me of your nephew: in whatever station I may be, I should be most ungrateful, if I could for a moment forget your public support of me in the day of Battle, or your private friendship, which I esteemed most highly; therefore, as far as relates to you, your nephew, and myself, let this letter stand against me. I was glad to see that Fremantle had got his old Ship again. If you are employed, I think the Mediterranean would suit you better than the Black Rocks, North Seas, or West Indies; and I shall be truly happy to have you near me, and to have frequent opportunities of personally assuring you how much I am, my dear Foley, your faithful and affectionate friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO J. B. GIBERT, ESQ., HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S CONSUL AT BARCELONA. Sir, [Letter Book.] Victory, off Toulon, 10th October, 1808. I received by Captain Swaine your letters of the 26th ultimo; the Seaman and Boy mentioned in one of the said letters, were brought to the Fleet by the Raven. It is rather remarkable that the Vessel with wine, which you acquaint me is gone to Leghorn, should have missed the Fleet off Toulon, as we have been but little distance from that place, since the beginning of August last. I am very much obliged by your sending the Gazette and Newspapers, and will feel particularly thankful for the most early information respecting our situation with Spain, and beg you will be good enough to forward any dispatches which may arrive from Mr. Frere or Mr. Hunter for me, and to send them, as early as possible, the accompanying letter for the last-mentioned gentleman. I shall not fail to pay due attention to the supplies you Mr. Richard Foley, son of Captain Foley's deceased brother. He entered the Navy as a Midshipman of the Elephant, under his uncle's command, in 1800, was afterwards in the Ambuscade, Captain Durban, was made a Lieutenant in April 1807, a Commander in May 1812, Posted in June 1814, and died on the 23rd of December, 1829. 5 Captain Fremantle had been lately appointed to the Ganges, which Ship he had commanded at Copenhagen. mention for the Fleet (through Neutral bottoms to Malta) in the event of a War with Spain; and shall send extracts of your proposals to the Agent Victuallers at Malta and Gibraltar, that they may avail themselves thereof, and give the preference to the most advantageous terms for Government. In case of the continuance of Peace with Spain, (which I still hope may be the case,) it would be desirable to fix the precise mode of having the Fleet under my command regularly supplied from Rosas or Alfaquez, with live bullocks, onions, and a few sheep now and then, on an average of fifty bullocks a week, taking into account the uncertainty of the weather at this season of the year, which perhaps might prevent communication with either of those places for a fortnight together. I, therefore, beg you will let me know if such supply can be had at Rosas or Alfaquez, and what the average price of the pound of beef will cost Government under the circumstances above-mentioned, for any given time, or from one month to another, during the winter season, payment thereof to be made by bills on the Victualling Board, as often as may be required; and in the event of the Fleet leaving this place unexpectedly, a reasonable allowance will be made for any live bullocks remaining on hand in consequence of the agreement which may be entered into. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO MR. D. WALSH, MERCHANT, AT BARCELONA. [Letter-Book.] Victory, off Toulon, 10th October, 1803. I have received your letters of the 29th and 30th ultimo, and have read with much attention the proposal therein contained, for supplying his Majesty's Ships and Vessels under my command with wine and brandy, under the present existing circumstances, and in the event of a War with Spain, for which I am very much obliged. The Fleet, at this moment, are perfectly complete in those articles; but I shall send copies of your letters to the Agent Victuallers at Malta and Gibraltar, that they may avail themselves of your kind offer, whenever their necessities may make it necessary. I shall be obliged by your informing me whether you can supply the Fleet with live bullocks, hay, onions, &c., at Rosas, during the present tranquillity, and also in the event of a rupture with Spain, and what terms they could be procured upon. I am, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO ADMIRAL SIR THOMAS PASLEY, BART. [Autograph, in the possession of William Collyns, Esq., of Kenton in Devonshire.] My dear Sir Thomas, Victory, off Toulon, October 13th, 1803. I was not favoured with any letter from you, previous or since my leaving England. The conversation I had with you respecting Mr. Tailour, was at your house in Welbeck Street; and there his name stands on my list, I am sorry to say, beyond what I can form any hopes of reaching by the limited promotions allowed by the present Admiralty. They seem disposed to fill up all captured Ships, and all those Captains who go