TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY ADDINGTON. My dear Sir, [Autograph, in the Sidmouth Papers.] Victory, off Toulon, August 10th, 1803. I have wrote to you so fully on every occasion, and so late as the 4th, that I will not take up your time by Mr. A'Court, except to say that we are all well, and only want the French Fleet to come out to make us all happy. I am making what use I can of Spain, to get water and refreshments, and shall do so as long as they will allow us; but I suppose the French will not suffer it very long. The Spaniards are selling Vessels, taken from us by the French, at public auction. I have given Mr. A'Court the advertisement to show Mr. Frere,' and to carry it to England. The Kent is just joining from Malta. I wait her arrival before I close my letter. Sir Richard Bickerton is just come on board. All is well at Malta, therefore I will not detain Mr. A'Court one moment; and have only to assure you, that I am ever, my dear Sir, your most faithful and attached, NELSON AND BRONTE. 8 TO CAPTAIN SIR RICHARD JOHN STRACHAN, BART., [Order-Book.] Victory, off Toulon, 10th August, 1803. 'Whereas I have received information that there is a French Seventy-four and some Frigates at Cadiz, that may attempt the blocking up our Trade entering the Straits, You are, therefore, hereby required and directed to proceed immediately with his Majesty's Ship Donegal under your command, and take your station outside the Straits, in such situation as you may judge most likely to fall in with the Enemy's force above-mentioned, or any of their Privateers or Cruizers, as well as for the protection of the Trade of his Majesty's Sub John Hookham Frere, Esq., Minister at Madrid. Afterwards well known, from having commanded the Squadron off Ferrol, which captured four of the French Ships that escaped at Trafalgar, for which Action he received the Red Ribbon. Sir Richard Strachan died an Admiral of the Blue, in February 1828. jects. Having ordered the Frigates and Sloops named in the margin' on the service mentioned in the copies of their orders which accompany this, you are at liberty to take the whole, or either of them under your command, as circumstances may render necessary, for the more effectual execution of the services you are employed on. You are to continue on this service until relieved, or you shall receive my further orders, returning occasionally to Gibraltar when it may be necessary to complete your provisions and water, and afford LieutenantGeneral Sir Thomas Trigge every assistance in your power which he may require, and you deem necessary for the good of his Majesty's service, and the comfort and health of the Garrison at that place-taking care to embrace every opportunity of acquainting me with your proceedings, and the orders you may find necessary to give the Commanders of either of the Ships before-mentioned, that I may make regulations accordingly, paying due regard to the orders of the Medusa and Amphion, respecting an Enemy's Fleet or Squadron, which may appear to you steering for the Mediterranean. You are to direct the Commander of any of his Majesty's Ships or Vessels which you may fall in with, having dispatches for me, or otherwise, to join me on my Rendezvous off this place; but to approach Toulon with great caution, and not make too free with the entrance of the harbour, and likewise send similar orders to any Ships of War which may join me from Gibraltar. NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, off Toulon, 10th August, 1803. I herewith transmit you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a copy of a letter from Captain Donnelly of his Majesty's Ship Narcissus, giving an account of the capture of the French National Brig of War L'Alcion, together with copy of the said Brig's dimensions; Medusa, Amphion, Bittern. and, as she appears to be a remarkably fine Vessel and fit for his Majesty's Service, you will please to acquaint their Lordships, that I shall give directions for her being immediately purchased into the Service, and fitted for sea with all possible dispatch, as I am very much in want of Vessels of that description, which I hope their Lordships will approve. I am, Sir, &c., I have this day received your letter of the 23rd ult., with the Return of Transports therein mentioned, and am to observe that your conduct in the discharge of your duty as Resident Agent at Malta, from the testimony of every one who has mentioned your name to me, has been such as must ever meet my approbation. