business at Algiers. I have sent to desire Mr. Falcon to join me here; for, although Mr. Falcon's treatment was scandalous and insulting to the highest degree, yet I have heard that the Dey offered to receive him again, which Mr. Falcon refused. This circumstance has been omitted in Mr. Falcon's letter to me, and must be duly considered. The crime to a Mahometan was the greatest possible-that of receiving a Turkish woman into a Christian's house, and their violence of temper knows no bounds: I believe, had it been any other Nation, that his head would have been off.

Another circumstance has also arisen, as you will see by the inclosed letter from the American Consul. This matter, if it is taken up in the way which becomes me, supposing that we are to protect Vessels bearing our Passports, will most probably bring on an Algerine War; for assuredly I can carry through what I may demand, and, therefore, it behoves me to take care to urge no demand that is not just. It also happens that all his Cruizers are now in Port, and returning for the winter, therefore we cannot touch him in that most tender point. However, I will act with all due circumspection in this business. I wish our cut of passports was sent out to Malta; then we must have them respected, and a letter wrote to the Barbary States to tell them of it. I have the honour to be, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE.

TO LADY HAMILTON.

[Extract from " Lord Nelson's Letters to Lady Hamilton," vol. i. p. 136.]

My dearest Emma,

Angust 26th, 1803. Wrote several days past.

By the Canopus, Admiral Campbell, I have received all your truly kind and affectionate letters, from May 20th to July 3rd, with the exception of one, dated May 31st, sent to

interests in the Mediterranean. Your Lordship will acquaint Mr. Falcon that it is necessary he should accompany the Officer whom you may send to Algiers, in order that he may explain any part of his conduct that may require such explanation; that he may resume his station should the Dey consent to receive him. Given under our hands the 7th July, 1803.-ST. VINCENT, PH. STEPHENS, JAMES ADAMS."-Original, in the Nelson Papers.

The Canopus joined the Fleet on the 17th of August.

Naples. This is the first communication I have had with England since we sailed. . . . . . I do not think it can be a long War; and, I believe, it will be much shorter than people expect. . . . . Dr. Scott is Dr. Scott is gone with my Mission to Algiers, or I would send you a copy of the King and Queen's letter. I send you one from the Queen. Both King, Queen, and Acton, were very civil to Sir William Bolton. He dined with Acton. Bolton does very well in his Brig; but he has not made a farthing of Prize money. If I knew where to send him for some, he should go; but, unless we have a Spanish War, I shall live here at a great expense, although Mr. Chevalier takes every care, and I have great reason to be satisfied. I have just asked William, who behaves very well, whether he chooses to remit any of his wages to his father? It does not appear he does at present. He is paid, by the King, eighteen pounds a year, as one of my retinue; therefore I have nothing to pay. I have told him, whenever he chooses to send any, to tell Mr. Scott, or Captain Hardy, and he will receive a remittance bill; so he may now act as he pleases. Apropos of Mr. Scott. He is very much obliged to you for your news of Mrs. Scott's being brought to bed. No letters came in the Cutter but to me, and he was very uneasy. He is a very excellent good man; and I am very fortunate in having such a one. I admire your kindness to my dear sister Bolton. I have wrote her, that certainly I will assist Tom Bolton' at College. It is better, as I tell her, not to promise more than I am sure I can perform. It is only doing them an injury. I tell her, if vacancies, please God, should happen, that my income will be much increased. With respect to Mr. Bolton, everybody knows that I have no interest; nobody cares for me: but if he will point out what he wants, I will try what can be done. But, I am sure, he will not be half so well off as at present. Supposing he could get a place of a few hundreds a year, he would be a ten times poorer man than he is at present. I could convince you of it in a moment; but, if I was to begin, then it would be said, I wanted inclination to

Sir William Bolton was not sent to Naples until the 8th of October 1803, (vide "Order-Book," and p. 238, post.) and other passages shew that if this letter was begun on the 26th of August 1803, it was not continued until long after that date. 5 His nephew, afterwards the second Earl Nelson. 6 His brother-in-law.

render them a service. I should like to see Sir H-P-'s book. I cannot conceive how a man that is reported to have been so extravagant of Government's money, to say no worse, can make a good story. . . . . . I have wrote to Dumourier; therefore, I will only trouble you to say how much I respect him. I fancy he must have suffered great distress at Altona. However, I hope he will now be comfortable for life. He is a very clever man; and beats our Generals, out and out. Don't they feel his coming? Advise him not to make enemies, by showing he knows more than some of us. Envy knows no bounds to its persecution. He has seen the world, and will be on his guard. I put Suckling into a Frigate, with a very good man, who has a schoolmaster; he does very well. Bulkeley will be a most excellent Sea-officer; it is a pity he has not served his time. I have answered Mr. Suckling's letter. Gaetano is very well, and desires his duty. I think, sometimes, that he wishes to be left at Naples; but I am not Mr. Denis's relation has been long in the Victory; but if the Admiralty will not promote my Lieutenants, they must all make a retrograde motion. But I hope they will not do such a cruel thing. I have had a very affectionate letter from Lord Minto. I hope George will be confirmed; but the Earl will not answer his application."

sure.

