should have done, and desired Colossus to go with Ball. However, my mind fully acquits me of all inattention, and tells me that all my communications have been full of respect. I have done with him. My present intention is, the moment the anchor is gone, to make the signal to prepare for sea; and those of the Portuguese which the Marquis may be able, or choose, to let me have, I shall employ. Culloden and Minotaur I intend directly to send to Egypt, and to give Troubridge the power to stay if he pleases, or leave Hood, and a proper Squadron, or take all away, if he finds the Turks and Russians will effectually do the business. Our friend will, we know, do it well, and he shall have the Flora Cutter, who I have ordered to heave down. As to myself, I am so dependent on the King of Naples, that I can at present say nothing. I send you, my dear Lord, only part of General Acton's letter; for as the other part relates to the line of march, and what posts are intended to be possessed, I dare not trust it by the Cutter, nor would it be useful to your Lordship. I am deficient in sending the state and condition of the Squadron; but as the Purser of the Alexander, who acts as my Secretary, is at present with his Ship off Malta, I fear I shall not accomplish the matter, nor be able to send an account of stores supplied, and work performed, by the Arsenal at Naples. God bless you, my dear Lord; and be I in health, or sick, I shall ever feel myself your obliged and affectionate HORATIO NELSON. Pray give me some writing-paper, for I have scarcely a sheet. He P.S.-The Marquis will not like my getting Goza. summoned it and Malta on the 18th, although he knew I was momentarily expected. Their answer at Malta was proper; at Goza, contemptuous. This will, I suspect, be too much for his Major, and will hurry him to Lisbon. When Alcmene comes from Egypt, she is ordered for Gibraltar. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. [Autograph in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, G.C.B. Part of this Letter is in vol. iii. p. 167.] Caserta, November 9th, 1798. My dear Lord, I believe Lady Hamilton has wrote you so fully (and I will answer, so ably) on all subjects, that but little remains for me to say. Your commands respecting the Queen were executed with so much propriety, that if I had never before had cause for admiration, it must then have commenced. Her Ladyship's and Sir William's inexpressi ble goodness to me, are not to [be] told by words, and it ought to stimulate me to the noblest actions; and I feel it will. My mind I know is right, but alas! my body is weak. Yesterday we had an account that a Neapolitan Vessel which had been hired or forced as a French Transport, had escaped from Alexandria on October 16th. Many others came out about the same time, and he saw many of them in flames, (my orders to Hood were to burn all that came out, and to put the people into their Launches and order them on shore again.) Emerald is not yet come in, having (rather hastily) been sent in search of me to meet me on my passage. She has a letter from Captain Thompson. I can only say from what Sir William told me, who read it, that the Action appears to have reflected great credit on all in the Leander. She had 30 killed 67 wounded. Just going to Naples. Naples, November 10th, 1798. I wish Mr. Littledale could have been appointed Mr. Heatly's Deputy: it would have saved my friend Troubridge some trouble for bread, &c., which was ordered by me before I knew of the Transports coming up, and the price is charged at nine shillings more than the present price. The weather has been so bad that Boats cannot pass, but is mending. I send you a note just received from Troubridge; it is as I suspect; these people will get down the Mediterranean, but never mind. Ever yours, faithfully, HORATIO NELSON. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. [Autograph in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B.] My dear Lord, Palermo, January 17th, 1799. The Earl St. Vincent Cutter arrived yesterday, and immediately, by desire of the King, sails with his dispatches for you; and General Acton writes to beg you will forward them to England. In short, my dear Lord, our Country is looked to as a recourse for all the difficulties of this. As Sir William Hamilton sends his letter to Lord Grenville under a flying seal, I shall not enter into the situation of this Country. I am in no particular hurry about the Foudroyant; for if I can with propriety leave this Royal Family, I shall with your per mission go down; and I hope home, in the Vanguard.-May God bless you, and ever believe me your most affectionate NELSON. Many thanks for the paper. The packet for Lord Spencer under a flying seal. TO EARL SPENCER. [Autograph in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B.] My Lord, Palermo, January 18th, 1799. I send a packet of papers sent me last night by General Acton. It will inform you more of the state of affairs here than anything I could say. I am indeed exceedingly unwell; but ever believe me, your most obliged and faithful servant, NELSON. TO EARL SPENCER. Palermo, 24th January, 1799. My dear Lord, I have just received, and with the greatest pain, a postscript of a letter from my gallant friend Troubridge, dated Syracuse, January 14th, viz.