as beef, and a Memorandum will be given directing the dif ferent Pursers to charge themselves with the produce as fresh beef, and issue them to the sick, accordingly. In making the above purchase, the strictest attention is to be paid, that the bullocks, sheep, onions, and fodder, so procured for the use of the Squadron before mentioned, are good of their kind, and fit for His Majesty's Service, and that the sum paid for them is the lowest, and the market price usually charged; for the payment thereof, you will receive hard, or Spanish dollars from Captain Hardy of the Victory, giving him a receipt for the number you may require for the said purpose. You are to charge yourself with the whole of the bullocks, sheep, &c. so purchased, as Purser of His Majesty's Ship Belleisle, and supply them to the different Ships, agreeable to such directions as you shall receive from the Captain of the Fleet, taking the necessary receipts from the Pursers for the bullocks, sheep, &c., they may be respectively supplied with; and you are to dispose of all the bullocks' hides and sheepskins which may be slaughtered, during our stay here (if possible) to the most advantage for Government, taking care that the best possible use is made of the ready money, and that the whole and every individual article is procured on the most reasonable terms, and that the vouchers for the said purchase are regularly and correctly made out, and the prices authenticated by the Governor and other principal inhabitants at Madalena; a set of which, including the receipts from the different Ships, you will transmit to the Commissioners of the Victualling Board by the first opportunity, and two sets to me, for purposes which I may judge necessary. NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN RYVES, H. M. SHIP GIBRALTAR. [Autograph, in the possession of Captain George Frederick Ryves, C.B.] My dear Sir, Victory, November 2nd, 1803. We anchored in Agincourt Sound yesterday evening, and I assure you that I individually feel all the obligation due to you. for your most correct Chart, and directions for these Islands: We worked the Victory every foot of the way, from Asinara to this anchorage, the wind blowing from Longo Sardo, under double-reefed topsails. I shall write to the Admiralty stating how much they ought to feel obliged to your very great skill and attention in making this Survey. This is absolutely one of the finest harbours I have ever seen. I am, dear Sir, your obliged and obedient servant, NELSON AND Bronte. Sir, TO CAPTAIN CRACRAFT, H.M. SHIP ANSON. [Letter-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, Sardinia, 5th November, 1803. Although it is my sincere wish to observe the strictest Neutrality in Sicily, yet it is certainly justifiable to attack any Vessel in a place from whence she makes her attack. Two Vessels were given up at Naples on this principle, being taken by the Boats of the Cyclops and Experiment, who were sent from the anchorage. We have shown our complaisance in giving up one Privateer, but the conduct of the French is so contrary to all Neutrality that they must be punished, and I hope that the Neapolitan Government will approve of our proceedings. I have wrote a complaint to Mr. Elliot on the subject of the unwarrantable conduct of these Privateers, on a complaint of Captain Hillyar's. The conduct of Captain Raynsford' appears from his account to have been perfectly proper, and I am very much pleased with the spirited conduct of Lieutenant Lawrence, which I beg you will communicate to him. I am, with great esteem, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. Captain Robert Raynsford. This unfortunate Officer commanded the Athenienne, 64, when that Ship was lost on the Esquerques, in the Mediterranean, on the 27th of October 1806, and, together with 347 of her crew, perished. "I urged Captain Raynsford," said one of the surviving Officers in his Narrative," to save himself by swimming to the Launch, but in vain; he declaring to me that he was perfectly resigned to his fate, and was determined not to quit his post whilst a man remained."-Naval Chronicle, vol. xvi. p. 191. This Officer has not been identified. Sir, TO CAPTAIN CRACRAFT, H. M. SHIP ANSON. [Letter-Book.] Victory, at the Madalena Islands, 5th November, 1803. I have just received your letter of October 6th, telling me that Captain Richardson had fallen in with an Algerine Squadron of eleven Sail. I suspect they are not Algerines but Tunisians; but as each Corsair is obliged to produce a Certificate from our Consul, the truth of who they belong to is very easily ascertained, and I wish it to be done on every occasion on falling in with these gentry. I approve very much of your going up the Adriatic, and when you call at Corfu, you will see the necessity of paying great attention to the safety of our Ships in the Currant trade. I am, with great esteem, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO LIEUTENANT WILLIAM PEMBERTON, RESIDENT AGENT FOR Sir, TRANSPORTS, MALTA. [Letter-Book.] Victory, at the Madalena Islands, Sardinia, 5th November, 1803. You did right to send Lieutenant M'Culloch home; he could not be wanted here. I am glad the Vessel with water is ready, and you will receive an order to load a Vessel with provisions, which I beg may be done as expeditiously as possible. The Returns of Transports, and how they have been disposed of, I have received. