TO THE REV. MR. COMYN. [Autograph in the possession of Page Nicol Scott, Esq.] My dear Sir, Merton, June 24th, 1802. I send you the Chancellor's letter, and most sincerely congratulate you on your preferment, which to a person who has conducted himself so prudently in pecuniary affairs will make you truly comfortable. Mr. Thom died on Monday. Ever yours faithfully, 5 NELSON AND BRONTE. If you set off on Monday morning, I suppose it will do; but of that you must be the judge when the patent may be out, for I would not lose a moment in getting possession. Upon recollection of what you told me of the Post-Office, I have thought it best to send you an express, which I shall pay for, and you have only to give the man a receipt, and, if you like it, half-a-crown. TO LADY COLLIER. [Autograph, in the possession of Commodore Sir Francis Augustus Collier, K.C.H.] Merton, July 3rd, 1802. Dear Madam, I grieve for the death of Admiral Totty in every respect, but under all circumstances I think you will do right to ask Lord St. Vincent to send out Francis to Totty's successor, and Mr. Comyn was Lord Nelson's Chaplain in the Vanguard, at the Nile, and was one of his Domestic Chaplains. The preferment alluded to was the Rectory of Bridgeham, in Norfolk, and it appears to have been obtained in fulfilment of a promise made to him three years before, which Mr. Comyn thus mentioned in a letter to his wife, dated-" Foudroyant, Naples Bay, 4th August, 1799. I have now to communicate a circumstance that occurred last night at supper. Lord Nelson drank to me, with his wishes for a good Living. Lady Hamilton promised to write a letter to the Lord Chancellor, Lord Loughborough, signed by Lord Nelson and Sir William Hamilton, stating my situation as his Lordship's Chaplain in the Battle of the Nile. This interest, no doubt will have the desired effect, as the Lord Chan cellor is well known to Sir William and the party.”—Autograph, in the possession of Robert Cole, Esq. s Apparently "the Reverend and learned James Thom, Rector of Southacre in Norfolk," who died on the 20th June. • He died in the command of the Leeward Islands Station, on the 2nd of June, 、 propose his going with General Grinfield, whose protection will be useful in promoting Francis's interest with any Admiral on that Station. When I know who the Admiral is, I will certainly write to him. I am truly sorry for the accident which has happened to your other son, but I hope a cold climate will restore him. I have the honour to be with every good wish, your Ladyship's most obedient servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF CLANRICARDE." [Autograph in the possession of Miss Shee.] My dear Lord, Merton, July 3rd, 1802. I am afraid that I got so decisive an answer about Mr. Henry that but very little hopes are to be expected from the present Admiralty; I trust you will believe that if the business. rested with me, I would contrive some mode of bringing Mr. H. again into the service. Not having seen the Minutes of the Court Martial, I can form no judgment of what can be urged in Mr. H.'s memorial for restoration to his rank, as I was not in the Baltic when he was tried. Two ways are open: one a Memorial to the King, stating all the favourable circumstances of his case-which Memorial is referred to the Admiralty: the other is, as you propose, to get some Admiral to make him from the station of Midshipman; but then it lays with the Admiralty to confirm him, and the present Board have given their opinion; and as to claims, Lord St. Vincent told me that he conceives that no Officer has any claim for any services. Lord Henry Paulet is just paying off his Ship, and if he will join me in any further application, I shall readily embrace every occasion of doing what you would wish me, for I am, my dear Lord, with the greatest truth, your much obliged and sincere friend, NELSON AND Bronte. I beg my kindest regards to Sir Erasmus Gower, when you sce him. Vide vol. ii. p. 238. • A Rear-Admiral of the Red. Memoirs of this veteran Officer, who became a full Admiral, are given in the Naval Chronicle, voi. iv. p. 257, and vol. xxx. p. 265. TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ. [Autograph, in the possession of Colonel Davison. The date of the year does not occur to this Letter, and it may possibly have been written in 1801; but as it appears to have accompanied some Memoranda on the subject, which were certainly written in 1802, it is assigned to that year. Mr. Davison possessed considerable influence in the City of London, and Lord Nelson was accustomed to communicate to him his expectations and wishes on any subject connected with the Corporation, or the City Companies. It must be flattering to the City of London to perceive the very high value which Nelson attached to its approbation.] My dear Davison, Boxhill, July 9th, 7 P.M. [1802.] (A very pretty place, and we are If the Victory of the 2nd was real, the Admirals, Officers, and Men, who fought and obtained the Victory, are from custom entitled to the Thanks of the City of London. Custom has never gone back to the first causers of Victories, but simply to the Victors. Lord St. Vincent had no thanks given him for the Victory of the Nile, and Sir Hyde Parker, except being nearer the scene of action, had no more to do with that of Copenhagen than Lord St. Vincent. I cannot object to any thanks or rewards being bestowed on any man; but I have a fair claim, from custom to be alone considered through the whole of the Battle, as the Commander of the Ships fighting. The Thanks of Parliament went only to Sir Hyde's conduct in planning, not for the fighting; therefore, I look forward with confidence to a Sword from the City of London; and their Thanks, and the Freedom in a Gold Box, to Admiral Graves. The City of London has never yet failed noticing Sea Victories, and I trust, as the first commercial City in the world, never will. I