short of men, would be glorious, and hasten a Peace; which that it may soon do, is the sincere prayer of, my dear Davison, your most obliged, faithful, and affectionate friend, NELSON AND Bronte. I have not made my fortune by Prizes yet. TO JAMES CUTFORTH, ESQ., AGENT VICTUALLER, GIBRALTAR. Sir, [Letter-Book.] Amphion, off Toulon, 8th July, 1803. Having received information from the Victualling Board, that several Ships laden with Provisions have been ordered to Gibraltar, I am to desire you will send two of them here immediately, (should a Man-of-War be coming this way,) otherwise have them in readiness to accompany the Triumph, whose Captain is directed to take them under his protection. You are to be particularly careful to send as near as possible the regular proportions of each species of provisions in the said Victuallers, and continue to do so on all future occasions, when it can be done consistent with the Service. You are to send as much wine as you can conveniently, but on no account spirits. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. Sir, TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Amphion, off Toulon, 8th July, 1803. You will please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that I arrived off here yesterday forenoon, and was joined by Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton, with his Majesty's Ships named in the margin." Captain Gore, of the Medusa, having reconnoitred the harbour of Toulon, yesterday, acquaints me that there are seven Sail of the Line in the Inner and Outer Roads, fully rigged, or nearly so, together with five Frigates, and six or seven Corvettes, in the same state of forwardness, and that there is Kent, Donegal, Superb, Belleisle, Triumph, Renown, Gibraltar, Monmouth, Agincourt, Medusa, Weazle, Termagant. Maidstone rejoined the 25th June; Niger joined the 20th June; Raven joined the 2nd July. reason to believe there is one or two Sail of the Line in the Arsenal. There is an Admiral's Flag at the main, a RearAdmiral, and Commodore in a Line-of-Battle Ship, and a Commodore in one of the Frigates. I shall take a very early opportunity of sending a Frigate off the harbour of Toulon, in order to ascertain their state of forwardness, and watch their motions accordingly. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO ADMIRAL HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CLARENCE. [From Clarke and M‘Arthur, vol. ii. p. 314.] July 9th, 1803. I joined the Fleet yesterday, and it was with much sorrow that I saw your Royal Highness's friend, Captain Keats,' looking so very ill; but he says he is recovering. I have such a high respect for his character, that I should be happy in doing all in my power to promote it. He is too valuable an Officer for the King's Service to lose. The French Fleet is seven or nine Sail of the Line, nearly ready for sea, five Frigates, and some Corvettes. We have only to wish for their coming out, it would remove most of our fancied wants, we have few real ones, except the sight of the French Fleet, which would give much pleasure to your Royal Highness's attached and devoted servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. [Autograph, in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart,, G.C.B. My dear Lord, July 9th, 1803. I have wrote Troubridge about your intentions for the Ambuscade, and for any other Ships of War which may be 1 Afterwards Admiral Sir Richard Keats, G.C.B. The Ambuscade French Frigate was captured by the Victory, Captain Samuel Sutton, on the 28th of May, 1803, in latitude 45° 40′ N., longitude 6° 10′ W. She was formerly an English Frigate of the same name, which she still continued to bear when again taken into our Navy. taken. I have received nothing officially from Sutton (nor privately) relative to the capture; and I hope that you will approve of my plan for getting such Prizes in a state for sea. Your Lordship knows that the Harbour of Malta is well adapted for such an arrangement, even if it extended to twenty Sail of the Line. Ever, my dear Lord, yours most faithfully, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO MAJOR-GENERAL VILLETTES. [Autograph, in the possession of J. Wilde, Esq.] My dear General, Off Toulon, July 9th, 1803. I have this moment ordered the Phoebe, who is at Naples, to receive on board immediately any money there may be there for the service of Malta. The Active is just arrived, and I have an immediate opportunity of obeying your commands, which it will always