TO SIR ALEXANDER JOIN BALL, BART., MALTA. [Autograph, in the possession of Sir William Keith Ball, Bart.] My dear Ball, Victory, January 16th, 1804. I have nothing in the shape of a small Vessel, or your letters for Egypt should have been sent from the Fleet. The orders for the Cutter's return to England were most peremptory, and I cannot bring myself to believe very civil. However, the Vessel was useless; she sailed so ill that she was always in tow. The Childers carried my letters to Gibraltar, for I could not trust them in the Cutter. Either Spider or Renard can go to Egypt; and their Commanders have secret orders, not to be opened till the Vessel arrives at a certain place. I feel very much my inability to comply with your wishes in sending a Vessel to Egypt, but I cannot help myself. With respect to a Convoy to Odessa, no Ship of War is to go into the Black Sea, but as there will most probably be Ships in the Convoy, more certainly expected to go up the Levant, the same Ship of War can convoy to the entrance of the Dardanelles the Vessels for the Black Sea; and if the time can be nearly fixed when they will arrive at the entrance of the Dardanelles on their return, a Vessel of War shall certainly be ready to bring them to Malta. The Convoys bound to and from Smyrna, must give and take a little time each with the Malta trade; therefore, I hope your Vessels will be ready to proceed with the Smyrna trade. The Admiralty think I have a great many Vessels to the Eastward of Sicily. Your interrogatories respecting Quarantine have been given out, and a Memorandum to enforce it. The French Fleet being safe, the 5th, I judged it a most convenient moment to stand over to Algiers, to support Keats, who, I expect, arrived there yesterday, with the appearance of the Fleet. My mind is prepared for either alternative. I have left but little to negotiate upon : my demands are as moderate as is possible, considering how we have been insulted, and never will be receded from in the smallest degree; and I am sure Captain Keats will conduct himself to my satisfaction. Mr. Falcon has nothing to say in the business till he is reinstated. The Hired Armed Cutter, British Fair, Lieutenant Price. It is difficult to say what may be the destination of the Toulon Fleet. Circumstances may even make it necessary to alter its destination by Buonaparte; Egypt or Ireland, and I rather lean to the latter destination. Sardinia is to be taken; but that will be done from Corsica. Narcissus and Active are off Toulon, and my present distance is nothing, be the Enemy bound either to the Southward or out of the Mediterranean. I do not believe you will get a single man to garrison Alexandria from our Government. It is not difficult to see, and I wrote Mr. A.' so in June, that the Mamelukes going to England will get them into a cleft stick, and it will require much address to keep clear of offending either Turks or Mamelukes. I do not know Mr. Drummond, but I am told he is not likely to make the Porte understand the intended purity of our Cabinet. My dear Ball, you are fit to govern; and when we get Sardinia (and if we do not the French will) they ought to make you Viceroy. When we have that Island, we shall hold a fine footing in the Mediterranean. I hope we shall not in another Treaty abandon it; we suffered enough by it in the Treaty of Amiens. The Spaniards are fitting sixteen Sail of the Line at Cadiz-rather say assembling; six are gone from Carthagena, and some from Ferrol. I thank you for your papers, which I have turned over to good Captain Hardy. Your caricatures Murray will return. I have no doubt but the circulation of Leibnitz's Memoir' will assist in opening the eyes of Europe; but they are blindfolded, and dare not pull off the bandage. I shall detach the Niger the moment I can guess at the result of my first [visit?] to Algiers: she has two mails, and is full of stores for the Fleet, which we have not had an opportunity of taking out. I have to thank you again and again for your kind present of oranges, which are very fine. Ever, my dear Ball, yours most faithfully, NELSON AND Bronte. Mr. Addington. Vide p. 111, ante. 1 Apparently an account, then lately published in England, of the Memoir addressed by the celebrated German philosopher, Leibnitz, to Louis XIV., recommending to that Monarch, the conquest of Egypt as conducive to the establishment of supreme authority over the Governments of Europe. January 19th, 1804. The Dey is violent, and will yield no one point; therefore I have no further business here. Time and opportunity will make him repent. N. AND B. As the letters from Constantinople may relate to the Greek Vessel taken by Captain Hillyar, or some other interesting topic, you have my full permission to read them, and then forward them to me. Ever yours truly, January 19th, 1804. