Man;' on August the 22nd, they came to sea, attended by the Spanish Fleet, which saw the French safe beyond St. Vincent, and returned into Cadiz. Admiral Man very properly did not choose to attack Admiral Richery under such an escort. This is a prelude to what I must request your strict attention to; at the same time, I am fully aware that you must be guided, in some measure, by actual circumstances. I think it very probable, even before Spain breaks with us, that they may send a Ship or two of the Line to see L'Aigle round Cape St. Vincent; and that if you attack her in their presence, they may attack you; and giving them possession of the Donegal, would be more than either you or I should wish, therefore I am certain it must be very comfortable for you to know my sentiments. From what you hear in Cadiz, you will judge how far you may venture yourself in company with a Spanish Squadron; but if you are of opinion that you may trust yourself near them, keeping certainly out of gunshot, send your Boat with a letter to the Spanish Commodore, and desire to know whether he means to defend the French Ships; and get his answer in writing, and have it as plain as possible. If it be yes, that he will fire at you if you attack the French under his protection,' then, if you have force enough, make your attack on the whole body, and take them all if you can; for I should consider such an answer as a perfect Declaration of War. If you are too weak for such an attack, you must desist; but you certainly are fully authorized to take the Ships of Spain whenever you meet them. Should the answer be ambiguous, you must then act as your judgment and I am sure that will be very proper. Only may direct you, recollect, that it would be much better to let the French Ships escape, than to run too great a risk of losing the Donegal, yourself, and Ship's company. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. 2 Vide vol. ii. p. 250. TO LADY HAMILTON. [From "Lord Nelson's Letters to Lady Hamilton," vol. i. p. 152.] My dearest Emma, September 26th, 1803. We have had, for these fourteen days past, nothing but gales of wind, and a heavy sea. However, as our Ships have suffered no damage, I hope to be able to keep the sea all the winter. Nothing, but dire necessity, shall force me to that out of the way place, Malta. If I had depended upon that Island, for supplies for the Fleet, we must all have been knocked up, long ago; for, Sir Richard Bickerton sailed from Malta, the same day I left Portsmouth, so that we have been a pretty long cruise; and, if I had only to look to Malta for supplies, our Ships companies would have been done for long ago. However, by management, I have got supplies from Spain, and also from France; but it appears, that we are almost shut out from Spain, for they begin to be very uncivil to our Ships. However, I suppose, by this time, something is settled; but, I never hear from England. My last letters are July 6th, near three months. But, as I get French newspapers occasionally, we guess how matters are going on. I have wrote Mr. Gibbs, again, a long history about Bronté; and, I hope, if General Acton will do nothing for me, that he will settle something: but, I know, whatever is settled, I shall be the loser. Till next year, the debt will not be paid off; how—— Sir, TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART., ADMIRALTY. [Letter-Book.] Victory, off Toulon, 27th September, 1803. I herewith transmit you copy of a letter from Captain Richardson, of His Majesty's Ship Juno, giving an account of the capture of the French Bombard Privateer, Les Quatre Fils of Nice, which you will please to lay before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty for their information. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. [Autograph, in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B.] My dear Lord, Victory, off Toulon, September 27th, 1803. It is now near three months since my last letters were dated from England; and but for a French newspaper, which hitherto we have procured through Spain from Paris, we should not have known how the world went on; and reports have so often changed the First Lord of the Admiralty, that I know not if I am now writing to him; but that does not matter; I trust I am writing to an old friend, who sincerely wishes me as well as I do him. I I I have said all my say long ago on the subject of the Ships here; therefore, I shall not bore you on that subject again. The fact is this-all the Ships have expected every day before the War, to go to England; therefore, when the War came, they wanted for everything—more especially to go to England. However, a good deal of that fever is wore off, and we are really got to a state of health which is rarely witnessed. have exerted myself to get all the good things we could from Spain, and latterly our cattle and onions have been procured from France; but from the apparent incivilities of the Spaniards, suppose we are on the eve of being shut out. Our length of passage from Malta is terrible. We have not procured one single article of refreshment from thence since the Fleet sailed (May 