TO COMMISSIONER OTWAY, GIBRALTAR. [Autograph, in the possession of Rear-Admiral Inglefield, C.B.] My dear Sir, Victory, October 4th, 1803. On October 1st, I was favoured with your several letters, and you will, of course, supply the Ambuscade with no more stores than is barely necessary to carry her to England; and as she will only be wanted to carry herself safe to England, I should hope that her rigging and sails taken in her will fully answer that purpose. I have wrote, on my first arrival, recommending a Commander to be appointed to the Prison-Ship at Gibraltar. The French having at Toulon refused any communication with us, I do not think that we can liberate their Seamen. Those from Gibraltar would assist to man L'Aigle at Cadiz, and the Ships at Ferrol; but, probably, the Ship expected with dispatches for the Mediterranean will bring out some directions concerning them. If they were put in a Cartel, they would never go to England: that could not be expected; and if they were not in a Cartel, they would carry off the Ship as a good Prize. If it comes necessary to send them, it must be in a Cartel with a false destination-say Brest, and to carry them into Falmouth or Plymouth. The Master or Officer to have public and secret orders. We have 400 at Malta. As I send you a very fine Brig," I hope the Gut will be kept clear of French Privateers. All English seamen will, I hope, be secured for the Ships, who are between 7 and 800 short of their complements. As Captain Hart has just come from Naples, he will tell you all the Italian news. to fit out, and man the Ambuscade. I am, dear Sir, with great respect and esteem, your most obedient and faithful servant, He goes NELSON AND Bronte. The Halcyon, Captain Pearse. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. [Autograph, in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B.] Victory, off Toulon, October 5th, 1803. My dear Lord, I have put Captain Durban, who I never saw till this day, into the Ambuscade; I trust the Admiralty will highly approve of it. His services appear to me to have been very great, and never rewarded, but his merits confessed by all. I am-don't laugh-dreadfully sea-sick this day, and as it blows a Levanter, I must not keep the Monmouth, who joined from Naples last night. Mr. Layman your Lordship knows very well: I have put him into the Weazle. I am always, my dear Lord, most faithfully yours, NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, off Toulon, October 5th, 1803. I have taken no steps to commission the Ambuscade till I saw Captain Durban, which was not until this morning. From the copies of letters from you, approving, by order of their Lordships, his conduct on many occasions, and from several individual letters from Members of the late and present Admiralty, I think that their Lordships will most highly approve of my embracing this opportunity of promoting so deserving an Officer. I have appointed Lieutenant William Layman to command the Weazle, and appointed two Lieutenants to the Ambuscade. This is all the establishment I shall give her for her passage to England, as she will be manned from his Majesty's ship Monmouth, and I hope that both will be ready to proceed to England with the next Convoy. I have the honour to be, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. Captain William Durban. This zealous and scientific Officer, who was made an Honorary Doctor of Laws, died a Rear-Admiral of the Blue on the 9th of February 1837, a few weeks after he attained his Flag. ΤΟ Sir, ..... MASTER OF H.M. SLOOP. [Letter-Book.] Victory, off Toulon, 5th October, 1803. I have received your letter of the 3rd instant, requesting, for the reasons therein mentioned, that I will order a CourtMartial on Captain ......, Commander of his Majesty's Sloop. ...: in answer to which, I have to acquaint you, that as you have not mentioned any particular case or instance of Captain . . . . . . .'s cruelty or oppression to you, I do not feel justified in complying with your request upon such loose charges as you allege against him in your aforesaid letter. I am, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY ADDINGTON. [Autograph, in the Sidmouth Papers.] My dear Sir, Victory, off Toulon, October 6th, 1803. Some of our Ships chased two Frigates into Calvi, in Corsica, and two Corvettes have been chased into Hieres. The French Admiral mounted yesterday morning his SeaVane, a thing which a landsman would not notice; but it gives a certainty to my mind that they wish to put to sea, and never was a Squadron of British Ships more anxious to meet them. I can have no excuse, nor do I want my Country to make any for me: if I see the