give me the sincerest pleasure to attend to. The French in Toulon are not, it appears a match for us just yet. I have not heard a word from England since I left it. Sir Richard Bickerton going to Malta, renders my writing the less necessary, for I find him a very intelligent and correct Officer. When I shall see you, the French must determine; but I am, my dear General, ever yours most faithfully, NELSON AND Bronte. INSTRUCTIONS TO REAR-ADMIRAL SIR RICHARD BICKERTON, BART. [From a Copy, in the possession of James Young, Esq., of Wells.] Amphion, off Toulon, July 10th, 1803. Lord Nelson requests Sir Richard Bickerton, to attend to the following Memoranda : · The Convoy to be dispatched for England as soon as possible, and the Mameluke Bey3 to be ordered a passage in one of the Ships, and all invalided men to be sent home. The destination of the Ships cruizing to be changed, if Sir Richard 'Mahomed Bey Elfi. Vide p. 111, ante, finds that circumstances have altered which induced me to place them on their several stations. A French Vessel having been captured by the Cyclops and Experiment, I fear in violation of the Neutral Port of Naples, I beg that you will make such inquiries as the case may require; and if you find that she has been improperly taken, you will order her to be released to the Master and her Crew, giving the Vessel a passport to Naples. If any unforeseen circumstance should arise, Lord Nelson has that perfect confidence in the judgment of Sir R. Bickerton, that there can be no doubt but that whatever arrangement he may think proper to make, will be approved of. NELSON AND BRONTE. MEMORANDA, [Autograph, in the possession of James Young, Esq., of Wells.] [About 10th July, 1803.] The Bey to be sent to England with the Convoy. The Commissary for prisoners, if necessary to be appointed. The Buoys to be laid down in the Harbour's mouth. The MasterAttendant to have a Boat and six men, and a Coxswain, allowed for his use, to be entered in the Dock-yard. The Ambuscade's stores to be received into the Naval Storehouses, and taken care of, and the Ship to be taken care of by the Officers of the Yard. An awning to be kept spread over her in the day, and her decks and sides to be wetted every evening, and when the business of the Fleet will admit. She is to be caulked, her bends blacked and painted, and rigging put in order. 500 Maltese, if possible, to be raised. A bounty of dollars to be given for those who have served in the Navy before; dollars for those who have never been at sea: to serve three years, if the War lasts so long. To be paid half their wages to their families, and when they are paid off, to be paid their wages at Malta, and not to be sent out of the Mediterranean station without their consent. 4 Valetta. TO CAPTAIN HENRY RICHARDSON, II. M. SHIP JUNO. [Letter-Book.] Sir, Amphion, off Toulon, 10th July, 1803. In addition to my order to you of the 26th ultimo,' I am to desire, should you, from information, find the Enemy are not likely to convoy their Troops along shore into Sicily, or the Coast of Calabria opposite to it, immediately, that you will stretch occasionally with his Majesty's Ship (and Sloop named in the margin3) under your command into the entrance of the Adriatic, for the purpose of protecting the Trade of his Majesty's Subjects, and the annoyance and destruction of that of the Enemy; paying, however, strict regard to the order of the 26th ultimo, above-mentioned. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE OFFICERS OF HIS MAJESTY'S YARD AT MALTA. [Order Book.] Amphion, off Toulon, 10th July, 1803. Captain Sutton, of his Majesty's Ship Victory, having captured the French Frigate Ambuscade, and sent her into Malta, You are hereby required and directed to receive the stores of every description belonging to the said Ship, into his Majesty's Store-houses under your charge, and to be very careful that no embezzlement of any kind takes place; and you are, as early as convenient, to value the hull, masts, rigging and stores of the said Ship; and in order that the strictest regard may be had to a faithful and just statement thereof you are to take to your assistance the Carpenter of his Majesty's Ship Kent, and any person or persons that you may think necessary on the occasion. After such valuation has been made, you are to take charge of the Ship, stores, &c., and put her in a proper condition for being Commissioned, with as much expedition as possible. NELSON AND Bronte. 4 Vide p. 103, ante. • Morgiana. |