proper to abandon, voluntarily, their wives, fathers, mothers, and every endearing tie, and, also, all prospect of returning to their native Country, I shall make them remain out of that Country, which they do not wish to see, and allow others, who love their Country, and are attached to their families, to return in their stead. And, as they have also thought proper to resign all their pay, I shall take care that it is not returned to them, nor their "R." taken off;' but it shall be noted against their names, Deserted to the Spaniards,' or 'Entered as a Spanish Soldier,' as the case was. NELSON AND BRONTE. The above Memorandum respecting the desertion of British Seamen or Marines is to be read to the respective Companies of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels under my command, and copies thereof, to be stuck up in the most public places of the Ships, in order that the magnitude of the crime may be properly impressed on their minds. NELSON AND Bronte. TO MAJOR-GENERAL VILLETTES. [Autograph, in the possession of Josiah French, Esq.] My dear General, Victory, off Toulon, September 16th, 1803. I wrote you on the 29th of August; but such is my want of Small Craft, that I have had no means of sending a letter. We have had near fourteen days very blowing weather, but that is to be expected at this season of the year. The Belleisle is missing since the 14th, when I sent for her to look into Toulon. I hope the gentry did not come out in the gale, and got hold of her-that would be certainly contrary to my intentions. On the 11th, a Rear-Admiral, Chef d'Escadre, four Sail of the Line, Frigates, and Corvettes, were under sail-a Ship of the Line and Frigates were some miles outside Sepet; but they returned again, and on the 13th, they were all snug at anchor. We are now twenty leagues from Toulon, and a calm, therefore, she is, I hope, not far off. The Frigates I have are dispersed to look out, in case the French slip by me, and our little Squadron is so healthy and keen that I would "R."-i. e., "Run." The mark placed in the Ships' Books against the names of such as had deserted. not recommend them to fall in with us. I am much obliged to you for your goodness about the shells, and I have to apologize to Colonel Bentham for the trouble I am giving him. I shall be very glad of a hundred for 12-pounders. I do not mean to use them at sea, for that I hope to consider burning our own Ships; but in case they run ashore, then a few put into their sides will do their business. From our communication with Spain, it looks rather hostile, she must go to War either with France or us; and all the blame is laid at our door because we will not bow to France, and allow the world to be at peace. Such is the reasoning of the Spaniards -even the Captain-General of Catalonia; but I have wrote him a letter which will not be misunderstood, and I have sent an express to Madrid. I want Peace; and therefore, if we are to have more Powers upon us, the sooner they begin the better, and not give us a long War. Your letters, my dear General, are always so interesting to me, that I shall ever feel much obliged by your sending them; and believe me your most obliged and faithful friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. I beg my best respects to General Oakes. As the Prévoyante goes direct for England, she will take your dispatches, I think, perfectly safe: mine will go from Gibraltar by her. A Swiss who was in Dillon's Regiment, came on board a Ship at Barcelona, and, as he has been a Soldier, I send him as a present to you. Mr. Brown, Commander of the Prévoyante will deliver him. N. & B. TO SIR ALEXANDER JOHN BALL, BART., MALTA. My dear Ball, I have had nothing to send you [since] my letter of August 29th, and we had a gale almost ever since. I bear up for every gale. I must not, in our present state, quarrel with the North Westers-with crazy masts and no Port or spars near us. • Lieutenant-Colonel William Bentham, of the Royal Artillery, who died a Lieutenant-General, about 1828 or 1829. Indeed, in the whole station, there is not a topmast for a Seventy-four. On the 11th, a Ship of the Line and some Frigates were outside Sepet; a Rear-Admiral, Chef d'Escadre, and another Ship of the Line, four in the whole, &c. Eight were under Sail; but seeing Canopus stand under Sicie, they hauled their wind and worked in again. On the 12th and 13th, they were at anchor. That night I sent Belleisle to work off the Port, wind blowing strong out E.S.E. and S.E., which has drove us to twenty leagues West of Sicie. I am a little anxious at her not joining; but they must have more than common luck to get hold of her. The Squadron has health beyond what I have almost ever seen, except our going to the Nile; and I hope, if the French will give us the opportunity, that our beef and pudding will be as well applied. I should be very glad to copper the Queen Schooner