Enemy, my exertions shall be used to lay the Squadron well in, and the event, with the blessing of Providence on a just cause, we have no reason to fear. Till the Battle is over I hope to write to you no more; whether I survive it or not, my name shall never bring a blush on the cheeks of my friends. May God bless you, my King and Country, and believe me ever your most attached and faithful friend, NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN WILLIAM LAYMAN, H. M. SLOOP WEAZLE. [From a Copy in the Admiralty.] Victory, off Toulon, 6th October, 1803. Having ordered that his Majesty's Sloop Weazle, under your command, may be taken into the Mole at Gibraltar so soon as Commissioner Otway has completed the Ambuscade's defects, You are hereby required and directed to cause the utmost exertion to be used (so far as the same may depend upon you) in getting the Weazle's defects made good, and the said Ship fitted for sea with all dispatch; and, so soon as she is in all respects ready, you are to proceed and cruise very diligently in the Gut, for the purpose of keeping the communication between Gibraltar and the Coast of Barbary open, proceeding (as circumstances of information respecting the Enemy's Privateers may render necessary) for the purpose of protecting the Trade of his Majesty's Subjects, and destroying the Enemy's Privateers and Cruisers which are stationed there to intercept our commerce, attending most strictly to my order of the 30th May last, (which will be delivered to you by Captain Durban,) respecting the non-interruption of the Trade of his Catholic Majesty's Subjects, and the Neutrality to be observed with the Powers in amity with Great Britain. You are never to exceed to the Westward of keeping the limits of Cape Spartel in sight on any account; and in the execution of this service, you are to pay due regard to such desires as Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Trigge3 may find necessary to require of you for the protection of the Boats employed in bringing the necessary refreshments to the Garrison, or otherwise, as his Majesty's Service may requirecalling once every week on the Lieutenant-Governor to know his desires, and to receive such orders as I may find necessary to send you. You are to continue on this service till otherwise directed, acquainting me, from time to time, as opportunity may offer, with an account of your proceedings. NELSON AND BRONTE, N.B.-The Halcyon under similar orders. VOL. V. Lieutenant-Governor of Gibraltar, TO SIR ALEXANDER JOHN BALL, BART., MALTA. [Autograph, in the possession of Sir William Keith Ball, Bart.] My dear Ball, Victory, off Toulon, October 6th, 1803. Your friendly council and advice is always most acceptable, and the wisdom of the measures you propose is undoubted, and should be followed had I the means. The state of Egypt is deplorable; and I have no doubt that the French have made a treaty with the Mamelukes, or will with the Turks. I have not only wrote it, but impressed it on Mr. Addington's mind, the necessity of his steering such a course as would neither throw the Mamelukes or Turks into the arms of France. Whether they attend at home to these things, I very much doubt and deplore. I hope the Capitan is, long before this, in Egypt-not that I believe the Turks will ever be what they call masters of that Country again. The wish I have of sending a small Ship now and then to Egypt is frustrated, for I have them not. I want to place a good Sloop to guard our Currant Ships, and to look about the Republic of the Seven Islands. I want also to place a Ship above Ancona. How far Captain Cracraft will be able to accomplish these things with his small Squadron, I am not sure; but he shall have a letter to attend to your wants for Convoy to both the Morea and Adriatic, for which purpose I shall add for the present the Arrow to his Squadron, and send Bittern, with 24-pounders, in the room of Troubridge's son-in-law.' I had intended sending Sir Richard Bickerton to Malta to arrange these and other matters, and, amongst others, to look at the place for the Naval Hospital, and to get an estimate of the expense of fitting it up; but I believe, from appearances, that the French Fleet are so near putting to sea, that it would be cruel in me to send so excellent an Officer and friend away, at a moment we may expect so glorious a harvest. I would give a good deal for a copy of the French Admiral's orders. Report says it is Decrés, as he fought the Guillaume Tell so well. If he is a fighting man so much the better. I hope he will not run away; we may want heels to catch Captain Richardson, of the Juno, step-son of Sir Thomas Troubridge. |