TO HIS EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT, ESQ. My dear Sir, [Autograph, in the Elliot Papers.] Amphion, off Toulon, July 11th, 1803. I joined the Fleet the 8th, in the morning, having had nothing but calms and contrary winds. The French have seven Sail of the Line, nearly ready for sea, five Frigates and six or seven Corvettes. I believe from other observations of the Enemy's Fleet, and calculations, that there are nine Sail of the Line, unless some are gone to sea, which I do not believe. I dispatched all our letters to England on the 9th, in which, I stated everything relative to this Country. It is perfectly clear to me that if our reports are true of Troops collecting at Leghorn and Genoa, these can only be for embarkation in a Fleet which may be expected there. I must not say too much; for, God knows, I wish from my heart every security to the Kingdom of Naples, but I expect to hear of the French demanding to garrison Gaeta, the consequence of which would be great. I would not be thought for a moment to see Fear beyond what is necessary—therefore, I will not say more about securing Sicily than I have done. I send the Superb, 74, Captain Keats, one of the very best Officers in his Majesty's Navy. I have directed him to remain fourteen days at Naples, and if you represent by letter that it is, from extraordinary circumstances, necessary that he should remain longer, Captain Keats has directions to acquiesce. But, I trust, your Excellency will not do this, unless such necessity does exist; for you will recollect that I am left with six Sail of the Line opposed to seven or nine-in which number are two 64-gun Ships. But I take every responsibility to show my attention to the safety of the Royal Family of Naples. I have not heard a word from England since we left it. I have the honour to be, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. VOL. V. K TO HIS EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT, ESQ. Private. [Autograph, in the Elliot Papers.] July 11th, 1803. George' took possession of his Sloop yesterday, and if you can send him some little matters, they will be acceptable to young housekeepers-not bulky articles, for Captain Keats could not receive them. Give me leave to introduce Captain Keats to your particular notice. His health has not been very good, but I hope he will soon recover; for his loss would, I assure you, be a serious one to our Navy, and particularly to me; for I esteem his person alone as equal to one French 74, and the Superb and her Captain equal to two 74-gun Ships: therefore, if it is not necessary, you will not keep him; for another Ship will be on her way to Naples, at the time I guess she will be near her departure; and, although I should be glad to see the French out, even six to nine, yet these are odds which, although I should not avoid, yet ought not to be seeking. The Victory is at Malta. She has taken the Ambuscade French Frigate, and two or three Ships from St. Domingo; but with my usual luck for Prize-money, they belong to Admiral Cornwallis,' and not to me. Captain Murray, Hardy, Doctor Scott, Mr. Scott, and all your friends here, join in every good wish for your health, with, my dear Sir, yours most faithfully, NELSON AND BRONTE. A little tea, sugar, and a few hams, is all Captain Keats can take for George, and all that is necessary to send him. 6 Captain the Honourable George Elliot, who was appointed to the command of the Termagant. Having been captured within the limits of Admiral Cornwallis' Station. The Reverend Alexander John Scott, Chaplain of the Victory, whom Lord Nelson generally called "Doctor," though he did not take that Degree until after the battle of Trafalgar. An interesting Memoir of this learned and accomplished person was published by his daughter and son-in-law in 1842, entitled, Recollections of the Life of the Reverend A. J. Scott, Lord Nelson's Chaplain," which contains many interesting anecdotes of Nelson." "Lord Nelson's Secretary. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE GEORGE ROSE. [Autograph, in the possession of the Right Honourable Sir George Rose, G.C.H.] My dear Sir, Amphion, off Toulon, July 12th, 1803. I find your young friend is Lieutenant of the Acasta Frigate, who is in the Channel, not that at this moment I have any chance of being useful to him; but I shall always bear him in mind. The French in Toulon are busy fitting out: they have, at least seven-I believe nine-Sail of the Line, five Frigates, six or seven Corvettes, ready, or nearly so, for sea. We wish them out, that we may make a beginning. What diabolical plans they are after in Italy, time must show us; but I think that Egypt is their great object. To keep their hands in, they may take Naples, try for Sicily and Sardinia-certainly, the Morea, Seven Isles, and Egypt. Live and see. All our Egyptian Army is gone, and we never wanted 10,000 Troops more than at this moment, which might save Naples, Sicily, the