that Captain Pater, who will go home passenger in the Agamemnon, may be Captain of her, and my Pendant can be hoisted in any thing. It is true, this way I shall lose the Officers, which I shall regret; but that cannot be helped; for a better, and I know of none so equally good, in this Fleet. I will not take many Mids. and men out of the Ship, should this meet with your approbation. Believe me, dear Sir, your most obliged HORATIO NELSON. Summers : 4th 5th . 6th Except that it is considered as proper for an additional one for the Pendant, since Mr. Berry's coming on board, we have one too many. TO ADMIRAL SIR JOHN JERVIS, K.B. [Autograph in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B.] June 5th, Evening, [1796.] Dear Sir, As the Speedy is come in with one of our Prizes, I take the liberty of sending her to receive your final directions about me. I have wrote so fully by the Egmont, who I hope will be with you to-morrow, that I shall not venture to urge my request-viz., that you will contrive that I may still serve with you. I may have been impertinent in suggesting so many ways, in which I may still remain: but do not believe I meant my propositions in any other way than an anxious disposition pointed out. I send Speedy, as you may not have any Vessel you may wish to spare from the Fleet. Believe me, &c. HORATIO NELSON. TO ADMIRAL SIR JOHN JERVIS, K.B. [Autograph in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B.] Agamemnon, San Fiorenzo, June 9th, 1796. Dear Sir, The Comet is just arrived, and I rejoice more than a little at the certainty of remaining under your command. Four hours will change all my matters, and I am very anxious to resume my station. VOL. VII. f The Diadem is just arrived from Leghorn, and so soon as she is victualled, I shall order her to join Captain Cockburn. Captain Towry tells me the Ketch laden with the mortars, and innumerable ordnance stores, foundered at Sea, in the Western gale. The Brig he carried into Leghorn with the Gun-Boat. I have sent a list of the cargo to the Vice-Roy, that he may take what he pleases. The Provision Vessel is here, and I shall order her to be sold, as I have recommended the Peterel's Prize, laden with wine, to be the same. Believe me, dear Sir, your obliged and faithful HORATIO Nelson. TO [MR. TREVOR.] Came "June 11. Left the AGAMEMNON and came on board the CAPTAIN. on board from the Agamemnon, Lieutenants Berry, Spicer, Saunders, and Noble. -13th. Weighed.-17th. Off Cape Sicie joined the Fleet.-18th. Parted from the Fleet."-Agamemnon's Log. Dear Sir, Captain, Gulf of Genoa, June 19th, 1796. You will, I fear, have conceived me guilty of great neglect, not having wrote you so long a time, or answered your letters of May 21st, 23rd, and 25th; but the same day as received I forwarded them to the Admiral, and proceeded myself to San Fiorenzo, to exchange Ships with a particular Captain, who wished to go to England; but the Captain having changed his mind, the Agamemnon remained a full week under orders for England, and had the Corn-Ship arrived from Naples during this time, I must have gone. The Admiral has induced the Captain of this Ship to go home, in old, worn-out Agamemnon, and my Pendant is flying here, in expectation that my Flag will be ordered out here. I am anxious to know as soon as possible, if the promotion has taken place on the 1st or 4th of June. The Admiral's regulations of a good Ship for me, will depend on his knowing the certainty of the thing as soon as possible: therefore I shall feel much obliged to you for information after the 4th of June. I believe your communication with England is now not only the quickest, but safest. I left Sir John Jervis yesterday. The Enemy have eleven Sail of the Line in the Outer Road, and more are fitting. Should Richery even escape Admiral Man, and get to Toulon, I have no fears in the event of a general action. Sir John is a good and gallant Officer, and will, I am sure, be supported. I wish the fate of Italy depended on The Admiral has honoured me with the command of the Van-Division, whenever that event is likely to take place. us. You will, of course, have [heard] of the events in Corsica. Some good may, and generally does, result even from fancied misfortunes. England, by the ungrateful conduct of the Islanders, is liberated from her promises of [sic] with them. It will save us much money, and many valuable lives. The Vice-Roy is fixed about the proper conduct to be pursued with these people. The English Troops are all on the SeaCoast. I shall not finish my letter till my arrival at Genoa. Sir, TO COLONEL GRAHAM. [Letter Book.] Captain, at Sea, June 19th, 1796. Having yesterday received notice from Sir John Jervis, that you are appointed to reside at the head-quarters of the Austrian Army, and directing me to correspond with you, in future, on affairs relative to the Army, instead of his Excellency, Mr. Drake; I need not, I fancy, acquaint you, Sir, that I have, since the first arrival of General de Vins last year, been the Officer appointed to co-operate with the German Army, whenever they should come on the Coast. But, alas! I fear there is scarcely a ray of hope of my seeing them again. Happy, indeed, should I be, if such a favourable change should take place. You may depend on receiving every communication from me of the state of affairs in our Fleet, and the probability of what may