regards, and believe me, my dear Sir, your much obliged and faithful Servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. The letter you sent me for Prince Castelcicala, will go off on Monday for England. TO LADY HAMILTON. [Extract from "Lord Nelson's Letters to Lady Hamilton," vol. i. p. 124.] Victory, off Toulon, August 1st, 1803. I do not know that you will get this letter. My dearest Emma, Your letter of May 31, which came under cover to Mr. Noble, of Naples, inclosing Davison's correspondence with Plymouth, arrived by the Phœbe two days ago: and this is the only scrap of a pen which has been received by any person in the Fleet since we sailed from England. Sutton joined me yesterday, and we are all got into the Victory; and, a few days will put us in order. Everybody gives a very excellent character of Mr. Chevalier, the servant recommended by Mr. Davison; and I shall certainly live as frugal as my station will admit. I have known the pinch, and shall endeavour never to know it again. I want to send £2100 to pay off Mrs. Greaves on October 1st; but I have not received one farthing: but I hope to receive some soon. But Mr. Haslewood' promised to see this matter kept right for me. Hardy is now busy, hanging up your and Horatia's® picture; and I trust soon to see the other two safe arrived from the Exhibition. I want no others to ornament my cabin. I can contemplate them, and find new beauties every day, and I do not want anybody else. We see nothing. You will not expect much news from us. I have great fear, that all Naples will fall into the hands of the French; and, if Acton does not take care, Sicily also. However, I have given my final advice so fully and strongly, that, let what will happen, they cannot blame me. Captain "His Solicitor. His daughter, now Mrs. Horatia Nelson Ward, who will be frequently men. tioned. Capel' says, Mr. Elliot cannot bear Naples. I have no doubt, but that it is very different to your time. The Queen, I fancy, by the seal, has sent a letter to Castelcicala; her letter to me is only thanks for my attention to the safety of the Kingdom. If Dr. Scott has time, and is able, he shall write a copy for you. The King is very much retired. He would not see the French General St. Cyr, who came to Naples to settle the contribution for the payment of the French Army. The Queen was ordered to give him and the French Minister a dinner, but the King stayed at Belvidere. I think he will give it up soon, and retire to Sicily, if the French will allow him. Acton has never dared give Mr. Elliot, or one Englishman, a dinner. The Fleet are ready to come forth; but, they will not come for the sake of fighting me. I have this day made George Elliot,' Post; Lieutenant Pettet, a Master and Commander; and Mr. Hindmarsh, Gunner's son, of the Bellerophon, who behaved so well this day five years, a Lieutenant." I reckon to have lost two French Seventy-fours, by my not coming out in the Victory; but I hope they will come soon, with interest. This goes to Gibraltar, by Sutton, in the Amphion. I shall write the Doctor3 in a day or two. I see, by the French Papers, that he has kissed hands. With kindest regards to your good mother, and all at Merton, &c., ever yours, most faithfully and affectionately, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR THOMAS TRIGGE, K.B. [Letter Book.] Sir, Victory, off Toulon, 1st August, 1803. The Surgeon of His Majesty's Naval Hospital at Gibraltar having stated to me the necessity of the free and entire use of Now Vice-Admiral the Hon. Sir Thomas Bladen Capel, K.C.B. 1 Captain, the Honourable George Elliot, was Posted from the Termagant into the Maidstone, vice Moubray removed to the Active, vice C. S. Davers, invalided. Captain Robert Pettet died a Commander in 1832. 2 Clarke and M'Arthur state, that the following passage occurs in Lord Nelson's Private Diary, "1st August, I have had the pleasure of rewarding merit in the person of Mr. Hindmarsh, Gunner's son, of the Bellerophon, for his conduct this day five years"-i. e., at the Battle of the Nile. 3 His brother appears to have kissed hands on taking his degree of D.D., and obtaining a Prebendal Stall. one or more of the lower Wards (at present occupied by the Military) for the use and accommodation of sick and wounded Prisoners who may be sent there, and as the relinquishing these Wards by the Military was perfectly understood by Lord Keith, when it became necessary for the use of sick and wounded Seamen, &c., I am, therefore, from seeing the propriety and necessity of the Surgeon's representation, to request that you will please to give the necessary orders for one, or the whole of the Wards, at present occupied by the Military, to be relinquished and given up to the Surgeon of Gibraltar Hospital, as he may find necessary. I have the honour to be, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN