THE EXAMINATION OF VICE-ADMIRAL LORD VISCOUNT NELSON, DUKE OF BRONTE, TAKEN UPON OATH, BEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS OF NAVAL INQUIRY, ON THE 1ST OF APRIL, 1803. [From a Copy in the Admiralty. The passages in brackets are written in the margin by Lord Nelson himself.] From my own knowledge and experience I am warranted in observing that Prize Money does not get into the pockets of the Captors so expeditiously as it ought, and in many instances not at all: great sums of money having been lost by the failure of Agents. I am of opinion that Prize Agents should be appointed by the Captors as at present, but that at the time of registering their Powers of Attorney in the Admiralty and Vice Admiralty Courts, they should give security in the sum of two or three thousand pounds, for the purpose of securing a faithful discharge of their duty and excluding improper persons from acting as Agents. [To keep out bad characters, but not exclude men of small fortune with good characters.] That Government should establish a general Prize Agency Office in London, and an Agent or Receiver at each of the Foreign Stations. That no Prize Money or Prize Goods should be liable to the Debts of Agents. That if the Agents make the distribution within three months from the day of the condemnation, they should be allowed the full commission of five per cent, and at the expiration of that period, deliver into the Prize Office (or if abroad to the Receiver) an Account of Sales, and pay over the amount of unclaimed shares remaining in their hands. That if the Frize shall have been disposed of and distribution made not in three months, the Agent shall deliver an Account of Sales to the Prize Office or Receiver as aforesaid, and pay over the whole of the nett proceeds with a deduction of from the rate of the commission allowed him, unless he shall have been prevented making distribution by the absence of the Ship on service, in which case, should her return into Port be soon expected by the Commander-in-Chief, the Prize Agent shall, on a certificate from him to that effect, be allowed a further time of six weeks for making such distribution. If the Prize or the whole of the goods shall not be sold, he should pay over the amount of the money in his hands, and give his reasons for not having sold the whole, which if satisfactory, a further time not exceeding three months should be allowed him to dispose of the remainder. If in that time he does not finally close his Accounts, or give good and sufficient reasons to the Prize Office or Receiver for not doing so, he should then be allowed only two and a half per cent., and be subject to penalties or the business taken out of his hands. [In order that they should not run up most enormous bills, which is the case at present; and for many other good reasons.] The Agent's commission should be calculated upon the nett, and not upon the gross amount of the proceeds of Prizes. In cases of Appeal no distribution should be made until a final decision; [I have known this happen ;] and in the event of the Decree being reversed, the Claimants should only be entitled to the nett proceeds; [Government to do what is right beyond this sum, the sentence being reversed being the cause of the additional expense;] and the Captor exonerated from all expenses incurred by the erroneous decisions of the Judges who are appointed by Government. All Neutral property whether captured by the King's Ships or by Privateers should be lodged in the hands of the Officers appointed by Government until final decision, [to prevent the present iniquitous conduct of Privateers.] The Agents of the Navy, Victualling, and Sick and Hurt Boards abroad should be directed to take up the money necessary for the carrying on the Naval Service from the Receiver of Prize Money. The Treasurer of the Navy to be at the head of the Prize Board. In the Copy of this Paper in Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. i. p. 369, the following note is said to have been added to this paragraph in Lord Nelson's own hand, but it does not occur in the copy in the Admiralty:-" Every Merchant is content with two and a half per cent. on the gross, and therefore, surely, Agents may be well contented with five per cent. on the nett." "To the great distress of Neutral Powers."