happen, and I shall not fail to communicate all your letters to Sir John Jervis. We have hopes the French may advance too far. One lucky blow will ruin them. Pray God it may be soon. On the 31st May I took exactly one quarter of the battering-cannon, mortars, shells, shot, and every ordnance store intended for the siege of Mantua; for I have an exact list of every store intended for that Siege, sent for Buona Parti, together with maps, an exact return of his Army at the opening the Campaign, and such books as the Directory think it right he should read at his leisure hours, viz., Mallebois' Wars in Italy, Memoirs of Marshal Catinat, Duke de Vendome, Vauban's Attack and Defence of Places, the Life of Prince Eugene, Mémoires Politiques, the Life of the Duke of Berwick, Hannibal's March over the Alps, Plans of Attack and Defence, in good plates. These books are sent by the Directory: a proof of their attention. I have to request that you will acquaint General Beaulieu, that I have taken a Vessel which contained 150 Austrian prisoners, who had been sold by the French Commissaries at Savona, to the Spaniards, to the disgrace of the French, and still much more disgrace of the Spaniards. The Admiral has directed them to be clothed-for they were naked; and distributed them to the different Ships in the Fleet, until there is an opportunity of returning them to General Beaulieu. I send you a paper of the Spanish Consul. They cannot plead ignorant that the Recruits were Prisoners of War, and belonging to the Emperor. More than two thousand, these people say, have already been sold. They were marched by a French guard in the night, on board the Vessel. I hope Mr. Drake has left you a small Cypher, which he established with me. If he has not, he will, I am sure, order one to be made. The Enemy have eleven Sail in the Outer Road, and more fitting. Our Fleet is close off the Port, and in most exceeding good order. Believe, me, &c., HORATIO NELSON, TO GEORGE GRAVES, ESQ., BRITISH AGENT, ROME, [Letter Book.] Sir, Captain, at Sea, June 20th, 1796. Admiral Sir John Jervis having directed me to open a confidential correspondence with you, on such affairs as come within the limits of my Command, (which is between Toulon and Genoa), I beg leave to assure you that no interesting event shall take place without my writing to you. I left the Admiral yesterday, off Toulon, twelve Sail of the Line. The Enemy have eleven in the outer road, one other nearly ready, and four or five slowly fitting. Our Fleet is in such high health and good order, that we desire nothing else than to see the Enemy at sea, even with all their Ships. I will assure you, that under such an Officer as Sir John Jervis, we shall not fail of success. Letters directed for me, either to our Consul at Leghorn, or Genoa, will always reach me. I have the honour to be, &c., HORATIO NELSON. TO ADMIRAL SIR JOHN JERVIS, K.B. [Autograph in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B.] Captain, off St. Remo, June 20th, 1796. Dear Sir, By Britannia I send you a few French books, and some regulations for their Marine. I have not sent you Vauban's Attack and Defence of Places, as I believe you will not at present wish to study that science.-Believe me ever, dear Sir, your most faithful and obedient servant, HORATIO NELSON, TO HIS EXCELLENCY FRANCIS DRAKE, ESQ. [Letter Book. "June 21st, anchored at Genoa."-Captain's Log.] Dear Sir, Captain, Genoa Mole, June 22nd, 1796. Yesterday I was favoured with your letter from Padua, of May 24th; and it is with real concern I hear you are removed from the head-quarters of the Austrian Army; for without attempting to detract from the merit of Colonel Graham, I will venture to say your loss will be felt. I shall always remember, with the most lively gratitude, your kind expressions about me, and shall always be proud to merit your good opinion. Upon the Admiral's idea that my Flag will be ordered to be hoisted in this Country, I have hoisted my Pendant here, and poor Agamemnon is sailed for England. I have the Officers, and many of the Agamemnon's crew with me; and I believe we can raise as good a name for the Captain as the Agamemnon possessed. You will have heard that we took a French Convoy at L'Ariena, on May 31st; and in it exactly one quarter of the guns, mortars, shells, shot, and innumerable quantity of other stores, ordered from France, for the siege of Mantua. I have a list of the Vessels intended, and all the cargoes. We miscarried taking the Man-of-War and Convoy out of Vado Bay, by an accident which human foresight could not prevent. The detail is useless; but the impression of fear is so great, that the Brig, Gun Boats, &c., &c., are hauled into the Mole of Savona, and not a French Vessel is moving on the Coast. The Southampton, Captain Macnamara, took a Corvette out of Hieres Bay a short time since, in a very handsome manner. Sir John Jervis is close off Toulon, and we sincerely hope the Enemy will come out even with all their Ships, which in time they say will be seventeen Sail of the Line. Eleven are now in the outer Road, the others slowly fitting. I must now call your attention for a moment to affairs at Genoa. Mr. Brame no sooner receives a complaint from the Secretary of State, than he sends it to Lord Grenville. I recollect you, Sir, had always the goodness to send to me, or the party concerned, for our account, and both |