Portugal has made its Peace, you may have other orders for the destination of the Convoy, which may get to Gibraltar before General O'Hara has made his arrangements; but whether there are other orders or not, I am sure you will like to hear of our arrival. The Southampton has not yet joined, but as my orders were positive, in the Secret Rendezvous, to chase nothing out of the direct course, I hope she will arrive in time to execute your orders. Seahorse and Meleager are ordered to be at Gibraltar on the 4th. They with Caroline shall join you immediately (Meleager landing the Emperor of Morocco's clock in her way). Captain and Colossus shall be watered in preference to any other Vessel, and no time shall be lost in joining you with them. I spoke a Danish Frigate on the 27th of April, from Malaga four days. He says the Spanish Fleet has most positive orders to come to sea and fight you. This makes me doubly anxious to join. I have not interfered with Captain Fremantle's charge and arrangement of the Convoy: it could not be in better hands; therefore I only overshadow them with my wings. I have the satisfaction to tell you, that all the Troops (except the Royals, who were always intended to be embarked in the Ships of War) are embarked in the Transports, with the exception of twenty, and General Horneck, who are in two Vessels loaded with wine. I offered to take one hundred men into each of my Squadron, but I found there there was not the smallest necessity for it.

I hope, Sir, you will state this fact at home, as it would have been a severe reflection on me, not to have left what was necessary for the embarkation of the Army. I rejoice in this opportunity of vindicating my conduct; and beg leave again to recommend Lieutenant Day, Agent for Transports, to your notice. I placed my reliance on his judgment (not to leave a Ship more than was necessary), and I am not deceived. A more zealous active Officer, as Agent for Transports, I never met with. General de Burgh also speaks of him in the highest terms, and I hope the Transport Board will keep their promise of recommending those Officers in their service who eminently distinguish themselves, which I take upon me to say, Lieutenant Day has not only done at Bastia, but at Porto Ferrajo. For his conduct at the former place you were so good, on my stating his services, to recommend him to the Admiralty; and I should not do justice to His Majesty's Service, was I not to urge it again. I have the pleasure to add, that every Captain under my orders have conducted themselves like zealous good Officers.-1 have the honour to be, &c., HORATIO NELSON.

May 5th, off Cape de Gatte. P.S.-Since writing my letter Lieutenant Day assures me that the Troops put on Board the hired Vessels with provisions, was entirely to accommodate them, and not from necessity. A small Polacca was hired by Lieutenant Day for three months, to receive some of Dillon's who had a contagious fever, and it was judged improper they should be with the other Troops. It certainly was not calculated that tonnage was to be given equal for an India voyage, but for a fine passage down the Mediterranean. On the 2nd, in the night, it blowing strong to the S.W., a Transport parted with part of Dillon's Regiment. As it must have been occasioned by some accident to the Vessel, Captain Fremantle has sent Peterel to look for her, or from an insurrection amongst the miscreants, who were in the greater part taken out of chains, and put on board her. The Bonne Citoyenne also going to the Eastward for a few days, if it is an accident she will certainly be found.

TO CAPTAIN FREMANTLE, HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP INCONSTANT. [Copy in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B.] Sir, Captain, in Gibraltar Bay, May 19th, 1797. In obedience to orders from Admiral Sir John Jervis, K.B., I have to desire that you will complete your Ship to three months' provisions; and the Peterel, Speedy, and Utile are to do the same; and it is the Commander-in-Chief's further direction that you take the before-mentioned Ships under your command, and land from the Inconstant, and direct Captain Lydiard to do the same from the Utile, all such stores as are not absolutely necessary for your voyage to Lisbon and England. I inclose you a copy of a letter from Lieutenant-General O'Hara to me, relative to the change of some of the Troops-the Royal Irish 18th Regiment being to be landed here, and the other Regiments completed to 600 men each. So soon as the exchanges are made, you are to proceed and join the Commander-in-Chief with the Convoy, off Cadiz, who will give you directions for your further proceedings. The Southampton being directed by the Commander-in-Chief to take under her convoy the Trade, light Victuallers, &c., from Gibraltar, bound to England, Captain Macnamara is directed to sail from hence with you, and to join the Commander-in-Chief off Cadiz. Inclosed I transmit you a copy of Captain Macnamara's orders. Should Captain Macnamara not arrive by the time

you are ready to sail, you will take the Trade, and light Victuallers under your convoy, that the Commander-inChief may give such directions as he shall judge proper. I have the honour to be, &c.,

HORATIO NELSON.

MEMORANDUM OF ORDERS GIVEN TO THE SHIPS IN

GIBRALTAR BAY.

[Original in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B.] [Apparently 19th May, 1797.]

Southampton to victual for three months with all species. of provisions; to leave what stores she could spare, to take the Trade, light Victuallers, &c., and her Convoy to sail with Captain Fremantle, and to join the Commander-in-Chief off Cadiz, where he would receive his directions for his further proceedings.

Blanche to complete her victualling to six months of all species, and coals, and to take as much wine as she can stow, and to join the Commander-in-Chief off Cadiz, as expeditiously as possible.

