TO JOHN TYSON, ESQ. [Autograph, in the possession of Lieutenant John Edward Lane, R.N.] My dear Tyson, Victory, off Toulon, August 25th, 1803. I I am very much obliged by your letter of June 26th. have no accounts that I know of with Mr. Ross, at Gibraltar, except he owes me prize money; therefore, as Captain Murray tells me that poor Wilmot took the plate at a valuation, as part of his Prize-money, the value of it is Captain Wilmot's, therefore, if you have anything of mine in your hands, be so good as to pay it to Captain W. Haire, and if you have nothing of mine, beg my Agents to pay it for me. I am very sorry to hear such an indifferent account of health; you your should keep yourself very quiet. We are here looking out for the French Fleet, which, one day or other, will put to sea. We are remarkably healthy. As to fortune-making, it is not my first object-or if I had abandoned Toulon and sent Ships off Cadiz, I might have made that money which others came on the station, and took from me. I am obliged to your friends at Constantinople. Hardy is very well; and with every good wish believe me, dear Tyson, your most faithful friend, NELSON AND Bronte. I now hope that I shall get my Cause. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY ADDINGTON. [Autograph, in the Sidmouth Papers.] Victory, off Toulon, August 25th, 1803. My dear Sir, By a Vessel spoke with from Marseilles, it was with real sorrow that I read his Majesty's Message of July 28th, on the occasion of the horrid murder of Lord Kilwarden, in Dublin. The unanimity of all good Subjects will, I trust, soon bring the Rebels to justice, and certainly the more danger the more necessary for us all to put ourselves forward. I assure you, that I wish I only knew how I could serve my Country more effectually than in my present command. I attach no value ⚫ Captain Wilmot who was killed, in command of the Alliance, at Acre, in April 1799. to the high rank I at present hold, and if any, even the lowest, situation is thought to be fittest for me in these times, I should feel prouder to be so placed than in any elevation of rank; all I ask is, to be allowed to be one of the men to be placed in the breach to defend my King and Country. I have but one arm, it is true, but believe my heart is in the right trim-therefore, only consider how I can be best employed. But I trust, my dear Sir, that you know me, therefore I will not say more, for fear it should be suspected that I arrogate to myself more merit than, I believe, will be found in 999 of every 1000 in the United Kingdoms. These lines have almost involuntarily flowed from my pen as they have done from my heart; pardon the effusion. pen for a different subject. I took the I yesterday told you of the intention of the French to invade Sardinia (where no steps are taken against them). At Marseilles, are now ready to sail-the Troops on board-a Frigate, a Corvette and two armed Transports, with a 1000 or 1500 men under a General Ceroni, or Veroni. I believe they are bound to Corsica, to go over with the 5000 Corsicans-if they get to Sardinia, it is gone. I am sending two Frigates, the only ones I have with me, to cruize off Ajaccio, in Corsica, to try and intercept them; but what I mention these circumstances for, is, that it may be necessary to mention it to the Russian Minister, for we may be accused of a breach of Neutrality in Sardinia; for, being satisfied of the intention of the French invading Sardinia, I have directed the Frigates to pursue them, even should they chase into Sardinia, and to take or destroy them, and also the Corsican Troops; for if I wait till the Island is taken I should feel deserving of reprobation. Of course, they will say that we have broken the Neutrality, if we attack them in the Ports of Sardinia before their conquest, and if we do not I shall be laughed at for a fool. Prevention is better than cure. Many French Vessels have been chased into Sardinia, and of course the Neutrality respected;-L'Alcyon, Man-of-War Brig, is an instance. I mention my intention that idle reports may not be attended to; if Russia is the guarantee of the King of Sardinia's Dominions, let Russia look out. My station to the Westward of Toulon, an unusual one, has been taken upon an idea that the French Fleet is bound out of the Straits, and probably to Ireland. It is said 10,000 men are collecting at Toulon. I shall follow them to the Antipodes. You may rely on the zeal of, my dear Sir, your most faithful friend, NELSON AND Bronte. TO COMMISSIONER OTWAY, AT GIBRALTAR. [Autograph, in the possession of Rear-Admiral Inglefield, C.B.] My dear Sir, Victory, off Toulon, 25th August, 1803. I feel very much obliged by your kind letter, and beg leave to return you my best thanks for your care of the box, &c., all of which are safe arrived on board the Victory, where I shall be very happy to receive you, should you ever be disposed to pay a visit to the Fleet. I suppose Malta is equally under your control as Gibraltar Yard. It is my intention to send the Ambuscade to England, and to man her from some Ship of the Line going there. With every sincere wish for your health, and a pleasant séjour on the Rock, I am, with great respect, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, off Toulon, 25th August, 1803. From the Report of Survey, held this day on his Majesty's Ship Gibraltar, (transmitted herewith, together with a copy of Captain Ryves's