Morea, and Egypt, by assisting and giving confidence to the Inhabitants. Our friend the Reverend Mr. Scott is very much recovered since he came out; but I have told him, that, at this moment, I cannot address a letter to Mr. Addington for him. With every sentiment of respect and friendship, believe me ever, my dear Sir, your much obliged and faithful friend, NELSON AND Bronte. I have not heard one word from England since I sailed, May 20th. TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Amphion, off Toulon, 12th July, 1808. Sir, As there is no Agent Victualler attached to the Fleet under my command, and as most of the supplies of fresh beef and other necessary refreshments for the Ships' Companies, must be procured from Sardinia, Barbary, or, clandestinely, from Spain, where Victualling or other Bills are not negotiable; and as the great distance from Malta or Gibraltar renders the getting such refreshments from those places, in a regular manner, absolutely impossible; and at all seasons, from the length of passage to Malta, must ever preclude a very frequent intercourse, I, therefore, beg leave to submit to their Lordships, (if they do not judge proper to appoint an Agent Victualler to the Fleet,) the propriety of lodging Public money on board the Fleet, for the purpose of paying for the fresh beef and vegetables which may be appropriated for this service, provided, but on no account otherwise, that their Lordships will give orders that the simple receipt from the Captain of the Ship, to whom any sum or sums of money is given, for the payment of such fresh supplies, may be a sufficient Voucher for the disbursement of such money, and a full discharge from any impress against me. And as this measure will attach a responsibility upon the Captains who may be sent for procuring fresh beef, &c., for the Fleet, I also beg that their Lordships will exonerate them from the charge, and direct the Victualling Board not to impress their Accounts for such purchases, provided the Vouchers for them are regular and correct, and that the usual forms in procuring provisions have been duly attended to, and executed accordingly. I shall on all occasions, where live cattle, &c., are purchased for the individual Ship, or Fleet, direct the Captains to send their Masters on shore with their respective Pursers, to ascertain the prices and quality thereof, and shall direct that every pound of beef, vegetables, &c., so purchased, may be weighed on its coming on board, and entered in the Log-Book immediately, and that the Signing Officers shall examine the Vouchers with that Book, previous to their putting their signatures to them, in order that every species of fraud (should any be intended) may be detected, and the possibility of doing wrong prevented, as much as possible. I am, Sir, &c. 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.] Amphion, July 12th, 1803. My dear Lord, From our being shut out of almost every place where our bills will be taken for beef, &c., &c., and there being no AgentVictualler like Mr. Heatly, who would find the Fleet in everything, in all parts that we used to send to, we are absolutely in distress for money to purchase in Sardinia, or anywhere else, where bullocks, &c., can be had for money, but where our bills are useless. But, although Sir Richard Bickerton very handsomely, for the good, in every sense of the word, of his Majesty's Service, took up 10,000 dollars, and issued to the Fleet, yet the forms of Office I know so far from applauding his conduct, will distress him most probably to get his Accounts cleared of this impress. Troubridge told me, when I asked him for a floating Agent-Victualler, who would pay all things in all places, Mr. Wilkie' is a very clever man; he will arrange everything; he will get you things from everywhere.' Now, the direct contrary is the fact. Mr. Wilkie will have nothing to do with supplying the Fleet anywhere but at Malta. No, not even to send a man who might make some arrangement for our getting bullocks and refreshments from Sardinia, or from the Bay of Rosas, or other parts of Spain; from his management, I thought he could have managed our intercourse with Spain, even clandestinely. I certainly hate to have anything to do with the management of money; but if the Admiralty will sanction my drawing for a sum of money, and will give orders that the simple receipt of the Captain for so much Public money, shall be a clear and sufficient discharge for me, in that case, I will take this task upon me. I know some people are preparing for fleecing us, and, without we have money to go to market, so they must. The Ships having come out on the expectation of a three weeks' cruise, I am, in turn, sending them into Port, to prepare for a War cruize. Many of the Ships have much scurvy in them, but onions and lemons I hope will eradicate that complaint, and a sight of the French Squadron twenty leagues Mr. Peter Wilkie, Agent Victualler at Malta. |