-I am truly miserable. Do, pray, my Lord, explain to Lord Spencer, that my accident at Aboukir was not intentional, or through fear of my head; for I assure you it preys so much on me, that it would be a charitable act to shoot me. Such a postscript, and from such a man, it makes my heart [bleed] indeed, my Lord. Captain Troubridge's merit is equal to any Officer in that Fleet. I would say it as an Admiral, to the Board of Admiralty, that Captain Troubridge performed the most important service, and was highly instrumental in making the Victory what it was. Could Ball or Hallowell have been in the Action, but for Troubridge? They will tell you, No. We know of no distinction of merit, and yet, unfortunately, it has been found out so many hundred leagues distant-not found out from Public dispatches, but from some private information. The stab has been given by the Board in not promoting the First Lieutenant. Lord St. Vincent, it is true, by the same conveyance, sent a Commission for Captain Harwood. I trust, I believe, that your Lordship's goodness of heart, and regard to justice, will recommend Captain Troubridge to His Majesty as equal in merit to any one, on the 1st of August; and I am sure you will add as one of the bravest and very best Sea-Officers in his Service. With every sentiment of respect, believe me your most obliged NELSON. We have news from Naples the 19th: the French expected daily in the City. Although I was with the Queen last night, in hopes to administer a little comfort, yet some person has this morning told her that I mean to abandon her. No; that I will not, while God spares my life, and she requires my feeble assistance, NELSON. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. [Original in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B.] Bellerophon, Palermo, 1st February, 1799. My Lord, I have received your Lordship's letter of the 28th December with the several inclosures, viz., Mr. Walpole's letter of the 26th of December respecting the French Directory declaring War against Naples and Sardinia; General Fraser's letter, and copy of De Souza's to General Fraser, respecting the sending the Regiment of Roll from Lisbon to Minorca; and your Lordship wishing me to send any Line-of-Battle Ships that may want repairs, to Minorca, as fast as possible. I beg leave to acquaint your Lordship that the Bellerophon is the only Ship I have here at present; but the moment I can get the Minotaur and Terpsichore from Leghorn, I shall order them down, with directions to call at Minorca in their way. With respect to the Merchant-Ships bound to Venice, their cargoes being mostly perishable articles, and not the least possibility of selling them here, I have appointed the San Leon to convoy them up to Venice; and from thence to proceed immediately to Trieste; and at the desire of their Sicilian Majesties, to take under her convoy two Neapolitan Vessels, laden with small arms, and bring them to Messina, or this place. I have the honour to be, &c., NELSON. TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ. [Autograph in the possession of Colonel Davison. Part of this Letter is in vol. iii. p. 272.] Palermo, February 2nd, 1799. My dear Davison, I thank you most heartily for your most affectionate letter. The high compliments you are paying me are far, very far beyond my deserts. Believe me, my dear friend, my only wish is to sink with honour into my grave, and when that shall please God, I shall meet death with a smile-not that I am insensible of the honours and riches my King and Country have heaped upon me, so much more than any Officer can deserve, yet I am ready to quit this world of trouble; and envy none, but those of the estate six feet by two. God knows when I may see England. I cannot quit my post with honour. My health is very indifferent. I beg my best respects to Mrs. Davison; and believe me, my dear friend, your faithful and affectionate NELSON. The East India Company are doing much more than I expected. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. [Autograph in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B.] My dear Lord, February 3rd, 1799. The French, it is said, entered Naples the 23rd, and some blood was shed by the mob. I have shown your kind letter about Goliah to Sir William and Lady Hamilton, but I do not [think] they will quit their posts at the present critical moment.-God bless you, and send us better times, and ever believe me, ever your affectionate NELSON. Pray forward the enclosed. TO EARL SPENCER. My dear Lord, Palermo, 7th February, 1799. The Queen tells Sir William Hamilton a Courier goes off to-morrow morning for Vienna and London: therefore I think it right to send you a line. Bellerophon, who came with the Minerva and Convoy, who are all here, except those bound to Venice, which are sent directly, as they had perishable cargoes on board; and as the Bellerophon wanted a little putting in order, I hoisted my Flag in her and sent the Vanguard and Minerve to assist my friend Ball in the blockade of Malta-a service he has performed most arduously through a long and terrible winter. The Enemy have only succeeded in getting two small Vessels into the Port, the others being all taken. An attempt at assault has been made, but failed, not from the Enemy but from the fear of the Maltese. 200 had got over the wall, and did not take possession of the gate to let in their comrades, but Captain Ball yet hopes to be more successful another time. I am sure nothing will be wanting on his part, or that of the English Officers under him; but I own I build my hopes of success more on the closeness of the blockade than on the valour of the Maltese. I have not heard from Captain Troubridge |