I suppose there must be some strong reasons for not complying with his Royal Highness' gallant wishes. I think I see that the King intends to have the Prince and his Regiment attached to his person. As a man and as a Soldier, there can be no reason why his Royal Highness should not be promoted, if he wishes it; but I believe we are now so well prepared, that the French will not venture the attempt at landing in England. Ireland is their object, and Egypt. I am ever, my dear Sir, with every good wish, your most obedient and faithful servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. I have received Lord William Gordon's" note, enclosing Mr. Kemble's note to Lady Hamilton; time may do much, and I have the inclination. TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CLARENCE. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 330.] Off Toulon, 15th October, 1803. I am absolutely, Sir, beginning this letter in a fever of the mind. It is thick as butter-milk, and blowing a Levanter; and the Narcissus has just spoke me to say, She boarded a Vessel, and they understood that the men had seen, a few days before, twelve Sail of Ships of War off Minorca. It was in the dusk, and he did not know which way they were steering.' This is the whole story, and a lame one. On the 8th, the French Fleet, as counted by Captain Boyle, was eight Sail of the Line, four Frigates, and some Corvettes. On the 9th, it blew a tremendous storm at N.W. which lasted till the 12th, since which time, although Seahorse and Renown are endeavouring to reconnoitre, it is so thick that I do not think they can either see into Toulon, or find me if they do. Your Royal Highness will readily imagine my feelings, although I cannot bring my mind to believe they are actually out; but to miss them-God forbid! They are my superior in numbers, but in everything else, I believe, I have the happiness of commanding the finest Squadron in the world-Victory, The Prince of Wales' celebrated Letters to the King, soliciting higher rank in the Army than that of Colonel. "Second son of Cosmo George, third Duke of Gordon: he was Receiver-General the Duchy of Cornwall, and died in May 1823. Kent, Superb, Triumph, Belleisle, and Renown. Admiral Campbell is gone to Sardinia, and I have been anxiously expecting him these ten days. If I should miss these fellows, my heart will break: I am actually only now recovering the shock of missing them in 1798, when they were going to Egypt. If I miss them, I will give up the cudgels to some more fortunate Commander; God knows I only serve to fight those scoundrels; and if I cannot do that, I should be better on shore. October 16th.-The Seahorse spoke me in the night; and made known that the Enemy were in the same state as when last reconnoitred on the 8th. I believe this was the only time in my life, that I was glad to hear the French were in Port. I think Captain Keats is very much better in his health; he is a most valuable Officer, and does honour to your friendship. Every day increases my esteem for him, both as an Officer and a man. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD HOBART, SECRETARY My Lord, [Autograph, in the Colonial Office.] Victory, off Toulon, October 16th, 1803. I send you my correspondence with the Bashaw of Tripoli, and your Lordship will observe, that he is, as usual, most friendly disposed towards us. During the time of Buonaparte's greatest success in Egypt, that he gave up to me, as prisoners, the French Consul, and every Frenchman in his Dominions, amounting to fifty-seven, and that his Arsenal was always open for the supply of our Ships. I have not thought it, however, proper to notice the indirect application for gunpowder and grape-shot, on account of his War with the Americans, without the approbation of Government. Although the Bashaw is fully entitled to every act of kindness from us, yet it will strike your Lordship, as it has me, that it might give cause for a discontent on the part of the Americans, which it must be our wish to avoid. I have, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD HOBART. [Original, in the Colonial Office.] My Lord, Victory, off Toulon, October 16th, 1803. On the arrival of the Childers on the 6th, the blockade of Genoa and Port Especia immediately took place, and the Southern parts of France, and the Ligurian and Italian Republics, will, I trust, severely feel the effects of it. There was certainly a difference between the situation of the poor Tuscans and those other Powers; the former will always be ready to assist us against the French, whenever they can do it with safety to themselves. By letters from Mr. Elliot and Sir John Acton, I am glad to find that some active measures are taking for the security of Sicily, and putting Messina in such a state of defence that it cannot be taken by surprise. I have told them some truths; but I am sure they are truly sensible that I have no further views in doing so, than to urge them to do what is right for the security of the Royal Family and Sicily. I will not touch on Mr. Elliot's mission. He believes that he is fully acquainted with the whole machinery which governs Naples: I own I doubt that he knows more than they wish him; but if they do what is right for their security I am content. I have always kept a Ship at Naples for the personal security of the Royal Family; and I