has cruized close up to the shore in this Gulf, where I will venture to say no Fleet ever cruized before, with the hopes of drawing some of the French troops from the inland countries, and I believe it has had its effect, or the Austrians would have been worse off than at present. I am, &c., HORATIO NELSON. ΤΟ [Letter-Book.] Agamemnon, Genoa, April 19th, 1796. I am truly sorry to tell you that the Austrians have been so much worsted in the different attacks made by the French, that General Beaulieu is returned from Aqui, having given up the whole Riviera. He is forming a Camp between Alexandria and Tortona, called Bosco. His loss, we hear, is very great, and the Enemy near double his force. Sir John Jervis is off Cape Delle Melle, hoping his presence might draw a number of Troops from the inland to the Coast. The Fleet is very healthy. I am, &c., HORATIO NELSON. I have just received accounts from Toulon, that the French have received 5,000 men from Brest, which I know have been long expected, and I believe now their Fleet will put to sea. POINTS SUBMITTED FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF GENERAL BEAULIEU BY CAPTAIN NELSON. [Letter-Book.] [About 19th April, 1796.] Whether there is any prospect of the Austrians coming up with the French? At what place the General intends to halt for the night, as I shall, if he wishes it, anchor a Ship off the Town, to prevent any of the Enemy's Gun-Boats from molesting him. Does the General intend to follow the French to Vado? It will be of consequence for me to know when we may anchor within shot of Savona. If the General has any measure to propose, in which I can be useful, he has only to mention it, and if possible it shall be done. Whether General Beaulieu wishes the English Squadron to cruise off any particular part of the Coast, which may be satisfactory to the General to see from the mountains, and of course discouraging to the French; with this risk--that calms, or contrary winds may put the Squadron at a distance, at the time General Beaulieu may arrive on the Coast. Or would the General rather have us remain at Genoa, with a moral certainty of joining the General in ten or twelve hours after the news of his arrival on the Coast is sent to me? The next consideration, if General Beaulieu sends me notice at what particular time and place it is probable he may attack the French, in that case it is almost certain I could be very near at hand to act as opportunity may offer. For instance, suppose the attack is on the heights over Savona, the Squadron, if the weather is moderate, could anchor about five or six miles from Savona, instead of waiting at Genoa. These considerations are submitted to General Beaulieu, who has only to express his wishes to have them as far as is possible complied with. A WEEK'S CAMPAIGN OF THE AUSTRIAN ARMY. [Letter-Book.] On Monday morning, the 11th of April, 10,000 Austrians took possession of Voltri, the French having lost 300, killed, wounded, and prisoners. The rest, about 4000, returned, and were not pursued. Tuesday morning, at daylight, Generals Argenteau and Lipthian attacked a post of the French at Montenotte, which, being reinforced by the Troops which retreated from Voltri, defeated the Austrians, and took a number prisoners. The same day the French attacked a post of 900 Piedmontese, whom they took prisoners on honourable terms. After losing many men in the attack, the Piedmontese surrendered for want of ammunition and water. Wednesday. This day the French forced Dego, and made many prisoners, and some cannon. Thursday. This day the French forced Speigno, and made many prisoners, and some cannon. Friday, at daylight, the French were forced from Speigno and Dego; the Austrians retook their cannon, and all that of the Enemy. Before night the French rallied, totally defeated the Austrians, who had forced them to retreat in the morning-took twenty pieces of cannon, ten colours, and vast quantities of ammunition and baggage, and very many prisoners. The French say they have taken since the 11th230 Officers, 30 Lieutenants, 1 Lieutenant-Colonel, and not less than 11,000 prisoners. They say about 3000 Austrians are killed and wounded. The Austrian Generals have not contradicted this report, which we must in a great measure believe. It is said the French have lost about seven or eight thousand killed, wounded, and prisoners, and the Austrians about the same number. Saturday. The French in full march to Aqui. Sunday.-General Beaulieu evacuating Aqui, and forming his Camp at Bosco, between Novi and Alessandria. TO HIS EXCELLENCY [THE HON. JOHN TREVOR?]. [Letter-Book. 20th April A.M.-Weighed. P.M. joined the Fleet, at seven hoisted in the barge and made sail. 22nd.-At noon lying to off Genoa. 23rd.-A.M. Rejoined the Fleet. Noon, parted from the Fleet. 25th, P.M.-Standing for the Town of Loarno, the Diadem, Meleager, and Peterel in company. At half-past 1 hoisted out all the boats, and sent them manned and armed to the Peterel-beat to quarters. At quarter before 2 the boats proceeded towards the Town to cut out the French Vessels at anchor. At 10 min. before 2 the Enemy opened their fire from the batteries upon the Squadron and boats— -we kept up a continual fire upon the Enemy to cover the boats, till half-past 3, when they returned with four Vessels laden with corn, wine, arms, ammunition, and sundry stores. Wounded, belonging to the Agamemnon, Lieutenant James Noble. At 4 secured the guns -hoisted in the boats, and made sail. The Meleager took charge of the Prizes, and sailed for Leghorn.