Meleager to complete in the same manner, and to receive from General O'Hara such dispatches as he may have to send to Tangier; and having delivered them at that place, to join the Commander-in-Chief as expeditiously as possible.

L'Utile to complete to three months of all species as expeditiously as possible, and to follow Captain Fremantle's orders for his further proceedings.

Caroline to complete her provisions of all species to six months as expeditiously as possible, and to proceed to the Commander-in-Chief off Cadiz.

Colossus to complete her provisions of all species to six months, coals, &c., and to take in as much wine as she can conveniently stow, and to join the Commander-in-Chief with all possible expedition off Cadiz.

Leander to complete her provisions of all species to six months, as expeditiously as possible, with coals, &c., and to take in as much wine as she can conveniently stow, and to join the Commander-in-Chief off Cadiz.

TO JAMES SIMPSON, ESQ., CONSUL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

[Copy in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B. The concluding paragraph of this Letter is in vol. ii. p. 385.

Sir, Captain, at Gibraltar, May 20, 1797. I am this moment honoured with your letter of yesterday's

date, acquainting me that twelve Sail of Vessels belonging to the United States of America are now, with their cargoes on board, in the Road of Malaga, from which they are unable to proceed on their respective voyages, as three French Privateers are laying ready to seize upon them the moment they are from under the guns of Malaga, and the Masters are sure the French Consul would adjudge them to be good Prizes to those Privateers, as they have seen, in the course of this month, several American Vessels and cargoes adjudged by the French Consul at Malaga good prizes to them, and you having stated the impossibility of getting protection for them, except I shall be pleased to afford them the protection of His Majesty's flag:

I shall immediately grant the protection you have rcquested, by sending a Frigate, to-morrow off Malaga, who shall protect them close to the Coast of Barbary, where you tell me they will consider themselves safe. In thus freely granting the protection of the British flag to the Subjects of the United States, I am sure of fulfilling the wishes of my Sovereign, and I hope of strengthening the harmony which at present so happily subsists between the two Nations. I have the honour to be, &c.,

HORATIO NELSON.

TO CAPTAIN MANSFIELD, H. M. SHIP ANDROMACHE. [Copy in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B.] Captain, in Gibraltar Bay, May 21st, 1797.

Sir, The Consul of the United States of America having represented to me, that twelve American Vessels are now with their Cargoes on board in Malaga Road, from which place they cannot proceed on their respective voyages on account of three French Privateers, by whom they are sure of being taken the moment they are from under the guns of Malaga, and as sure of being adjudged good Prizes by the French Consul, as several Vessels belonging to the United States of America have been in the course of this present month; and the Consul of the United States having requested of me the protection of His Majesty's flag for these American Vessels, I have to desire that you will, as soon as possible, proceed off Malaga, hoisting, when off the Bay, a French National Flag at your main-top gallant-mast head, when the American Vessels will come out, and place themselves under your protection. The Consul having informed me that, should the

wind be Westerly, they will think themselves perfectly safe by being seen safe over to the Barbary shore, you will therefore afford them that protection; or, if you find it necessary, as far as Gibraltar, after which you will join the Commander-inChief off Cadiz as expeditiously as possible. I have the honour to be, &c.,

HORATIO NELSON.

TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ., HARPUR STREET, LONDON, [Autograph in the possession of Colonel Davison.]

My dear Friend,

Theseus, May 27th, 1797Changed from the Captain this day.

I thank you most exceedingly for your letter, and am fully sensible of the kind method you have taken for effectually serving my dear brother, as I well know money to you is not an object. But, situated as I have been and am, it has been totally out of my power to do anything in the Agency way. As a Captain, Lord Hood's Secretary, [and] the Consul at Leghorn, have been always named by the Commander-in-Chief: then comes the Merchant who sells, and oftentimes another Merchant has been added. Already two dead Agents, how could another be added, especially as our former Prizes have been so very trifling? Since I became a Flag-Officer, I have never interfered, nor can I think it right. Purvis is sole Agent for 14th February, which will put 10,000l. in his pocket. This is a fair statement, which you will, I know, like better than a sheet of paper. We are at anchor, looking at the Dons, who say they will come out on the 29th or 1st of June and settle our business. They expect seven Sail of the French from Toulon, and four Spanish Ships of the Line from Carthagena, which will make their force at least forty, perhaps forty-five Sail of the Line. We are twenty-two. We hear of a Squadron laying wait within Sir John Jervis's Command for to take those rich Ships which otherwise would fall into our hands. It is impossible to conceive the ill-blood it has created in this Fleet-leave us so inferior to the Enemy, and one of our Task-Masters attempting to rob us of our harvest, but leaving us very handsomely to spend our blood in opposing so superior a force. Share with us our danger, share our honour, and share with us the wealth which may come forward. Our friend Pringle, I am told, is come home heartily tired. Next October, Peace or War I must do the same. I cannot last another winter.-Ever, believe me, your affectionate HORATIO NELSON.