for you, but I much doubt if Government send out more than is necessary for the Ships on the station. If she belongs to the Government of the Island, a line from the Secretary of State to the Admiralty will produce the copper for her; therefore the Builder had better give you an account of the quantity wanted-paper, nails, &c.; and for you to write to Lord Hobart. With respect to the Commissaryship for Prisoners, I only appointed Mr. Chapman on your recommendation ; and I do not think I ought to appoint any one, much less a Foreigner, with power to draw bills on our Government; therefore, I rely that Mr. Chapman will hold it until the Transport Board appoint a proper person-be that person Mr. Vankempen, or any one else. The French Privateers in Sicily do not seem to care for Neutrality. You and the Viceroy, I take for granted, will settle this matter. By Lieutenant Shaw's account, I never heard the equal to it, both at Girgenti and Alicati. Your advice to Mr. Elliot will be good, and I think he will attend to it; but Diplomatic men think, of course, they know much better than any one else, and Mr. E. is the oldest Minister we have. He has got a better appointment than any Minister ever sent to Naples: he first got £3000 for plate money, and £4500 a-year, being little [less than] Ambassador's pay—no bad hit, Mr. Elliot; and they ought, my dear Friend, to give you as much whilst you remain; but I hope to see you again afloat. I, for one of your friends, never wished you to have Malta: I had destined you in my mind for another appointment. We are all well: Murray is measuring rope and coals; Hardy rigging the main-yard on the booms; and we are caulking and refitting for a winter's cruise, unless the French will be so good as to prevent us; but I am ever, my dear Sir Alexander, most truly and faithfully yours, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO LIEUTENANT HARDING SHAW, COMMANDING H. M. BRIG TIGER. [Letter-Book.] Victory, off Toulon, 16th September, 1803. Sir, I have received your letter of the 30th ult., together with a copy of your Log-book, and the two letters therein mentioned; and notwithstanding your conduct (in protecting the two English Merchant Ships of Girgenti from the insult, and perhaps capture, of the French Privateer laying there) appears highly praiseworthy, yet, with such information, I cannot take upon me to say that your conduct is perfectly regular, and have only to observe, that if it meets the approbation of Sir Alexander Ball, there can be no doubt of its being correct and meritorious. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. An Officer belonging to his Majesty's Sloop . . . . . . under your command, having boarded a Vessel from Tunis, which, consequently, placed the said Sloop under the most strict Quarantine, and you having last evening, immediately after such communication, sent an Officer on board the Victory, and this morning come yourself, without previously acquainting me of such circumstance, and thereby endangering the health of the Victory's Ship's company, and that of the whole Lieutenant Harding Shaw was still a Lieutenant in 1809, and died before 1814. Fleet under my command, I desire to acquaint you that such conduct is highly reprehensible and unofficerlike, and that you will hold yourself ready to answer (when called upon) for it accordingly. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO LADY HAMILTON. [Autograph, in the possession of Colonel Davison.] Victory, off Toulon, September 18th, 1803. My dear Lady Hamilton, The furniture and linen which was left behind at Palermo and Naples, when you came to England, is, I hope, by this time, safe at Malta. I have desired Mr. Noble to unpack, dry them, and send you a list of the contents, which you must send to the Treasury, in order to obtain an order for their being allowed to come direct to you, without passing through the Custom-House. I believe the cases are eighteen in number. I have requested the favour of Mr. Brown, Commander of the Prévoyante Store-Ship, who will carry them either to Portsmouth or the Nore, to whichever place he may be ordered. If you will apply by letter to my friend, Mr. Vansittart," of the Treasury, I am sure he will send an order directly for their delivery. Only tell me, my dear Friend, in what manner I can be useful to you in this Country, and, believe me, I shall be truly proud in obeying your commands, being for ever, your most obliged, faithful, and affectionate, NELSON AND Bronte. Sir, TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, off Toulon, 21st September, 1803. I am to request you will be pleased to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that the Prévoyante Store Ship, which arrived here on the 21st ultimo, with stores for the Fleet under my command, has completed all their demands with much alacrity and attention, and that Mr. Brown's con 7 Now Lord Bexley, |