-Ibid. TO CAPTAIN MURRAY. [Autograph, in the possession of George Murray, Esq.] April 2nd, 1803. My dear Murray, I have this day seen both Mr. Addington and Lord St. Vincent, and as they were not expediting my departure, I take for granted that we are not more Warlike (except, I hope, in our preparations) than when I wrote you. Report says, and, I believe, truly, that we wait the issue of a Courier from Russia. Buonaparte has, we know, tried for Russia, and I fear successfully, by an offer of Hanover. If Russia sides. against us, we shall, I suppose, give up the point; if otherwise, we have the only chance of Buonaparte giving way, which I do not much credit, but you shall know the moment I know anything. I have this day finished our Copenhagen business; they have been squabbling out of what fund we were to be paid. Apropos, most heartily I congratulate you on the return of this day; and no man sets a more just value on your gallantry and important services than myself. I have yesterday delivered my opinion on conducting Prize business in future. I hope it will meet the approbation of the Service. The Commissioners must make it their own, or of what use are the Commissioners? We are on the eve of losing dear Sir William. I much doubt his holding twenty-four hours longer -our dear Lady is dreadfully afflicted-remember us kindly to Louis, and believe me ever yours, most faithfully and affectionately, NELSON AND BRONTE. 8 Make our best compliments to Lord Keith' and all our friends about you, George Campbell, Sir Edward Pellew, &c. TO CAPTAIN SAMUEL SUTTON, 312, OXFORD STREET. [Autograph, in the possession of Captain Ives Sutton.] My dear Sutton, Monday, April 4th, 1803. Markham desires me to tell you that the Victory will be commissioned on the 7th or 8th. I have sent a list of six 8 The Anniversary of the Battle of Copenhagen. • Commander-in-Chief at Plymouth. Lieutenants, which will be enough to begin with. The Master I have sent for, and name the Surgeon who is in the Amphion. Poor dear Sir William is just gone; but I will see you, being truly yours, NELSON AND Bronte. TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] London, 6th April, 1803. Sir, I beg to enclose you a letter from Mr. John Scott, Purser of His Majesty's Ship Royal Sovereign, requesting, for the reasons therein mentioned, to be removed from that Ship into any one in Ordinary. I have therefore to request you will lay the same before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and to move their Lordships to comply with Mr. Scott's' request, and grant him leave of absence to attend me as Secretary accordingly. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ., ST. JAMES'S SQUARE. [Autograph, in the possession of Colonel Davison.] My dear Davison, Wednesday, 11 o'clock, [6th April, 1803.] Our dear Sir William died at ten minutes past ten, this morning, in Lady Hamilton's and my arms, without a sigh or a struggle. Poor Lady Hamilton is, as you may expect, desolate. I hope she will be left properly; but I doubt. Ever yours most affectionately, NELSON AND Bronte. TO GEORGE G. MILLS, ESQ. [Autograph, in the possession of Mrs. Conway.] My dear Sir, April 6th, 1803. Having just lost my dear friend Sir William Hamilton I can only answer your kind letter respecting Mr. Moore, Mr. John Scott, who was killed by Lord Nelson's side, at Trafalgar. as he is to go into the Victory, which will be commissioned on Saturday next, at Chatham. Mr. Moore should be there, and if he will apply to Lord Proby in my name, I am sure he will discharge him into the Victory, and he should join her as soon as possible, for those who distinguish themselves most in fitting out the Ship, will be first on my list for promotion. Mr. Moore and I shall become acquainted in due time, and he has no business in London. On board the Victory, at Chatham, is the proper place for him to be fixed. I am, dear Sir, most faithfully yours, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CLARENCE. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 312.] 6th April, 1803. Your Royal Highness knows that you have a right to command me; and it was my full intention, when the thing was fixed for my going, to have offered my services to you.' All that I know officially is, that the Cabinet, through the mouth of the First Lord of the Admiralty, have named me for the Command in the Mediterranean, that it might be necessary for me to go out in a Frigate, and that the Victory should follow. I am truly impressed with all your goodness to me. I assure you, I shall endeavour to merit the continuance of that friendship, which you have been pleased to honour me with for upwards of twenty-three years. My dear friend, Sir William Hamilton, died this morning: the world never lost a more upright and accomplished gentleman. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. His Royal Highness appears, from the following letter to Lord Nelson, to have placed a young gentleman under his protection: "My dear Lord, "Bushy House, Friday Evening. "Pike, the youngster who you are so good as to take on board the Victory, says he wants his pay, which, he informs me, by some new regulation, he cannot receive without your Lordship's interference. I am truly happy to embrace this opportunity of repeating to you how sincerely I am, and ever must be, dear Nelson, your best friend, WILLIAM.”—Autograph, in the Nelson Papers. |