have strengthened the Squadron which watches the French Army in the Heel of Italy, in case they should wish to cross to the Morea, which many think is their intention. What the real destination of the French Fleet may be is very difficult for me to guess. Mr. Elliot thinks they will try to have Sicily previous to their going to Egypt; others think they may go direct to cover the Army across to the Morea; others, that in the present unsettled state of Egypt, they may push with ten thousand men to Alexandria, and they may be bound outside the Mediterranean. Plausible reasons may certainly be given for every one of these plans; but I think one of the two last is their great object; and to those two points my whole attention is turned. If they put to sea, I hope to fall in with them, and then I have every reason to believe that all their plans will be frus trated. I have, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. P.S.-I have given directions for the reception of the Swiss recruits on board his Majesty's Ships. I transmit a letter from our Consul at Minorca, and the infamous Edict decidedly against us. In short, our difficulties in the Spanish Ports are next to an exclusion-I ought rather to say, amount to an exclusion." NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD HOBART. [Autograph draught, in the possession of the Rev. Henry Girdlestone.] My Lord, Victory, off Toulon, 16th October, 1803. I was honoured with your Lordship's letter of August 23rd, on the 6th instant, by the Childers Sloop of War: and I have sent for Mr. Falcon to come to me, that I may consult with him on the properest mode of proceeding, in order to make the Dey of Algiers conduct himself with becoming respect for his Majesty's Government, and all under his protection. Your Lordship may rest assured that I will not suffer, in the reparation I may demand, either the dignity of his Majesty to be insulted with impunity, nor those under his protection to be captured. At the same time, it will become my duty to take care that I do not rashly plunge our Country in a War with such a Power, and who, notwithstanding all which has been said, I have good reason to believe is friendly disposed towards us, and hates the French. On the subject of Mr. Falcon (your Lordship will forgive the freedom of my remarks)—he was Secretary to the former Consul, and such persons, however elevated their rank with us, are held very low in estimation with the Moors. Therefore he never was really well received, or looked upon by the Dey; therefore I can readily believe he did not think the turning away Mr. Falcon (in the ignominious manner he did) the same as if he sent away any other Consul. The crime which was committed in Mr. Falcon's house was the very greatest. Reports have reached me, that just before the Vessel's sailing with Mr. Falcon, reflection came over the Dey, and that he sent for Mr. Falcon to return. Although this This paragraph was added in Lord Nelson's own hand. would not have done away the whole of the insult, yet it would have opened a door for immediate reparation; but as Mr. F. has not mentioned this circumstance-certainly very important-it may not be true. With respect to the reported taking of Maltese Vessels with Passports, notwithstanding the circumstances are so accurately detailed, even to the Number of the Passport, I have still very great doubts; for, notwithstanding the apparent public notoriety of the said captures, and the American Consul's letters, sent me from all quarters, even from Sir Alexander Ball, yet on my desiring of Sir Alexander Ball all the circumstances of where these Vessels were going, to whom their cargoes belong, &c. &c., all I have yet been able to obtain is the letter, of which I transmit a copy, stating -viz., 'I think it necessary to apprise your Lordship, that it has occasionally been found necessary (in consequence of the scarcity of Maltese Vessels) to grant British passports to Sicilian Vessels for one voyage only, for the purpose of supplying the Island; and as there is reason to believe that they have sometimes abused this privilege, by selling or otherwise misapplying these passports, it is possible that the Vessels alluded to in Mr. O'Brien's letter, may have been captured under such circumstances.' And to this day I have never heard from Sir Alexander Ball of the capture of any Maltese. I have now sent to him to demand from the Senate, who, I understand, regulate these matters, the names of the Vessels, to whom belonging, Masters' names, and the name of every man composing the crew, &c. &c. &c., that I may proceed upon strong grounds. The orders from your Lordship, signifying the King's commands, are so perfectly clear, that if I cannot procure all the satisfaction which Mr. Falcon's case and these captures demand, hostilities will be the consequence; but if it be necessary to resort to that measure, I shall certainly not give the Dey the advantage of securing his Cruizers, which at this season are all in Port. They usually begin to fit out in February, and sail the beginning of April, returning for the winter in September; therefore I shall, if possible, not resort to actual hostilities, until I can strike a blow, the same day, on all his Vessels, from one end of the Mediterranean to the other. I have the honour to be, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. |