for this, and other wise conduct on several occasions, that I have made him a Post-Captain, and given him the command of the Ambuscade Frigate. I verily believe, my dear Sir, that you are much mistaken about Sir A. J. Ball's opinion of Sir John Acton. I believe he has the very highest one of him, and that his loss to Naples would at this moment be the ruin of the Country; but he has thought that Sir John has had difficulties to struggle with, in giving his opinions, that sometimes thwarted his wishes. I sincerely hope it is not so. Dear Sir William, who was Sir John's firm friend, against all opposition, to the day of his death, has often told me that it was so. I sincerely hope he has no opposition, neither in public nor private. The impudence of Buonaparte I am not surprised at. The Crowned Heads of Europe have to thank themselves. Our Country will ever resist; and the King of Naples is the only King who has shown any spirit. He has felt like a King. Would to God he had been as powerful as I wish him! Ever yours, faithfully,

NELSON AND BRONTE.

TO HIS EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT, ESQ.

[Autograph, in the Elliot Papers.]

Victory, October 8th, 1803.

(2.) My dear Sir, The Childers Brig arrived from Plymouth on the 6th; and by her, I have had a full and entire approbation of my conduct, both public and private; but, at the same time, I am desired to guard, and to communicate those cautions to Sir John Acton and yourself, that we are not lulled into a fatal security: therefore, notwithstanding the favourable appearances of the French withdrawing from the Kingdom of Naples, I have strengthened our Squadron in the Adriatic, and the Coast of Calabria. It now consists of the Ships as by list on the other side, under Captain Cracraft

And I have recommended Captain Cracraft, if possible, to communicate with Manfredonia, and to offer to Sir John Acton and yourself any accommodation in his power, by taking a Messenger, &c., for Vienna. In short, my dear Sir, you may rely, that whatever man can do for the safety and comfort of the Two Sicilies, none can have more desire to do it than myself. You will keep the Gibraltar as long as you want her, or until I can relieve her; and I am sure Captain Ryves saw the Troops safe to Messina. The English Merchants, if any remain besides Mr. Noble, I believe, would have been more correct in applying to me for Convoy, than through your Excellency; but it is curious he has not sent you a list of the English Vessels waiting for Convoy, nor have I heard of any being at Naples. If they find Trade, it is my business to find Convoy; therefore, let them send a list of Vessels to the Senior Officer at Malta, or to me. I should be very happy to receive authentic intelligence of the destination of the French Squadron-their route, and time of sailing. Anything short of this is useless; and I assure your Excellency, that I would not, upon any consideration, have a Frenchman in the Fleet, except as a prisoner. I put no confidence in them. You think yours good: the Queen thinks hers the same: I believe they are all alike. Whatever information you can get me, I shall be very thankful for; but not a Frenchman comes here. Forgive me; but my mother hated the French. I am ever, your most faithful and obliged,

I am glad that your family begins to collect around you, and that you stand a chance of seeing Mrs. Elliot. Your taking Harriman' is certainly a real act of charity; and whatever you can do for him, I believe he will be truly grateful to you. By his letter he speaks of you as he ought. He is most

9 Vide vol. ii. p. 71; and vol. iii. pp. 399, 405.

sincerely to be pitied. The remains of Lord Bristol' are gone in the Monmouth for England. If you will direct, agreeable to Lord Hawkesbury's desire, his effects at Naples to be collected together, and give me an idea of the quantity, I will send a Ship of War or Transport for them, and if Mr. Jackson, or Lord Bristol's factotum at Rome, will send the effects from thence to either Cività Vecchia, or Naples, and will let me know when they are at the sea-side, and ready, I I will send for them.

Two French Frigates have had a narrow escape. They have been chased twice-once into Corsica with the Troops, by the Agincourt 64; and on Sunday last, by two Frigates, Active and Phoebe, into St. Tropes; but these fellows will not fight, if they can help it. Never was health equal to this Squadron. It has been within ten days of five months at sea, and we have not a man confined to his bed: therefore, if these fellows wait till we are forced into Port, they must wait some time.

May I presume to request of your Excellency to present my humble duty to the King and Queen, and assure them of my eternal attachment to their Royal persons, and to all their Family, and any other civil speeches you may be so good as to say for me. To be a Courtier is your trade, and I know myself to be a cobbler at that work. But I am ever, with all sincerity of heart, my dear Sir, your most faithful humble

servant,

NELSON AND BRONTE.