Captain Sir Home Popham having been charged by the Navy Board with incurring unnecessary expenses in the repairs of his Ship, the Romney, in the East Indies; he printed, for private circulation, in 1803, a pamphlet, entitled "A Concise Statement of Facts, &c."

• Richard Bulkeley, the son of an old friend of Lord Nelson, who was with him. at St. Juan, (vide vol. ii. p. 445,) and from whom there are numerous letters in the Nelson Papers. Mr. Bulkeley was a Midshipman of the Victory, was wounded at Trafalgar, was made a Lieutenant in 1806, and died between 1809 and 1814.

This is explained by a Letter from Lord St. Vincent to Lord Minto, in Tucker's Memoirs (vol. ii. p. 248), dated 2nd January 1804, whence it appears that Lord St. Vincent had desired Lord Nelson to promote Captains Durban and Hillyar, to Post vacancies, and, as Lord Nelson had not written to inform the Admiralty of his having given Captain Elliot an Acting Order in the Maidstone, Lord St. Vincent said, "I was under the necessity of waiting an explanation, before I could recommend a commission to be made out for my young friend: a satisfactory one is now arrived and the needful will be done fothwith." Captain Elliot's commission bore date on the 2nd of January 1804, instead of on the day which he received his Acting Order.

TO CAPTAIN SIR RICHARD STRACHAN, BART., H. M. SHIP

DONEGAL.

[Letter-Book.]

My dear Sir Richard,

Victory, August 26th, 1803.

You will receive an order, when the Maidstone returns from Lisbon, (if there is no conveyance from Gibraltar to England for my dispatches, she is to carry them to Lisbon for the Packet,) to take her under your command; and you already know, that if you think you want either of the other Frigates, you are at liberty to give them orders. I have directed the Termagant, if she has not sailed, to place herself under your command; for you ought occasionally to have a Sloop with [imperfect.]

[The following Extract from a Letter from Lord Nelson to Sir Richard Strachan, on the 26th of August 1803, is in Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 323, and may have formed part of the above.]

I wish to call your serious attention to what I am going to mention. The French Fleet being perfectly ready for sea, seven of the Line, six Frigates, and some Corvettes-two Sail of the Line are now rigging in the Arsenal; I think it more than probable that they are bound to the Westward, out of the Mediterranean. Therefore, as I am determined to follow them, go where they may, I wish you, in case they escape me, to send a Frigate or Sloop after them to find out their route, giving her a station where I may find her, and keep yourself either at the Mouth of the Straits, or off Europa Point; for I certainly shall not anchor at Gibraltar. You will, of course, keep this to yourself, and I rely, my dear Sir Richard, with full confidence on your experience, judgment, and that ardent zeal which has ever distinguished your Public services. I

am,
&c.

NELSON AND Bronte.

Sir,

TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART., ADMIRALTY.

[Original, in the Admiralty.]

Victory, off Toulon, 26th August, 1803.

I herewith transmit you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a letter from Captain Hillyar,, of his Majesty's Ship Niger, giving an account of a most unjustifiable act of hostility committed against the Boats of the said Ship by a Greek Vessel; and I have to observe, for their Lordships' information, that similar acts have, and will be committed by the Grecian Ships, on their being boarded by the Boats of his Majesty's Fleet, unless severe punishment is inflicted. You will please to acquaint their Lordships, that I have represented this act of violence to his Majesty's Minister at Constantinople, and desired that he will make a regular complaint on the occasion. I have ordered the Greek Ship to be conveyed to Malta, and detained there. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. P.S.-Inclosed is an extract of a letter from Captain Hillyar of the 7th instant.

TO CAPTAIN DONNELLY, NARCISSUS.

[Autograph, in the possession of the late Adam Bromilow, Esq.]

Victory, off Toulon, 26th August, 1803.

Having received information that there is an embarkation of Troops at Toulon, (or Marseilles,) intended to join the Corsicans, with a view to invade the Island of Sardinia, and as I think Ajaccio is the most likely place in Corsica for their forming such junction, You are hereby required and

"Captain Hillyar stated that, "On the 16th August, 1803, afternoon, Genoa bearing North 8 or 9 leagues, he sent Lieutenant Jones to examine a strange Ship bearing for Porto Fino. The Master of the Greek Ship, on being hailed, told the Boats to keep off. On approaching, a fire of guns and muskets by the Ship ensued, and Lieutenant Jones, in boarding, was mortally wounded; a seaman killed and one wounded, of the Niger; five of the Cameleon, wounded; five Greeks killed, and seven wounded. Lieutenant Jones and the Greek Captain died of their wounds. The Greek Ship was captured." In this affair, Captain Hillyar's brother, Mr. William Hillyar, so much distinguished himself, that Lord Nelson immediately promoted him into Mr. Jones' vacancy.