those Ships, on the 27th of May, to reinforce Lord Nelson in the West Indies. TO VICE-ADMIRAL COLLINGWOOD. [Autograph, in the possession of the Hon. Mrs. Newnham Collingwood.] My dear Collingwood, Victory, July 25th, 1805. We are in a fresh Levanter. You have a Westerly wind; therefore I must forego the pleasure of taking you by the hand until October next, when, if I am well enough, I shall (if the Admiralty please) resume the Command. I am very far from well; but I am anxious that not a moment of the services of this Fleet should be lost. Amazon is the only Frigate I take with me, and she has not joined from Gibraltar : I send her orders. I feel disappointed, my dear friend, at not seeing you: so does Admiral Murray and many, I am sure, in this Fleet. May God bless, and send you alongside the Santissima Trinidada; and let me see you in perfect health, and ever believe me, my dear Collingwood, your most faithful and affectionate friend, NELSON AND Bronte. Termagant came to me at four o'clock this morning, off Tariffa. It turns out he had all my things from Gibraltar; but as I fancied he came from Lisbon, I would not allow him to stop, except to deliver your letters; and he has carried all, even to my last shirt, back again. Sir, TO VICE-ADMIRAL COLLINGWOOD. [From a Copy in the Admiralty.] Victory, off Cadiz, July 25th, 1805. I am proceeding with the Squadron which I brought with me from the West Indies to the Northward, in search of the Combined Squadron. I have therefore to desire that you will continue on the service you have hitherto been employed on, off Cadiz. But I must beg leave to submit to your consideration a paper containing my ideas of the number of stations necessary to be occupied inside the Mediterranean, which I have sent to the Admiralty, and to Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton. You will observe that I have only left for your Squadron the Ships stationed off Cape St. Vincent, two Frigates, Childers Brig, and the two Bombs; the others ordered by the Admiralty to be under your command are, in some measure, unnecessary, as I have appointed a Squadron for Rear-Admiral Knight (a copy of which order he is directed to transmit you) at Gibraltar, whereby the safety of the Gut is, as far as a Naval force can do it, secured to our Com merce. I submit the propriety of sending, without loss of time, to Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton, the Frigates and Sloops above what I have before mentioned as necessary, in my opinion, for your station off Cadiz, whom I have instructed how to dispose of them for the necessary services ordered by the Admiralty; and I am persuaded that you will agree with me in the propriety of attending duly to the services of Malta, and the other stations in the Mediterranean, and that the force I have appointed is barely equal to the very arduous services required of it, and any diminution of which must prove detrimental to the interest of his Majesty in these seas. Your judgment on these points, and zeal for the Service, promise everything that can be expected, and no one more highly estimates both, than he who has the honour to be, Sir, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO REAR-ADMIRAL SIR RICHARD BICKERTON, [From a Copy in the Admiralty.] Victory, July 25th, 1805. Sir, Having received information that the Combined Fleet from the West Indies has gone to the Northward, I am proceeding in pursuit of it. The charge, therefore, of watching the Spanish Squadron at Carthagena, and of executing the other important services inside the Mediterranean, will devolve upon you; and as you are already in possession of copies of all my orders, it is only necessary for me, in conse Vide p. 438, ante. |