-Agamemnon's Log.] Agamemnon, close to the Victory, Gulf of Genoa, April 22nd, 1796. My dear Sir, After the melancholy events which have taken place within these last ten days in the Riviera, but of which we have no accounts but by the publication of the French Minister at Genoa, the Admiral and myself are very anxious to hear of the extent of the misfortune, and what steps are now likely to be pursued. We hope the accounts published are exaggerated, but the Imperial Minister tells me he has received no accounts whatever from the General. I wished, and it was proper for Sir John Jervis to know, the number of Austrian Troops under Beaulieu's command, and also what Troops the King of Sardinia had to defend Piedmont, exclusive of the German Army, that he might form some opinion of what is likely to happen. I must think the Austrians have been guilty of a piece of neglect to us. I had placed a Ship off Voltri to protect the Austrian Troops: the General withdrew the Troops, and neither the Minister or General sent me notice of it, and the Captain was very near being taken by a party of French cavalry, who are now in Voltri. I am on my way to Genoa, to receive letters, I hope, from you and Mr. Drake to-morrow. If Sir John Jervis finds that his presence is of no service in the Gulf, he will of course cruise no longer in this very unpleasant, not to say dangerous Gulf, but proceed further Westward. I have wrote you fully, last post, of the circumstance of the Convoy's arrival at Vado, and of what I understand has been the tenor of the Imperial and Sardinian Minister's conversation. Nothing but their ignorance of Sea affairs can palliate, but by no means excuse them, giving their opinion on a professional subject of which they must be totally ignorant. Let it be recollected that Admiral Goodall at Milan, from judgment, [and] that myself from experience, have uniformly declared that unless the Austrians got down on the Sea-coast, that we could not stop expeditions coastways with our large Ships. Had it been the French Fleet which we were to have destroyed, with the risk of ours, that is our object, and the loss of part of our Fleet would have been well used. But I will suppose that for driving a Convoy on shore, where they would most probably have had an opportunity of landing great part of their cargoes, that two or three of our Fleet had been crippled. What would then have been said when the French had been riding triumphant on the seas, as I fear they are on the land? I will tell you:- England was bound to keep a Fleet equal to cope with the Enemy in the Mediterranean; the Admiral, to take a few prizes, has lost his Fleet.' This, from what I have seen and heard, would have been the language. Our Fleet, thank God, is perfect, and if the Enemy will give us an opportunity, the ancient glory of the British Navy will be kept up. I need not enlarge on this subject. You will, at proper times and places, make a proper use of it. But when I reflect, that after Sir John Jervis's great attention to the Austrian Army, and wishing to be at hand to render every assistance to the King of Sardinia, whenever the Army came on the Sea-coast, I cannot help being more than commonly displeased. I hope Port Especia will now be thought of; for let it ever be recollected that we cannot stop their Expeditions coastways, with our large Ships. I send you an account of a conversation I had with the Baron de Malcamp, in the presence of Mr. Brame, who has attested it. We cannot be too clear in our proceedings. It can do no harm if all goes well; and if the contrary, it is better to have our proceedings clear. Believe me ever, my dear Sir, your obliged humble servant, HORATIO NElson. What is now to be done with the Neapolitan Troops? Has the General sent any directions about them? TO ADMIRAL SIR JOHN JERVIS, K.B. [Autograph in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, G.C.B., and Letter-Book. Inaccurate fragments of this Letter are in vol. ii. pp. 162, 163.] Sir, Agamemnon, off Cape Noli, 26th April, 1796. On Sunday evening I sent the Diadem off Genoa, to receive any letters which might arrive from Mr. Drake or Mr. Trevor. Captain Towry rejoined me yesterday morning, with letters from Mr. Drake and Mr. Trevor, which I beg leave to transmit you. Captain Towry also brought me the unpleasant news, which I also enclose; and he tells me, that Mr. Brame has no doubt but the King of Sardinia is endeavouring to negotiate a peace with the French. We had several Boats on board yesterday, from Cape Noli, the people of which told us, that although the French had taken Ĉeva, and killed, wounded, and made prisoners of five or six thousand Piedmontese, yet that the French had lost not less than eleven thousand men. The fort of Ceva is not yet taken, the Town was plundered, and the Enemy passed on to Mondovi, leaving a strong post of Piedmontese in their rear. The Enemy plundered Mondovi, and every house between it and Ceva. If the King of Sardinia does not make peace, I should hope that such conduct of the French would rouse the whole Nation to arms. You will, Sir, observe what Mr. Drake writes about the Gun-Boats: I mean rather, Sir William Hamilton to Mr. Drake. The Xebecks certainly will be of the greatest use, and if the Galliots will come, and do their duty, not much provisions or stores can come to the French Army. As to my going to Naples, I need only say, the Neapolitans would not like the interference of a foreigner, especially Mr. Fortiguerra, who is at the head of their Marine, and fancies himself equal to any Officer in Europe. I wonder Mr. Drake should think of it. We must make the best of them when we get them. April 27th.-Yesterday's heavy gale has drove [us] to the Westward of St. Remo-only Diadem in company, although there is a Frigate in sight to leeward, which I hope is either Blanche or Minerva. I am endeavouring to get to the Eastward, but we have an amazing strong western current. Seven or eight Sail are in St. Remo, but nothing like a Convoy. April 28th. We have now a light air Westerly-Blanche is in sight, Peterel parted, Meleager I sent to Leghorn with the Prizes. I am so anxious to examine the Ports along the Coast, to see if the Convoy is in any of them, that I hope you will excuse my immediate sending a Vessel to you. I am determined, at whatever place I find them, not to let the first favourable moment slip of attacking them. I wish sincerely for the Neapolitan Vessels. I will clear the Coast in a week of fine weather, if they will act; and I flatter myself I shall manage them to their liking. There is no Vessels of any consequence in any Bay from Monaco to Vado, but not less than 100 Genoese are every day passing, which may or |