having very properly, when off Minorca, left the Convoy to join me. I shall only say, that all your wishes respecting Officers shall be complied with, and, occasionally, I hope to be allowed to put in some of my followers; for as to deaths in this country, they cannot be expected; and dismissals by Court Martials, I hope never to experience. The station I chose to the Westward of Sicie, was to answer two important purposes: one to prevent the junction of a Spanish Fleet from the Westward; and the other, to be to windward, so as to enable me, if the Northerly gale came on to the N.N.W. or N.N.E., to take shelter in a few hours either under the Hières Islands or Cape St. Sebastian; and I have hitherto found the advantage of the position. Now Spain, having settled her Neutrality, I am taking my winter's station under St. Sebastian, to avoid the heavy seas in the Gulf, and keep Frigates off Toulon. From September, we have experienced such a series of bad weather that is rarely met with; and I am sorry to say, that all the Ships which have been from England in the late War, severely feel it. I had ordered the Transports, with provisions, to meet me at St. Pierre's, but as yet they have not made their appearance; and although this day we average three months' provisions, yet I wish to keep them complete to near five months. You will see by the Admiral's' letter that the Kent has suffered so severely that she is going to Malta, and I much doubt our getting her to sea again under six weeks or two months, and the passage from Malta is hardly to be made with any Ship. The Amazon, who I have not seen but heard of, was three weeks from Malta as far as Minorca. In short, my dear Lord, if I was to allow this Fleet to get into such a Port as Malta, they had better be at Spithead. I know no way of watching the Enemy but to be at sea, and therefore good Ships are necessary. The Superb is in a very weak state; but her Captain' is so superior to any difficulties, that I hear but little from her. Triumph and Renown complain a good deal. The next Convoy will probably be the Braakel and Agincourt. The Donegal I am ordering to join me, and the French L'Aigle must take her chance till I can get something more about me. However, Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton. 5 Keats, 6 At Cadiz. you may rely that all which can be done by Ships and men shall be done; whilst it pleases God to give me strength of health, all will do well, and when that fails, I shall give the cudgels to some stouter man; but I hope to last till the Battle is over, and if I do that, it is all I can hope for, or in reason expect. Sir Richard Bickerton is a very steady, good Officer, and fully to be relied upon; George Campbell you know; and I am ever, my dear Lord, with the greatest regard, most faithfully yours, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO JOHN TYSON, ESQ. [Autograph, in the possession of Edwin Beedell, Esq.] My dear Tyson, Victory, Gulf of Palma, December 12th, 1803. I am very much obliged by your kind attention. The things you was so good as to send me are all arrived safe. I only beg that you will regularly debit me with the amount; and on those conditions only I shall accept your kind offer of service. I have to thank you for my account of what has been paid for the Guillaume Tell and Généreux; and I beg you will, as soon as convenient, let me know how my account stands with you. Mr. Tucker's account to you I can put no credit in. His conduct towards me has been illiberal in the greatest degree, for I can never suppose it to have been Lord St. Vincent's orders. As for Digby's' claiming, he may whistle. I I suppose Mr. Tucker has put him upon it. With respect to Lord Bridport, that is a distinct consideration, and I shall be very careful how I get involved in another lawsuit. But the new Proclamation is so involved in doubt, that it is impossible to comprehend it; but to prevent disputes, Sir Richard Bickerton and myself agreed in writing, that I should share from the 30th May, the day I passed Cape Finisterre, and he shares with me for all Prizes taken by my orders to the day I joined him, which was July 8th. Captain Henry Digby, apparently as Captain of the Alcmene: he commanded the Africa, 64, at Trafalgar, and died an Admiral of the Blue and Knight Grand Cross of the Bath, in August 1842. Admiral Lord Bridport became Commander-in-Chief of the Squadron off Brest, in April 1799. Buonaparte has, I think, certainly attempted a landing before this time, and, I trust in God, been cut off, and this will give us Peace. At Toulon, the Enemy are perfectly ready to put to sea, and they must soon come out; but who shall [say] where they are bound. My opinion is, certainly, out of the Mediterranean.' Malta is useless to me, and when I am forced to send a Ship there, I never see her under two months. I am sure Toulon would be better watched from St. Helen's than from Malta. Our Ships are not in very good plight, and we want sails and spars for topmasts for Seventyfours: there is not, I believe, one in this country. The William is gone to Malta, and, therefore, I know not her cargo; but our weather has been so bad that sails cannot stand it, more especially with the very bad canvas made at present for the Navy. I have my