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE RESPECTIVE FLAG OFFICERS, CAPTAINS, AND COMMANDERS, OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS AND VESSELS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN STATION. [Order Book.] Memorandum. Victory, at Sea, 16th January, 1804. The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having resolved that a change of the Numeral Flags described in page 14, of the Day Signal-Book, shall immediately take place, I have it in command from their Lordships to send you a painted copy of the Flags as now altered, and to desire that you will paste the same on the 14th page of the day Signal-Book in your possession, and to use the altered Numeral Flags instead of the Numeral Flags at present in use, until you receive further orders. And their Lordships having reason to apprehend that Officers under the rank of Commanders have been permitted to take, or have otherwise obtained, copies of the Signals described in the Day and Night Signal-Books above mentioned, direct me to give the strictest injunctions that such improper proceedings may not take place in future, and that you recal such copies of the said Signal-Books as may be in the possession of Officers for whom they are not intended. I am, therefore, to desire you will pay the most implicit obedience to their Lordships' direction before recited. NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN KEATS, H. M. SHIP SUPERB. [From a Copy, in the Admiralty. "Tuesday, 17th January, A.M. At 6-30 the extremes of the Coast of Barbary, from S.E. to W. b. S. At 8, Cape Caxine bore S.S.W., distance six leagues."-Victory's Log.] My dear Sir, Victory,past 8 A.M., 17th January, 1804. We just see you, although not near enough to communicate; therefore I put down two or three things as they occur. You will not bring out any person for me to send to England from the Dey, upon any account, nor any letter to England, which may tend to prolong the business. All must now be settled, and if so, you may take a letter for England, or myself. If you do not think that the presence of the Fleet is longer necessary, I am anxious with this wind to return under St. Sebastians. You will settle all matters as far as is possible, and leave nothing for any pretence of sending messages to me. You have my confidence. The Consul being received according to my instructions, the collecting all the Maltese together may be a work of some time, which Mr. Falcon can do, if the principle of restitution is agreed upon. It blows so strong at 9 o'clock, that we can see nothing; therefore I send the Niger with this letter. You need only say, 'We go on well or ill; stay off here, or you may go.' The Dey will not know but every day we may re-appear. I beg my compliments to Mr. Falcon; there were no letters for him on board the Seahorse. I am ever, my dear Sir, your most faithful servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN KEATS, H.M. SHIP SUPERB. [From a Copy in the Admiralty. "Noon, Tuesday, 17th January. The Light House on the Mole Head of Algiers bore S.S.W. W., distance four or five leagues; Squadron in Company."-Victory's Log.] My dear Sir, Victory, off Algiers, January 17th, 1804. I approve very much of all your conduct; but with respect to Mr. Falcon's not being received, that is a point I can never give up; for if that is given up, he will always remove any Consul who does not please. I can appoint no other: at the same time, if Mr. Falcon either does not choose to land, or the Dey still refuse to receive him, and yet give up the Maltese, you will receive them, and comply with that part of your instructions-viz., not telling him whether we are at Peace or War; but that you will inform me that his Highness has not given satisfaction for the insult done his Majesty in sending away his Representative. If you could make him understand, he might complain of Mr. Falcon after receiving him, and it is possible his Majesty, as a mark of his friendship, might remove him, you will act properly; and if nothing can be done, you must come away, but bring nothing to me unless he gives up the Maltese. I am ever, my dear Sir, your most obedient and faithful servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN KEATS, H. M. SHIP SUPERB. [From a Copy, in the Admiralty.] January 17th, 1804. My dear Sir, If the Minister of the Marine is to send you out a Boat with any message, you can stand in, and to any message send the ultimatum,-all our demands must be complied with. If not likely to end to your wishes, do not condescend to go to him, but leave Algiers in doubt of the event. I am ever yours faithfully, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN KEATS, H.M. SHIP SUPERB. My dear Sir, [From a Copy, in the Admiralty.] Victory, January 17th, 1804, 7 P.M. use to stand in to-morrow I will not give up an iota If you think it may be of any morning, do so; if not, join me. of my original moderate demand; I should betray my trust if I did. But leave the question of absolute War, for the reasons you know, undetermined. I will have all the claimed Maltese delivered, and Mr. Falcon received. I am, dear Sir, yours faithfully, NELSON AND BRONTE. |