letter,) she appears to be in such a state as to endanger her in the frequent gales of wind which happen off this place; and as the season for more bad weather is fast approaching, it is my intention to order the Gibraltar, Monmouth, (when relieved from Naples,) and Agincourt, to Gibraltar, for the purpose of returning to England when their Captains shall receive directions from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty for that purpose. I am further to acquaint you, for the information of their Lordships, that from the bad state of the Ships named in the margin,' I shall keep them with me off this place, that they may be in readiness to proceed to England the moment they are relieved, and their Lordships' orders arrive for that purpose, as I am well satisfied from the report of Sir Richard Bickerton and the Captains of those four Ships, that a severe gale or two would render them useless to their Country for a very considerable time, as well as be attended with a great expense in repairing them. I am, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. Sir, TO BENJAMIN BAYNTON, ESQ. [Autograph, in the possession of Commander Baynton, R.N.] Victory, off Toulon, August 25th, 1803. Your son I was sorry, to find, had been in very great distress for his chest, but Captain Sutton has been so good as to order some clothes for him at Gibraltar; and as our numbers are so great in the Victory, he has taken him with him into the Amphion. There is, I assure you, only one voice about him,-that he is one of the very best lads ever met with everybody seemed to love him. His chest is arrived, and will be forwarded to him the first opportunity, with your letter. I am, dear Sir, your most obedient servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO JOHN FALCON, ESQ. H.M. CONSUL-GENERAL AT ALGIERS. Sir, [Letter-Book.] Victory, off Toulon, 26th August, 1803 I was honoured by the Triumph with your letter, inclosing one from Mr. O'Brien, American Consul, respecting some Vessels taken by the Algerine Cruizers having Malta Passes. I am not quite clear as to the regularity of these Passes; and, Kent, Superb, Triumph, and Renown. The present Commander Benjamin Baynton, who sailed from England with Lord Nelson, as a Midshipman of the Victory, but was removed into the Amphion. After being thirty-two years a Lieutenant, and having been severely wounded on the Coast of Catalonia, in 1810, he obtained his present rank, in November 1841. therefore, until I receive further information from Sir Alex ander Ball, I cannot take any steps about them. I am directed by the Admiralty to make inquiries into your business at Algiers, and do those things which I think most conducive to his Majesty's interest at the present time, upon consulting with you: therefore, until you come here, I can take no steps. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART., ADMIRALTY. [Autograph, in the Admiralty.] Victory, August 26th, 1803. Sir, I received the honour of their Lordships' order of July 7th, inclosing a letter from Lord Pelham, respecting Mr. Falcon's The following is a copy of the Admiralty order referred to:-" Whereas the Right Honourable Lord Pelham, one of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, hath, with his letter of the 11th instant, transmitted to us the copy of a letter, with its inclosures, which his Lordship had received from Mr. Falcon, his Majesty's Consul at Algiers, stating, that in consequence of an offence committed by his servants, without his knowledge, he had been ordered by the Dey to quit the country, almost at a moment's warning; and that, in consequence of his refusal to obey that order, he had been sent forcibly away from Algiers; and whereas his Lordship hath, at the same time, signified to us the King's pleasure, that directions should be given to the Commander of his Majesty's Fleet in the Mediterranean, to take such steps as he may deem to be most effectual for obtaining all necessary information touching the above-mentioned extraordinary transaction, and in the event of the Consul's representation being sufficiently upheld by the inquiry, to warrant further proceedings upon it, to demand satisfaction of the Dey for the insult offered to the King's Government, by requiring as that satisfaction, that Mr. Falcon should again be received and acknowledged as his Majesty's Consul; that he should be compensated for any loss he shall appear to have sustained by his unwarrantable removal; and that proper assurances should be given that his Majesty's Consul shall not be subject to a repetition of similar indignities. We send your Lordship, for your more complete information, a copy of Lord Pelham's letter abovementioned, together with the inclosures therein referred to; and in pursuance of his Majesty's pleasure therein signified, do hereby require and direct your Lordship to take such steps as you may deem most effectual for obtaining every possible information respecting the transaction represented by Mr. Falcon; and in the event of the Consul's representation being found to warrant a further proceeding upon it, to demand the satisfaction and assurances required by his Majesty, accordingly. In the event of the demand of satisfaction being refused, your Lordship is to follow up that demand in such manner as you may judge most effectual, and at the same time most consistent, under existing circumstances, with his Majesty's |