usual luck about Prize-money if I pay my expenses it is as much as I expect ; but the French Fleet will, I trust, repay me for all my toil and trouble. Captains Hardy and Murray are both very well, and desire their remembrances; and believe me ever, my dear Tyson, your much obliged and sincere friend, NELSON and Bronte. TO JAMES CUTFORTH, ESQ., AGENT VICTUALLER, GIBRALTAR. Sir, [Letter-Book.] Victory, Gulf of Palma, 13th December, 1803. As rice and sugar are but poor substitutes for butter and cheese, and, in general, not much liked by the Ships' Companies, I am to desire you will (if the price does not exceed that of rice and sugar) purchase cocoa and sugar, in lieu of butter and cheese, for the Fleet under my command—at least, for occasional supplies, and provided the stores under your • Mons. Thiers says, in his "History of the Consulate and the Empire," that to deceive Nelson was quite possible, for that great Seaman, fall of the genius of Battle, had not always a perfectly correct judgment; and, moreover, his mind was continually disturbed with the remembrance of Egypt:" and he represents him as being so "constantly engrossed" with the idea that Egypt was the destination of the French Fleet, as to have had no conception that it was intended to leave the Mediterranean-Forbes' Translation, vol. v. pp. 97, 98. charge are not over-stocked with rice, in which case you will submit my letter to the Commissioners of the Victualling for their direction. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO MR. J. DALTON,' ON BOARD THE RENOWN. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 342.] December 14th, 1803. As Mrs. Lutwidge' sends me word, that you have admired some of my Naval Battles, I think that you will like to receive from me a Medal, which was struck by the partiality of my friends in remembrance of one of those Actions: at least, it will serve to remind you, that on the 13th December 1803, I had first the pleasure of being known to you. A wish to imitate successful Battles, is the sure road, by exertion, to surpass them, which that you may do, for your own honour, and the advantage of your Country, is my sincere wish. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO MR. CHARLES CONNOR, H.M. SHIP NIGER. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 342.] Dear Charles, [Apparently December, 1803.] As Captain Hillyar has been so good as to say he would rate you Mid., I sincerely hope that your conduct will ever continue to deserve his kind notice and protection, by a strict and very active attention to your duty. If you deserve well, you are sure of my assistance. Mr. Scott will furnish you with money to begin your mess, and I shall allow you thirty pounds a year, if it be necessary, which Captain Hillyar will supply you with. And as you from this day start in the world as a man, I trust that your future conduct in life will prove you both an Officer and a Gentleman. Recollect that Query, if the present Retired Post Captain James Robert Dalton, who was made a Lieutenant in November 1806, and a Commander in April 1810? The Medal was probably one of those struck by Mr. Davison to commemorate the Battle of the Nile. Wife of his friend, Admiral Skeffington Lutwidge, so often mentioned. you must be a Seaman to be an Officer, and also, that you cannot be a good Officer without being a Gentleman. I am always, with most sincere good wishes, your true friend, NELSON AND Bronte. TO THE REVEREND DR. NELSON. [Autograph, in the Nelson Papers.] My dear Brother, Victory, December 14th, 1803. Your letter of September 23rd I received November 24th from Captain Strachey, who wants to be made a Post-Captain. I thank you much for your letter, and am always sure of your unalterable regard and affection. Most certainly, if you send out Charles Brown, I will, (if he has served his Time during my stay here,) if opportunity offers, promote him; but next Christmas, please God, I shall be at Merton; for, by that time, with all the anxiety attendant on such a Command as this, I shall be done up. The mind and body both wear out, and my eye is every month visibly getting worse, and, I much fear, it will end in total blindness. The moment the Battle is over, if I am victorious, I shall ask for my retreat-if, unfortunately, the contrary, I hope never to live to see it. In that case, you will get an early Seat in the House of Lords. Mr. Addington does not give me the same Pension as Government gave to the rich Lord St. Vincent and Duncan, I shall consider no great favour done me, and the Country never could avoid giving the Pension to you: therefore, unless the other is tacked to it, I would not give thanks or sixpence to have it brought before Parliament to benefit Lord St. Vincent's heirs, and certainly, from circumstances, not mine. The putting the stone over poor Maurice' was well done, and I approve very much. I do not know that you owe me anything respecting Hilborough; but if you do, I fully acquit you of the debt, and so let it be considered. If The Ministers ought to have done more for you; but if you are made more comfortable, that is well. I have wrote Captain Christopher Strachey, who was made a Commander in April 1802: he was not Posted until June 1814. Their eldest brother. Vide vol. iv. pp. 378. |