18th;) therefore, if a Fleet here had only Malta to trust to, the Fleet must go to Malta, for the good things of Malta could never come to us; and in that case the French might do as they pleased, between here and Gibraltar, for two months together. At this moment I think the Squadron, as far as relates to me, are fit to go to Madras. Their hulls want docking. I hope to be able to keep the sea all the winter-in short, to stay at sea till the French choose to come to sea; and then I hope to send many of our Ships who want what I cannot give them, to England, towing a Line-ofBattle Ship. I believe we are uncommonly well disposed to give the French a thrashing, and we are keen; for I have not seen a French flag on the sea since I joined the Squadron. A fortnight ago, three or four Sail of the Line were under sail, and some had got a few miles from Sepet, but I believe it was only for an exercise. Reports say they are hard at work, fitting out two new 80-gun Ships. Their lower rigging is over the mast-heads. I wish they would make haste, for our gales of wind, Admiral Campbell says, are harder and more frequent than ever. I believe them much the same always very violent, and a heavy sea. But it is time to finish; therefore I shall only say that I am ever, my dear Lord, your most faithful friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY ADDINGTON. My dear Sir, [Autograph, in the Sidmouth Papers.] Victory, off Toulon, 27th September, 1803. The French are not yet out, although they about a fortnight ago made an appearance; indeed, some of their Ships were outside the harbour, but I rather think it was to get an exercise. However, they took wit in their anger, and returned again. They are hard at work equipping two new Eighty-gun ships; perhaps they wait for their being ready before they give us a meeting. I hope to be able to keep up six sail of the Line; and with that force, although they will be superior in numbers, yet I have every reason to hope that we shall give a very good account of them. We are at this moment the healthiest Squadron I ever served in, for the fact is we have no sick, and are all in good humour. The Spaniards are now so very uncivil to our Ships, that I suppose we shall not be much longer friends. I have wrote to Mr. Frere, at Madrid, to entreat that he would take every possible means to give me the earliest information of hostilities; and pointed out to him the length of time which would elapse before I could know it through England, and the very great importance of my knowing it. I sent a few days ago to Minorca, but the Spaniards would not give our Ship pratique; but Captain Donnelly learnt, that there are three Frenchmen taking an account of the revenue and how it is raised, and making every minute inquiry. Does this portend a cession of that Island? I fear it does, and the Minorquins think so-I should be very sorry to see that happen; for, however valuable and important Malta may be in other respects, and no man rates its value more than I do, yet as a place to get refreshments from, for a Fleet off Toulon, it is useless; I always thought it, and now I know it. Since May 18th, the day the Squadron sailed from Malta, notwithstanding that every attempt has been made, as the Victualling Board will know but too well, not one morsel of fresh beef or any vegetables have we been able to get from Malta; therefore if we had only Malta to trust to, our Fleet must go there, and leave the station for two months together, and the French to do as they please. Minorca may have its inconveniences; but its conveniences are so great, that I trust at the moment a Spanish War is certain, that we shall be able to secure it: not but I am fully aware you want all your Troops, yet I ought not to pass by what my humble opinion is. I still hope that our great plan against Spain will be able to be carried into effect, and that my Mortar rafts2 will be used with great success: I can find no one objection to them; their effect is certain, and little or no expense. I had more to say on other subjects, but I am fearful of intruding: therefore I only beg you to be assured, that every exertion of mine shall be used to bring this just War to an honourable and successful termination; and believe me ever, my dear Sir, your most attached and faithful friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. It is near three months since we have had letters from England. TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ. [Autograph, in the possession of Colonel Davison.] Victory, September 27th, 1803. My dear Davison, The Proclamation is so incomprehensible to all of us, that I beg that you will desire Messrs. Booth and Haslewood to get me one or two good opinions on the questions; and if any other question should arise out of the Lawyers' answers, to get an opinion on the answer; for sending me a doubtful opinion, is leaving me as I am, in doubt. Cruizing as we are, but little Since July 6th, we have received news can come to us. * Vide p. 71, ante. "A Proclamation for Granting the Distribution of Prizes," dated 7th July, 1803. A copy of it is in the "Naval Chronicle," vol. x. pp. 76-81. |