TO CAPTAIN DONNELLY, H.M. SHIP NARCISSUS. [Autograph, in the possession of the late Adam Bromilow, Esq.] Sir, Victory, off Toulon, October 24th, 1803. I am going with the Squadron to the Madalena Islands to water, and shall return to the Rendezvous as soon as possible; but I think it will be about fourteen days from this time; you will, therefore, with the Seahorse under your command, remain off Toulon, and occasionally on the Rendezvous, till my return, taking every care in your power that the French Fleet do not put to sea without your knowing it; and, in case of their coming out, you will send the Seahorse direct to me, to let me be acquainted with it; and you will endeavour yourself to ascertain their intended route, by which time I may be able to have the Fleet ready for putting to sea. I expect the Termagant with dispatches from Gibraltar; you will, therefore, direct her Commander to come to me at the Madalena Islands, cautioning him not to entangle himself with the Islands, unless he is assured, by sending his boat on shore to the town of Madalena, or exchanging signals with the Fleet, that it is safe to approach. Should you fall in with either the Canopus or Renown, you will acquaint Admiral Campbell and Captain White' where I am, and of my desire for their immediate junction with me. Should certain circumstances occur, which I cannot forsee, I rely on your ability and zeal for acting in the properest manner for his Majesty's service; and I am, Sir, with great respect, your most obedient servant, NELSON AND Bronte. 1 Captain John Chambers White, of the Renown: he died a Knight Commander of the Bath, Vice-Admiral of the White, and Commander-in-Chief at Sheerness, in January 1845. PRIVATE JOURNAL, FROM OCTOBER 25TH TO OCTOBER 31ST, 1803. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 336.] October 25th, saw Corsica and Cape Longo Sardo; from noon to daylight next morning, we had a heavy swell with squally weather. During the whole of the 26th, lost ground 2 This private Journal has not been found; but two small Books are preserved in which Lord Nelson daily entered, in his own hand, the state of the Barometer, Weather, and Wind twice, three times, and occasionally four, five, and even six times in every twenty-four hours, from the 24th of October 1803, to the 13th of May 1805. A few extracts from these entries may be considered interesting: "STATE OF THE WEATHER BY THE BAROMETER, 1803. Time taken. Rise & Fall of the Barometer State of the Weather and 30 30 1 30 30 Wind. has been N.B. From Friday morning the Barometer VOL. V. 0 Nearly calm, North. At G P.M. of the preceding day, the Barometer was 29° 7′ 6".-EDITOR. T all day. The next day, we had strong breezes at E.S.E., directly through the Straits, and found we had gained two points to the Eastward in the night. Throughout the ensuing night we had strong gales, and were under reefed courses. At six o'clock the next evening, having split many sails, we found ourselves abreast of Isle Rosso. All night strong gales. Saturday, October 29th, found ourselves about five leagues directly to leeward of the place we left last night. At daylight, made sail under close-reefed topsails and reefed courses, with a very strong current against us; but the Fleet being absolutely in distress for water, I am determined to persevere, notwithstanding all the difficulties. At one P.M., fetched Castel Sardo, a small Town in Sardinia, rounded in stays three miles from the shore: beating alongshore all night about three miles from the Coast. October 31st.-Not being able to clear the Levisena Islands, stood towards Shark's Mouth, tacked, and fetched the Northernmost of Martha Islands. N.B. The Straits of Bonafaccio lie between the Martha and Levisena Islands, the last of which belong to Corsica. When near the Southernmost, Martha Island, we opened the little one to the Westward of the Island Spanioti, close to the ledge of rocks, and weathered them about one mile; we then tacked under Sardinia, and stood into a beautiful little bay, or rather harbour. After various tacks, and being close to the two rocks in Captain Ryves' Chart, and abreast of the rocks where he was, the whole Squadron anchored by six o'clock in the evening, without any accident, in Agincourt Sound, under the Sardinian shore. TO HIS EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT, ESQ. [Autograph, in the Elliot Papers. "31st October, P.M.-At 3·10, came to with the best bower in Agincourt Sound, and moored Ship. November 1.-Saluted the Governor of Madalena with nine guns on coming on board."—Victory's Log.] Victory, Madalena Islands, November 1st, 1803. My dear Sir, The Fleet being very much in want of water, I have taken the opportunity of the moonlight nights to come here, in order to obtain it, and some refreshments for our crews, who have now been upwards of five months at sea. But our health and good humour is perfection, and we only want the French Fleet out. This day week they had eight Sail of the Line ready, and a ninth fitting; so that we shall surely meet them some happy day, and I have no doubt but that we shall be amply repaid for all our cares and watchings. I have left Frigates to watch them. The Raven goes to Naples in order to obtain candles, and other things of which we stand in need, and I hope she will be favoured with the winds, and catch us here. I have not a word of news from any quarter, and I have only to hope that all goes on well in the Two Sicilies. I should be happy, was it in my power, to communicate oftener with you, and dire necessity only obliges me to send the Raven, and I am left without a small Vessel. Pray, tell me, can I write to England through Naples with safety? How do your dispatches go? I am ever, my dear Sir, your Excellency's most faithful and obliged servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. Captain Murray, Hardy, and Dr. Scott, desire their compliments. My letters I send as I can, generally to Gibraltar. The other routes are uncertain, and I have no spare Vessels. I feel even parting with the Cameleon, and he has strict orders to join me as soon as possible. Sir, TO ARCHIBALD MACNEILL, ESQ., NAPLES. [Letter-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, Sardinia, 1st November, 1803. By your letter of the 26th September last, you offered to supply one or two hundred head of oxen when wanted: I now beg that you will be pleased to inform me when you can bave one hundred head of prime oxen either at Gaeta or Salerno, (the former place in preference, as it is a better anchorage in this season,) and fix as nearly the time they will be ready as possible, in order that the Ship I may send for them may not be delayed. It will also be necessary to have provender for the cattle for at least one month; and it would be very desirable to have twelve tons of onions for the use of the Fleet, which, with care at this season, will, I should imagine, keep perfectly good. The price and weight of the bullocks being stated in your letter of the 26th July last, it only remains for me to observe, that the Captain sent on this service will receive the bullocks, onions, and hay, and give you bills on the Commissioners for Victualling his Majesty's Navy for the amount, I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO MR. RICHARD BROMELEY, PURSER, H.M. SHIP BELLEISLE, [Order-Book.] Victory, Madelena Islands, 1st November, 1803. Having judged it necessary to proceed to this place for the purpose of completing the wood and water of His Majesty's Ships named in the margin, and as the health of their Companies very much depends upon as frequent supplies of fresh beef, onions, &c. as can be procured; it is my intention that every means shall be used to effect this purpose, and to procure as many live bullocks, &c. as can be had; I shall, therefore, gladly accept of your very disinterested offer of service on this occasion. Finding, however, that it is morally impossible to purchase any kind of refreshment for the Squadron at this place without ready money, (bills on the Victualling-Board not being negotiable) Captain Hardy, of his Majesty's Ship Victory, has very handsomely offered to lend such a number of dollars as may be wanted for the above purpose: You are, therefore, hereby required and directed to purchase as many live bullocks and onions as you can procure for the use of the said Squadron, together with two hundred head of sheep for the use of the sick on board the different Ships, as I find from the Governor of Madalena (to whom I wrote this morning on the subject of supplies, and also, to afford you every facility in his power) that it will be very difficult to procure the number of bullocks wanted for the Ships on so short notice; and as the sheep at this place are very small, meagre, and inferior in quality, you are to supply them 2 Victory, Kent, Canopus, Superb, Belleisle, Triumph, Renown, Stately, Cameleon. |