TO THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS AT MAHON. [Letter-Book.] Sir, Palermo, 2nd October, 1799. As Captain Bayley, of His Majesty's Ship L'Alceste, has been constantly employed in the conducting of Convoys up and down the Mediterranean to Mahon since he has been in the command of that Ship, I request that he may be allowed to put my orders of this date in execution, on his arrival with the Convoy from Messina at Mahon, relating to his cruizing on the Coast of Spain, for three weeks, if His Majesty's service will admit thereof. I am, &c., NELSON. TO THE MARQUIS DE NIZA. [Letter-Book.] My dear Marquis, Palermo, 3rd October, 1799. I have received a letter from Don Roderigo de Souza, saying, that as the Squadron under your orders were not now necessary in the Mediterranean, his Royal Highness had directed their return. Upon this belief your orders are founded; but as the contrary is the fact-for your services were never more wanted than at this moment, when every exertion is wanting to get more troops of English and Russians to Malta-I must, therefore, most positively desire that your Excellency will not on any consideration withdraw one man from the shore, or detach any Ship down the Mediterranean. On the contrary, keep this fine Brig, and I will in two days send you the Balloon; and I send you an order to justify your Excellency's not complying with his Royal Highness's orders, and I am confident he will approve of my conduct. Should the Russian Admiral come to Malta, I am sure you will act like brothers. I am going to Minorca to get ten Sail of the Line together, in order, should the Squadron of thirteen Sail of the Line and one Three-decker, seen off Cape Finisterre on the 18th of September, be bound into the Mediterranean, which I am satisfied they are not, but trying for our outward bound Convoy. Ever yours affectionately, NELSON. TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE MARQUIS DE NIZA, REAR-ADMIRAL COMMANDING THE BLOCKADE OF MALTA. [Order-Book.] Palermo, 3rd October, 1799. As the reduction of the Island of Malta is of the greatest consequence to the interests of the Allied Powers at war with France, and the withdrawing the Squadron of His Most Faithful Majesty under your command, at this time, from the blockade of that Island, will be of the most ruinous consequences to their interests, particularly when an Enemy's fleet of thirteen Sail of the Line are daily expected in those seas, and two Sail of the Line and several other Ships with provisions and stores, for the relief of Malta, are now lading at Toulon; you are hereby required and directed, in consideration of the above circumstances, and notwithstanding the orders you may have received from your Court to return to Lisbon, not on any consideration whatsoever to withdraw one man from that Island, which may have been landed from the Squadron from under your Excellency's command, or detach one Ship down the Mediterranean, until further orders from me for that purpose; and you are also required to keep the Brig which will bring you these dispatches, and employ her for the good of the service; and the Balloon shall be sent to you in a few days, which you may, if you think proper, send to Lisbon with your dispatches. NELSON. TO CAPTAIN BALL, CHIEF OF THE MALTESE. [Autograph, in the possession of Sir William Keith Ball, Bart.] Palermo, October 3rd, 1799. My dear Bail, I hope Brigadier-General Graham' will soon be with you and some Russians. I have strained every nerve to get you troops. With respect to rank and command, General Graham will command his, and, if you like, some of yours. You are Chief of the Maltese people, and in all matters will have an Afterwards General Lord Lynedoch, G.C.B. important voice, with a most undoubted right to sign the Capitulation. I only touch on the subject, but I well know your conciliating manners will make everything go on smooth. Niza was ordered to Lisbon, but I have directed his stay off Malta. You may depend, in October, I will get 2000 men on shore at Malta. I have but two mortars and 700 shells in the Alliance for your use; she goes to Messina to take Graham on board. I am going to Mahon to get together ten Sail of the Line to meet the thirteen, should they come our way. They were seen on the 18th September off Cape Finisterre and Ortegal. Our secret expedition is thought to go on well; our troops are all landed in the Texel. God bless you, and send you a speedy finish of your hard and long labour. Ever yours faithfully, NELSON. TO BRIGADIER-GENERAL GRAHAM, MESSINA. My dear Sir, [Letter-Book.] Palermo, October 3rd, 1799. You will most likely have an application from His Sicilian Majesty to go with part of your garrison to Malta, which is an object now of the very greatest importance to the Two Sicilies, and also what our Government has much at heart to finish. The Russian Admiral will be wrote to in the same manner to go to Malta with what troops it is thought proper to withdraw from Naples. Some Russians are also expected at Leghorn, destined for the service of Malta. * General Graham did not consider himself authorized to