to Horace at Eton, as I suppose his holidays will be over before this letter gets to Canterbury. I desire my kindest regards to Mrs. Nelson; and believe me ever your most affectionate brother, NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, in the Gulf of Palma, 14th December, 1803. Having frequently since my arrival in this Country as Commander-in-Chief, had occasion to forward dispatches by express, and otherwise to disburse sums of money for particular services, I am to request you will please to communicate the same to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that such a sum of money may be ordered me, for the above and other various purposes, (which the Service may occasionally demand,) as their Lordships may judge proper, and which may have been furnished Commanders-in-Chief in these Seas for their contingent expenses. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO THE COMMANDERS OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS STATELY, NARCISSUS, AND TERMAGANT, ON THEIR ARRIVAL AT ST. PIERRES. Sir, [Letter-Book.] Victory, Gulf of Palma, 17th December, 1803. I am very much disappointed at the Transports from Malta not having arrived before this at St. Pierres, and as I judge it necessary to proceed with the Squadron from hence, I am to desire you will, immediately on receipt of this, make the best of your way, with his Majesty's Ship under your command, together with the Transports which may be under your protection, off Cape St. Sebastian, where you will find the Squadron, or instructions for your proceedings. But should you from circumstances of bad weather, be unable to Dr. Nelson's only son, afterwards Viscount Trafalgar. proceed off that place, you will make the best of your way to the Madalena Islands, where you will remain with the Transports till you receive further orders, sending to me an account of your arrival by any Vessel of War which you may fall in with; but you are on no consideration whatever to leave the Transports or Victuallers unprotected. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. N.B.-Should it so happen that before you can get so far to the Northward as Asinara, you are overtaken by a gale of wind from the Northward, in that case you are to anchor in the Gulf of Palma, sending to St. Pierres (to the care of the English Vice-Consul) a letter for me, which will be forwarded by any Vessel of War looking for me. N. & B. N.B.-The Commander of either of his Majesty's Ships before mentioned, is hereby directed to take a copy of this letter, and leave the original, unless he shall be satisfied that the others are gone to join me, in which case he will take this letter with him, and proceed with the Transports as therein directed. N. & B. TO CAPTAIN JOHN WHITBY, H. M. SHIP BELLEISLE. [Letter-Book.] Sir, Victory, Gulf of Palma, 17th December, 1803. I have received your letter of yesterday's date, together with a list of men who are considered to require the benefit of the Hospital, and a letter from Doctor Felix, submitting the propriety of an infusion of bark in wine or spirits being given to the people sent on the watering duty; in answer to which I am to desire you will refer Doctor Felix to the 29th Article of his Instructions, which, in my opinion, cannot be considered as literally implying an additional quantity of wine to be given men sent on watering parties in Tropical Climates, but as their daily allowance; and therefore (as you must be the best judge of the number of men sent on those occasions, and the necessity of administering bark in their wine or spirits previous thereto) I request that you will also be governed by the said Article; and further desire to observe on Doctor Felix's letter, that it is not usual or proper to supply wine to the sick, in addition to their daily allowance, except when beer is constantly issued, a pint of wine being sufficient for almost any sick or convalescent person. am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. I N.B.-The four men mentioned in the list before alluded to, are to be sent on board the Kent, when the Captain of the Fleet gives directions for that purpose. TO THE COMMANDERS OF HIS MAJESTY'S SLOOPS CAMELEON AND CHILDERS. Sir, [Letter Book.] Victory, Gulf of Palma, 17th December, 1803. Not having been joined by his Majesty's Sloop under your command, at St. Pierres, and judging it necessary to proceed from hence with the Squadron, I am to desire you will make the best of your way, and join me with the said Sloop, immediately on receipt of this, off Cape St. Sebastian's, as directed in my secret Rendezvous, No. 97, dated the 4th instant, which I perceive has been delivered to you by Captain Moubray of the Active. I am, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. N.B.