SAMUEL SUTTON, H.M. SHIP AMPHION. [Order-Book.] Victory, off Toulon, 1st August, 1803. Whereas there is reason to believe that a Squadron of the Enemy's Ships of War are coming from the West Indies, or from Brest, to join the Fleet in Toulon, You are, therefore, hereby required and directed to take your route from Cape Spartel towards Madeira, from thence to Cape St. Vincent and to Cape Spartel, and use every possible endeavour to gain such intelligence of the Enemy's movements and intentions as you may judge necessary for my information, which you are to forward to me by a Sloop of War from Gibraltar; but should you fall in with an Enemy's Squadron steering for the Mediterranean, you are, in that case, to join me on my Rendezvous off Toulon without a moment's loss of time, sending a Boat into Gibraltar to acquaint any of the Squadron which may be there with such information, that if of the Line, they may join me immediately. You are to continue on this service till further orders, returning to Gibraltar at the expiration of six weeks from the time of your leaving Cape Spartel, if you should not have gained any information which might make it necessary for my being acquainted with before that time. NELSON AND Bronte. Sir, TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART., ADMIRALTY. [Letter-Book.] Victory, off Toulon, 1st August, 1803. I acquainted you, by letter of the 19th ult., that his Majesty's Ship Agincourt had sprung a leak, and that I had, in consequence, directed her by signal to proceed to Malta. His Majesty's Ship Victory (which joined me on the 30th ultimo) having fallen in with the Agincourt off Maretimo, Captain Briggs' availed himself of the opportunity of acquainting me thereof, and sending a copy of his log, which I herewith transmit you for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Their Lordships will, I am sure, be much pleased with Captain Brigg's conduct in not requiring a Ship to attend him into Port, knowing the small force with me. I am, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Sir, Victory, off Toulon, 1st August, 1803. At You will please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that by the last information of the Enemy's force at Toulon, there are seven Sail of Line, five or six Frigates, and six or seven Corvettes, in all eighteen Sail, apparently perfectly ready for sea: a Frigate and three Corvettes have been three times out of the harbour, but returned again. Genoa there are three Genoese Vessels of War ready for sea, about forty sail of French Merchant Ships, and three Dutch Merchantmen; and at Marseilles, from reports of Vessels spoke, they are putting in requisition eighty or ninety Sail of Vessels, about forty tons each, to be fitted as Gun-boats, and to proceed by the Canal of Languedoc to Bordeaux; but I believe, if they are really fitting out, that they are destined to protect the movements of their Army in the Heel of Italy. I also understand, from a Vessel spoke by the Fleet, that a Now Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Briggs, G.C.M.G. French Line-of-Battle Ship has got into Cadiz from St. Domingo. Their Lordships will know, from the reasons set forth in my former letters, that it has been totally out of my power to send a Ship of the Line out of the Straits. I am, Sir, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE COMMANDING ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Off Toulon, August 8th, 1803. Sir, Your Frigates have captured the Redbridge Schooner and two Transports loaded with water. There are many French Prisoners both at Malta and Gibraltar; therefore, as it cannot be the wish of us Officers to detain those as Prisoners who can be exchanged, I therefore offer you, Sir, to send immediately as many men as you may send to me. I have the honour to be, Sir, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE." N.B.-Only one Transport was taken. Sir, TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, off Toulon, August 9th, 1803. On Thursday morning last, as appears by the Phoebe's log sent herewith, the Redbridge Schooner and a Transport, loaded with water, was captured by four Frigates and some Corvettes, which came out of Toulon in the night: having made the capture, the Frigates worked for exercise apparently between the Petit Pass and Cape Sicie, and returned into Toulon on Saturday. I have the honour to be, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. On the 10th of August, Captain Moubray reported that the Officer with the Flag of Truce was desired by a sentinel to remain off Cape Sepet; a Frenchman came to him, and then another, after three hours, and said it was totally impossible Lord Nelson's letter should be received at all. Commanded by Lieutenant George Lempriere: his name is not in the Navy List of, nor after, 1805. |