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE RESPECTIVE MERCHANTS AT MALTA. [Letter-Book.] Gentlemen, Victory, off Toulon, 10th August, 1803. I have received an application for Convoy to the Ships bound from Malta into the Archipelago, and beg to acquaint you that a Convoy was ordered for that purpose on the 18th of June last, and also to bring the Levant Trade from thence; and when I think the Merchant-vessels from the Adriatic and Archipelago are arrived at Malta, I shall appoint a Convoy to proceed with them from thence to England. The Merchants of Malta and elsewhere may be assured that it will always afford me pleasure to pay due attention to their commerce. I am, Gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. 1 He died a Lieutenant in 1809. TO SIR ALEXANDER JOHN BALL, BART., MALTA. [Letter-Book.] Victory, off Toulon, 10th August, 1803. Sir, Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton has communicated to me your wish that the Arab could be attached to the service of the Island of Malta, under your own immediate directions; and although I am fully sensible that such a Vessel is necessary to be attached to you, as was the case with the Viceroy of Corsica, yet I do not feel myself at liberty to make such purchase without orders from the Admiralty. But if you think proper to pay the Agent what she is valued at, I will certainly, till the pleasure of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty is known, appoint a Lieutenant and Cutter's establishment for her, (looking to you to procure the men to man her,) to be borne as supernumeraries on some Ship's books. You must be aware that as the Agents are going to sell the said Vessel for the benefit of the Captors, that the money must be paid for her on delivery, as I do not feel myself authorized to interfere with the sale. I think it probable, from your representation to the Secretary of State, and from him to the Admiralty, that their Lordships will direct the amount of the purchase of the Vessel to be charged to the account of the Navy. I have the honour to be, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. TO LADY HAMILTON. [Extract from" Lord Nelson's Letters to Lady Hamilton," vol. ii. p. 130.] My dearest Emma, Victory, off Toulon, August 10th, 1803. I take the opportunity of Mr. A'Court's going through Spain, with Mr. Elliot's dispatches for England, to send this letter; for I would not, for the world, miss any opportunity of sending you a line. By Gibraltar, I wrote you, as lately as A French Cutter, taken by the Maidstone, Captain Moubray, on the 14th of June. Now Lord Heytesbury, G.C.B., Lord Lieutenant of Ireland: he was then Secretary of Legation at Naples. the 4th; but all our ways of communicating with England, are very uncertain; and, I believe, the Admiralty must have forgot us; for not a Vessel of any kind or sort has joined us since I left Spithead. News I absolutely am ignorant of; except that a Schooner belonging to me, put her nose into Toulon, and four Frigates popped out, and have taken her, and a Transport loaded with water for the Fleet. However, I hope to have an opportunity, very soon, of paying them the debt, with interest. Mr. A'Court says, at Naples, they hope that the mediation of Russia will save them; but I doubt if Russia will go to War with the French for any Kingdom; and they, poor souls! relying on a broken reed, will lose Sicily. As for getting anything for Bronte, I cannot expect it; for the finances of Naples are worse than ever. Patienza, however: I will I see, many Bishops are dead. Is my brother tired of Canterbury? I wish I could make him a Bishop. If you see him, or write, say that I have not ten minutes to send away Mr. A'Court, who cannot be detained. I hope Lord St. Vincent has sent out Sir William Bolton. As soon as I know who is First Lord, I will write him. TO CAPTAIN WILLIAM EDWARD CRACRAFT, H. M. SHIP ANSON. [Order-Book.] Victory, off Toulon, 11th August, 1803. Whereas I have received information that the French intend sending a Squadron of Frigates into the Adriatic, to protect their Army at the Heel of Italy, you are, therefore, hereby required and directed to proceed with all possible dispatch, in his Majesty's Ship Anson, under your command, off Cape Spartivento, and between that and the entrance of the Adriatic, where you will find his Majesty's Ship and Sloop named in the margin' cruising on the service mentioned in Captain Richardson's order of the 26th June last, and my letter to him of the The expected change in Administration and in the Board of Admiralty, did not take place until May 1804. Juno, Morgiana. |