quit his post at Messina; and his Commander-in-Chief, Sir James St. Clair Erskine, writing to Lord Nelson, on the 31st of October, said: "The probability of General Fox being able to form and detach such a corps as may be adequate to undertake the siege of Malta, becomes now much more doubtful: a few days, however, must clear up all these points. I find that the Marquis de Niza, Captain Ball, and General Acton, have all written, to try to induce Colonel Graham to embark with a part of his corps for Malta: in answer to which he has acted in strict obedience to his instructions, and in my opinion with the most perfect propriety; for no Officer would have been justified, even if left to his discretion, in forming a project for besieging 5000 men, and proceeding on active operations, with a corps of 500 men only. I mention this, because I collect from Graham's letter that the last application was pressed, even after his answer that he could not take any step without orders from Minorca."— Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 224. I know what a jumble all this is, but the very great importance of getting immediate possession of Malta makes me recommend it to you in the strongest manner. We have 500 men landed from our Ships, and I send you a letter and plan of Lord Blayney's." The French intend trying to relieve it. Let us try and get it in any way. My orders are to co-operate most cordially with the Russians in the reduction of it, and, when taken, the Order is to be restored. It is the hobbyhorse of the Emperor of Russia; and England wishes of all things to please him. I shall send you the Alliance, with some shells, carcases, &c., and they can carry all your troops for such a short voyage; but the Alceste will be with you in a few days, and her Captain will have orders to attend to your desires on that head. I must now tell you, to complete the glorious jumble, that except the Russian troops before-mentioned, no one is in Italy. Suwarrow, in consequence of the Arch-Duke's going to the Rhine, is gone into Switzerland; and as a finish to all this, thirteen Sail of the Line, French and Spaniards, were, on the 18th September, laying-to off Cape Ortegal. Whether they are bound this way, time will show; in the meantime I am getting ten Sail of the Line together, and, if they venture into the Mediterranean, I will endeavour to get hold of them. All these events will but rouse us to greater exertions. Not a sail shall be drawn from Malta, and, respecting commands on shore, there can be no difficulty. Ball is Chief of the Maltese; you will command all the British; and the Russians I hope will soon be on shore, and two Admirals will be afloat. I can only recommend acting as brothers. I sail to-morrow for Mahon, and General Fox I hope is arrived. I shall try him hard; for nothing at this moment is equal to our getting the French out of Malta. Lord Elgin' has just arrived on his way to Constantinople,-left London September 3rd. Our troops had made good their landing' with some loss, and it was thought all would go well. Pray God it may. Ever believe me, &c., NELSON. * Colonel Andrew Thomas, 11th Lord Blayney in the Peerage of Ireland. He died a Lieutenant-General, in April 1834. Thomas, 11th Earl of Kincardine and 7th Earl of Elgin, who was many years Ambassador to the Porte, and a General in the Army. He died in November 1841. In Holland, under the command of H. R. H. the Duke of York. TO CAPTAIN BAYLEY, H. M. SHIP ALCESTE. [Letter-Book.] Sir, 3rd October, 1799. Notwithstanding my orders to you of yesterday, on your arrival at Messina, should Colonel Graham want your assistance to carry any part of the garrison of Messina to Malta, you will embark as many of them as you can conveniently carry, with such stores, baggage, ammunition, and other implements of war as he may send on board, and proceed with them to that Island, and having landed them there, will then proceed to Messina, and put the former order in execution. I am, &c., NELSON. TO COMMODORE SIR THOMAS TROUBRIDGE, BART. [Letter-Book. The Foudroyant arrived at Palermo on the 1st of October from Leghorn, where she landed the King of Sardinia; and on the 4th, Lord Nelson rehoisted his Flag on board of her. On the 5th, "dressed Ship in colours in honour of the birthday of the Hereditary Prince, and saluted with seventeen guns. Weighed and made sail."-Journal.] My dear Troubridge, Palermo, October 4th, 1799. For these two days I cannot get the Balloon to move, although of such importance. Thirteen Sail of the Line, French and Spaniards, are on the Coast of Portugal. I sail for Mahon to-morrow, probably to Gibraltar, and if I can but get a force to fight these fellows, it shall be done quickly. I am in dread for our outward-bound Convoys-700 Sail under a few Frigates, in England thinking all the force was at Brest. I need only say, get to Mahon as quick as possible, that we may join. If you are so much distressed for bread that you must call here, I shall be sorry, but the blame is mine for not keeping you better supplied. All the Small craft which are not wanted, particularly the Cutter, send to me. |