remember, a few years back, on my noticing to a Lord Mayor, that if the City continued its gene "Resolved, nem. diss., That the Thanks of this House be given to Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, for the able and judicious disposition made by him of the Force under his command, by which the Danish Ships of War forming the Line of Defence of the Harbour of Copenhagen were taken or destroyed, on the 2nd of April, 1801. Resolved, nem. diss., That the Thanks of this Ilouse be given to Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson, K.B.; Rear-Admiral Graves, and Colonel Stewart, commanding his Majesty's 49th Regiment of Foot, and a Corps of Riflemen; and to the several Captains and Officers of the Fleet under the command of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, for their bravery and gallant conduct on the said most glorious occasion; and that Ad miral Sir Hyde Parker do signify the same to them," &c.-Lords' Journals, vol. xliii. p. 101; Commons' Journal, vol. lvi. p. 285. rosity, we should ruin them by their gifts, his Lordship put his hand on my shoulder and said—aye, the Lord Mayor of London said- Do you find Victories, and we will find rewards.' I have since that time found two complete Victories. I have kept my word, and shall I have the power of saying that the City of London, which exists by Victories at Sea, has not kept its promise-a promise made by a Lord Mayor in his robes, and almost in the Royal presence? I have a fair and honourable claim: my part of the honourable contract has been now doubly fulfilled. We shall dine in Piccadilly, Saturday, five o'clock, and Lady Hamilton and Sir William beg that you will come to us; and ever believe me, my dear Davison, your obliged and affectionate, NELSON AND BRONTE. MEMORANDUM. [Antograph, in the possession of Colonel Davison.] [Apparently written about July, 1802.] From the very particular situation in which the Honourable Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart, with the Troops under his command, were placed on board the Fleet under the command of Sir Hyde Parker, for they certainly did not belong to any of the Ships, therefore they were borne as supernumeraries, and they cannot be considered merely as passengers, therefore they must, in fairness, be considered as connected with the services of the Fleet, and as the situation is entirely new, and being truly sensible that the Army shared with us the toils and dangers of the Expedition, we do, therefore, (as the proclamation for the distribution of Prize-money, nor any joint Expedition is in the smallest degree similar to the present,) as a mark of our high sense of the services of the Honourable Colonel Stewart and the Army, agree to give up a proportion of the Admirals' one-eighth of Prize-money, so as to make Colonel Stewart's share of Prize-money equal to that of a Junior Flag-Officer; and we hereby authorize our Agent, Alexander Davison, Esq., to take from the one-eighth due to the class of Admirals such a sum as will make Colonel Stewart's share equal to a Junior Flag-Officer; and we are of opinion that the Field Officers of the 49th Regiment ought to share with the Captains of the Navy, and the other classes according to their rank with the Navy. TO CAPTAIN SUTTON, H.M. SHIP AMAZON. [Autograph, in the possession of Captain Ives Sutton.] Merton, July 12th, 1802. My dear Sutton, Many thanks for your kindness to Connor, and I will write to Captain Shepard this day; and when you return, or will have the goodness to send me Connor's and Banti's account, I will pay them with many thanks. I think you will like the trip to the Baltic-at all events, it is better than being kept as you have been. We shall always be happy to receive you at Merton. Foley was with us this morning; he is in perfect. health. I have only to wish you a pleasant voyage, and to beg you to be assured that I am ever, your much obliged friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. 8 TO THE REVEREND MR. YONGE, TORRINGTON, DEVON. [Autograph, in the possession of the Rev. W. G. Cokesley, of Eton College. In the months of July and August, 1802, Lord Nelson, accompanied by Sir William and Lady Hamilton, made a tour into Wales. Passing through Oxford, he was created an honorary Doctor of Laws; and was admitted to the Freedoms of the Corporations of Monmouth, Hereford, and Worcester, on visiting those Cities. Lord Nelson was received at Swansea with every mark of distinction, and on the 17th of August, a Paper was printed and circulated throughout the Town, apparently taken from a Letter which he had written to the Portreeve: "To the Corporation and Inhabitants of Swansea, and of the Neighbourhood, at the particular instance and request of LORD NELSON. I have the honour to communicate to you his Lordship's most grateful and sincere thanks for his flattering reception amongst you, and to assure you that the favours you have conferred upon him will never be effaced from his memory-that the remem brance of them will descend with him to his grave. That he feels the distinguished marks of regard and applause not so much on his own account as for what the example of their being so bestowed on him might afford to the rising generation. That their endeavours to serve their Country and probably to succeed in it, as he had been flattered, had fallen to his lot, would be as amply encouraged and rewarded, and their names recorded with posterity amongst those who had deserved well of it.' Thomas Morgan, Portreeve, August 17th, 1801." At Monmouth, on the 19th of August, he made a speech, the concluding paragraph of which should be engraved on the heart of every young Officer in both Services : "I beg leave to return you my most respectful thanks, for the honour done me in drinking my health, and also for the acknowledgment of the important Public Apparently the Father of Mrs. Nelson, afterwards Countess Nelson. |