This will be presented to you by my nephew, Sir William Bolton; you will be so good as to present him to Sir John Acton. He was Lieutenant of both Vanguard and Foudroyant. Do not keep the Childers; she has secret orders to

execute.

N. AND B.

Your letter from Lord Minto was left behind by some mistake.

'Frederick Augustus, 4th Earl of Bristol, and Bishop of Derry, died at Naples on the 8th of July 1803. Mr. Elliot wrote to Lord Nelson, that knowing the superstitious dread of sailors of having a corpse on board their Ship, he had caused Lord Bristol's body to be packed and shipped as an antique statue!

TO CAPTAIN RYVES, H. M. SHIP GIBRALTAR, NAPLES.

[Autograph, in the possession of his son, Captain George Frederick Ryves, C.B.] Victory, October 8th, 1803.

Dear Sir,

I am much obliged by your letter of September 20th, and for the trouble you have taken about the wood at the Madalena Islands. His Excellency Mr. Elliot will request you to see the Neapolitan Troops safe to Messina; which, if not already performed, I am sure you have, or will have complied with. We have had nothing but severe gales of wind since you left us, but we get on very well. The Monmouth was only five days to Cape Sicie, but we were blown off. I am, dear Sir, with real esteem, your much obliged and obedient

servant,

NELSON AND BRONTE.

The Childers is not to be detained on any account.

TO SIR JOHN ACTON, BART., NAPLES.

[From a Copy in the Nelson Papers.]

My dear Sir John,

Victory, off Toulon, October 8th, 1803.

I was honoured by your Excellency's letter of September 25th, by the Monmouth, and you will readily believe how pleased I have been with the means of precaution which you have so vigorously pursued (detailed in Mr. Elliot's letters) for the preservation of Sicily. Independent of my duty, your Excellency will give me credit for going far beyond that cold line in supporting your wise plans, and for preserving the Two Sicilies for our good Sovereigns. Only tell me how I can

• Captain George Frederick Ryves, of the Gibraltar, an Officer of reputation, had, when in the Agincourt, commanded a small Squadron sent by Lord Keith in 1802, to take possession of Corfu, and thence to the Madalena Islands, to do all in his power without using force, to prevent the French from taking possession of them. There not being any Chart of those Islands, he constructed a very accurate survey, of which Lord Nelson often spoke in his Letters in terms of high commendation. For his services to the King of Naples, His Majesty presented him with a diamond ring. Captain Ryves obtained his Flag in 1825, and died in May 1826.

most be useful to them, as a public and private man, and they and your Excellency may rely upon me. Notwithstanding some favourable appearances for the removal of the French Troops in the Kingdom, I have reinforced Captain Cracraft with two fine Vessels of thirty-two and twenty-four pounders, and I have directed him to communicate with Manfredonia, and to write to your Excellency to offer any services in his power, and to bring down the Adriatic any Messengers from Vienna which might come to Trieste or Venice. The force in the Adriatic, under Captain Cracraft, is, the Anson, 44 twenty-four pounders; Juno, 36 twelve pounders; Arrow, 22 thirty-two pounders; Bittern, 18 twenty-four pounders; Morgiana, 18 eighteen pounders; entirely independent of the Vessels appointed for the protection of Malta towards Sicily.

I have the pleasure, also, to inform your Excellency of his Majesty's most full and entire approbation of my conduct, and that he places full confidence in all my actions for the honour of his Crown, and the advantage of his faithful Friends. The testimonies of private confidence and approbation from the other Members of the Cabinet, are too flattering for me to repeat; therefore I shall only request your Excellency to lay me with all humility at the feet of the King and Queen, and assure them of my eternal fidelity and vigilance for their safety, and I am, my dear Sir John, your attached and faithful friend,

NELSON AND BRONTE.

TO CAPTAIN FOLEY.

[From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 330.]

[Apparently about October, 1803.]

How little, my dear Foley, do we know who is to go first: gracious God, I am sure, to all appearance he3 was more likely to see us pass away, than we him! My dear Foley, I only desire that you will always charge yourself in reminding

Captain Foley's brother, Richard Foley, Esq., a Police Magistrate, who died on the 9th of July 1803. A long eulogium on his character is in the Gentleman's Magazine, vol. lxxiii. p. 883.