-If the above Sloops do not arrive together, the Captain who first anchors at St. Pierres, is to take a copy of this letter, and leave the original for the other, with a note in the margin that he has done so. MEMORANDUM FOR SIR RICHARD BICKERTON TO CARRY INTO EXECUTION AT MALTA. [Order-Book.] Victory, Gulf of Palma, 17th December, 1803. The Braakel is intended to go home with the next Convoy, and the Agincourt to join her at Gibraltar; therefore the Ships from the Levant, the Currant Ships from Patrass and Zante, the Trade from the Adriatic and Sicily, are to be col lected as soon as possible. As the Agincourt will not go to Malta, a Sloop of War must be appointed to attend the Convoy to Gibraltar, and then directed to return and join me on the Rendezvous. Sir Richard Bickerton will give all the necessary orders for carrying the Convoy to England, and for Captain Briggs to put himself under his command, and proceed with the Convoy; and also write a letter to the Senior Officer at Gibraltar to see the Convoy, not only safe through the Gut, but also twenty-five leagues to the Westward of Cape Spartel. Sir Richard is desired during his stay to give all the assistance in his power to our Trade, and, in particular, to take care that the Fish Ships are not delayed for want of Convoy. I wrote some time ago to Captain Cracraft, that if he could spare the Juno, I wanted her, being much distressed for Frigates, and if it is necessary, the Jalouse Sloop must be left in her room; but should Sir Richard meet with Captain Cracraft, and he wishes for a change of station, in that case Sir Richard Bickerton is at liberty to transfer the command of Captain Cracraft's Squadron to Captain Richardson of the Juno, and to send the Anson directly to me. the Renard be judged fit for the Service, and Maltese got to enter for her, the Kent is to fit her for sea, and the ten men belonging to the Victory are to be left for her, on board the Madras, till her Commander arrives; and you will receive herewith an order to be delivered to the Officers of the Yard. Should The bread from Malta being very much infested with weevils, Sir Richard Bickerton is requested to inquire into the reason, and to take such steps as may, in some measure, prevent so great a destruction of that species of provisions, by either housing it in clean Store-houses, or putting it up in clean Transports. You will receive a copy of my orders for the regulation of the Victuallers, should you meet them, to come to me under St. Sebastians; if to the Northward of Asinara, to go to the Madalena Islands; if to the Southward, to come here, and to take the best means in the Commanders' power to let me know his anchorage, and not to abandon the Transports; and Sir Richard is desired to make inquiry what could have occasioned the non-arrival of the Transports long before this period. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO REAR-ADMIRAL SIR RICHARD BICKERTON, BART. Sir, [Letter-Book.] Victory, the Gulf of Palma, 18th December, 1803. The state of his Majesty's Ship Kent, bearing your Flag, having rendered it expedient to send her immediately to Malta, I herewith transmit you an order to Captain Stuart for that purpose, and have to request you will be pleased to proceed with her to that place, and on your arrival give such directions to the Officers of his Majesty's Yard at Malta, as you may find necessary to get the Kent put in a state for service. But should it be found impracticable to make good her defects at Malta, so as to render her an effective Ship for the present, or, from other circumstances, you should judge it proper to join me previous thereto, you are at liberty to hoist your Flag on board any Ship coming to the Fleet, and join me on my Secret Rendezvous off Toulon, or on No. 97, dated the 4th instant, under Cape St. Sebastian's, as from the state of the weather you may think proper. I have the honour to be, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. P.S.-I am to desire you will be pleased to order a survey to be held at Malta Hospital, on such Seamen, &c. as may be represented fit objects for invaliding, and order them a passage to England in the Braakel. Enclosed is an order for a survey on the remains of medicines, &c. at Malta Hospital, which you will order to be carried into effect. N. & B. TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART., ADMIRALTY. [Letter-Book. Monday, 19th December. At 6, weighed and made sail out of the Gulf of Palma, as did the Squadron: left the Kent at anchor, and parted company. Narcissus and Transports from Malta, joined the Squadron."-Victory's Log.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 19th December, 1803. Having ordered a Transport and Victualler from Malta to rendezvous at St. Pierres, near the Island of Sardinia, you will please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Ad |