home ill. My list is full for such vacancies, and is daily adding; therefore, I only look for deaths, unless as a favour from the Admiralty, for this climate is so healthy that only two Captains died, in ten years, natural deaths. I can only say, that I have all the inclination to be useful to any friend of yours. Captain Briggs' I have the highest regard for, and you cannot be more anxious to promote his welfare than I am. I have received a letter from your protegé, Mr. Nairholm of the Belleisle, and I will not be unmindful of him. The taking of the French Fleet may do much for my clearing the way, but I have more than fifty to make Lieutenants. Admiral Campbell was very well when we parted. He is gone to look for water for his Ship in Sardinia; for Malta is at such an immense distance, that I can send nothing there that I may want under six or seven weeks. I am, my dear Sir Thomas, with many thanks for your good wishes, ever your much obliged, and faithful servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. Of the Agincourt, now Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Briggs, G.C.M.G. TO ADMIRAL SIR PETER PARKER. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 330.] 14th October, 1803. Your grandson came to me, with your kind letter of August 20th, on October 6th; nothing could be more grateful to my feelings than receiving him. I have kept him as Lieutenant of the Victory, and shall not part with him until I can make him a Post Captain; which you may be assured I shall lose no time in doing. It is the only opportunity ever offered me, of showing that my feelings of gratitude to you are as warm and alive as when you first took me by the hand: I owe all my Honours to you, and I am proud to acknowledge it to all the world. Lord St. Vincent has most strongly and kindly desired your grandson's promotion; therefore I can only be the instrument of expediting it. Believe me ever, my dear Sir Peter, your most grateful and sincerely attached friend, NELSON AND Bronte. ΤΟ [From the "Naval Chronicle," vol. xxxix. p. 131. The blanks in this letter are in the printed copy, and it is not in the Editor's power to fill them up.] My dear Victory, off Toulon, October 14th, 1803. Your letter of July 21st, came to me in the Childers, Sir William Bolton, and I assure you that I feel very much obliged by your kind hint, but I do not believe one word of your information: malicious liars are always travelling about doing evil. If he comes out here, I shall be heartily glad to see him. I well know his reasons for coming out; and even was he an ill-disposed man, could that hurt me? Can my mind be turned against my King by any beings on the earth? Besides, what is there to find out here? Only what he knows, and every man in England and the Fleet knows-that I will fight the French Fleet, the moment I can get at them. I have no plans to divulge; and if I had, I should not put it • Mr. Peter Parker, before-mentioned, (vide vol. iii. p. 328,) afterwards Captain Sir Peter Parker, Bart., who fell gallantly at the storming of an American camp, near Baltimore, on the 30th of August, 1814. in any man's power to give information. In finis, I believe the gentleman to be as loval and attached to the King and Country, as you or I are; if he is not, why do not Ministry take him up? My dear, some d-d backbiting rascals are, in our turns, pulling us to pieces; you, I, him, and others. I shall close by my old expression-they be damned! In the Fleet I have not seen a French flag since my joining; nor do I expect it, unless the Enemy put to sea. Our gales of wind are incessant; and you know that I am never well in bad weather; but patience, I hope, will get me through it. Sir Alexander Ball is very well, but I should rather think he would be glad to be in the Navy again. I am at this moment confoundedly out of humour. A Vessel has been spoke that says she has seen a Fleet six days ago off Minorca; and it is so thick that we cannot get a look into Toulon, and blowing at this moment a Levanter. Imagine my feelings; but I am, my dear, most truly, your obliged and faithful friend, Nelson and Bronte. TO JOHN PALMER, ESQ. [Autograph, in the possession of Mrs. Palmer.] My dear Sir, Victory, off Toulon, October 14th, 1803. I was favoured with your letter of August 26th, by your son, on October 7th. My time here has been so very short, and you will conceive that I came out well loaded, that in truth I do not see my way for even clearing the Victory once; and I have upon my list twenty to be made Captains. Mr. Palmer is the third recommended to me by the Duke of Clarence, and I sincerely wish it may be in my power to promote them all, more especially the son of an old acquaintance. The capture of the French Fleet will make an opening for promotion, which I shall readily embrace. You may rely, my dear Sir, that I will not miss an opportunity, when I am at liberty, to be useful to your son. I am much obliged for your sending me the Correspondence of the Prince of Wales. Afterwards Captain Edmund Palmer, C.B., before mentioned. |