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO NATHANIEL TAYLOR, ESQ., NAVAL STOREKEEPER, MALTA. Sir, [Letter-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 5th November, 1803. I am favoured with your letter of October 29th. The hemp in butts must be put in one of the Transports coming to the Fleet. I am glad that you have prepared a Transport to send up the Adriatic, and I judge she is sailed before this time. With respect to the making of rope, none under three-inch is necessary to be made for the Line of Battle Ships, and we can make as far as four-inch. The rope principally to be made at Malta is upwards of four-inch, our braces are four and a half inch, and lifts the same size; the Master Attendant will teach them in a day. Our Master-Ropemaker is a child of thirteen years of age, and the best Ropemaker in the Fleet. I am glad to receive the Cameleon so completely refitted, and if the Spider is in the miserable state she is represented to me, I desire she may be surveyed by the Master-Attendant and Builder, and if found so, to be refitted. We shall be very glad of more twine and slops; for this cruizing in the Gulf of Lyons is very bad for our sails, and warm slops will be truly acceptable. Something must be done to keep the water free under the Shears. The Officers of the Yard must take care of this, and repair the Punt, and employ proper people to clear it. In the time of the Order, the sale of the mud paid, I understand, the expenses. However, it must be cleared away, and speedily; for some of us will want to go under the Shears very soon. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO PATRICK WILKIE, ESQ., AGENT VICTUALLER, MALTA. Sir, [Letter-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, Sardinia, 5th November, 1803. I have received your letter of October 26th, and you will receive directions from Captain Murray, for loading a Victualler with supplies for the Fleet; and I sincerely hope that no weevily bread will be sent, as the Fleet is free from those insects at present; and I beg that every exertion may be used in loading the Transport, as far as depends upon you. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN SCHOMBERG, H. M. SHIP MADRAS, MALTA. Sir, [Letter-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, Sardinia, 5th November, 1803. The Raven will be put particularly under your orders for the various services which may be wanted, and not to exclude her from being sent to me if you should want to send her. She must immediately convoy the two Transports to the most secret Rendezvous herewith sent, and moor them in safety under the Fort, giving directions to the Masters to take care of their Ships and wait for my further orders; and I need not tell you to keep the Raven active. She sails so fast that no Privateer can get from her, I am sure; but must caution Captain Swaine,' and very strictly, in your orders, to keep his Convoy close in passing the Faro, if you have occasion to send him to Naples. you Convoys for the Archipelago and Adriatic, I trust, Captain Cracraft will furnish; for my wish is to confine the Raven as much as possible to the service of Malta, and this you will say to Sir Alexander Ball. With respect to bearing supernumerary Officers and men for the Packets, I do not conceive that you can bear any Officers by rank for wages and victuals. The fifty desired by Sir Alexander Ball, are borne, I suppose, for wages and victuals on board the Madras, and lent from her to the Packets: farther than that, I don't believe we can do with propriety. With respect to the petition of the Maltese, it is not mentioned where the Vessels are blockaded, nor dated: I cannot understand it. If it is in the Morea, Captain Cracraft has liberated them long before this time. I congratulate you on being confirmed, and when I can, compatible with my other engagements, I shall certainly be glad to put you into a good Frigate, or to do anything else in my power to serve you, being with real esteem and regard, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. 5 Captain Spelman Swaine was Posted in May 1810, and is still living. J Captain Schomberg's commission as Post-Captain was dated on the 6th of August, 1803. |