the Ship comes or not, entirely depends upon your Majesty's pleasure. I hope that the French have not yet invaded your Capital; but with such a Nation as the French, who can be sure of them for a moment? With most respectful and sincere attachment, I am for ever, your Majesty's most devoted servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF THE TWO SICILIES. [From a Copy.] Madam, Victory, December 26th, 1803. I know your Majesty's heart so well, that whatever is well meant will be favourably received; therefore I presume at this season of festivity, to renew to your Majesty my assurances of the most devoted attachment to your august person and family, and that I feel all the warmth of the obligations I owe you, for all your goodness to me. Never, as long as I draw breath, will my exertions cease for the comfort of your Majesty, and I only wish that they may be attended with the desired effect. I have sent General Acton a list of the French Fleet, and of ours, and I leave it to the King's pleasure to send the Gibraltar for the Battle or not. The safety of your Royal Family is one of the objects nearest my heart, and the destruction of the French Fleet, in my opinion, more certainly assures that safety which is so dear to me. With every sentiment of the most respectful attachment and devotion, and with my prayers for your Majesty's health and felicity, and that of all your family, I am your Majesty's most dutiful servant, NELSON AND Bronte. TO HIS EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT, ESQ. [Autograph, in the Elliot Papers.] My dear Sir, Victory, Madalena, December 27th, 1803. The Kent being done up, and gone to Malta, has reduced me from seven Sail of the Line to ten, therefore, I have left it to the King's pleasure to send me the Gibraltar or not; and so entirely do I wish it to be left to the King, that I request your Excellency will not urge it, as you might naturally be supposed to do, when the superiority is looked at; but the safety of the Royal Family shall not be risked one moment by me. We have had a most terrible winter: it has almost knocked me up. I have been very ill, and am now far from recovered; but I hope to hold out till the Battle is over, when I must recruit myself for some future exertion. I hear there is a Cutter from England looking for me with dispatches: she left Portsmouth the end of November. I have not a scrap of news to tell you; for we have none. I am ever, my dear Sir, your Excellency's most obedient and obliged, NELSON AND Bronte. Doctor Scott is very well: perhaps he will go to Naples. TO GEORGE NOBLE, ESQ. [Autograph, in the Elliot Papers.] Victory, December 27th, 1803. Dear Sir, Your letter of October 17th, by the Childers only reached me two days ago. You will find that your idea has been anticipated of a Ship of War being stationed at Naples, by the continuance of the Gibraltar; and she had been at Naples within three days of a month when you suggest the propriety of a Ship being stationed for the general protection of the British, should the French advance to the Capital. It is my duty, and I have the satisfaction of knowing that it has been in my power, to take care of all our Commerce in the Mediterranean. I am, Sir, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN RYVES, H. M. SHIP GIBRALTAR. [Autograph, in the possession of Captain George Frederic Ryves, C.B.] My dear Sir, Victory, December 28th, 1803. The Cameleon merely goes to Naples to inquire how all goes on in that Kingdom. I came here to clear out Trans ports from Malta and to complete our water, and am now unmooring. Your old Ship goes home the next Convoy, and I hope, in March I shall be able to send the Gibraltar, which I fancy will not be displeasing to you. We have had a dreadful winter. The Kent is almost done for, and she is going to Malta merely for a passage in the summer. Stately is obliged to have her lower-deck guns taken out, she is so very weak. I now hope that we shall get a little better weather, but we are all in good health, and I hope the air, &c. at Naples, has produced no maladies in the Gibraltar. I am, my dear Sir, with every good wish, your most obedient and obliged Ser vant, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO MR. THOMAS LONGSTAFF, MASTER OF HIS MAJESTY'S HIRED Sir, TRANSPORT ELLICE. [Letter-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 28th December, 1803. In answer to your letter of this date, to the Captain of the Fleet, representing that you had every species of provisions necessary for victualling the supernumeraries sent on board his Majesty's Hired Transport under your command, for a passage to Malta-except wine; I am therefore to desire you will immediately purchase such a quantity of wine at this place, as may be necessary for the said supernumeraries during their continuance on board the Ellice, which will be reimbursed your Owners, with the other species of provisions in the manner mentioned to you in my order of this date. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. N.B.-The wine will be purchased about nine-pence per gallon, and, very probably, considerably under. The Agincourt. TO NATHANIEL TAYLOR, ESQ., NAVAL STOREKEEPER, MALTA. Sir, [Letter-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 28th December, 1803. I herewith transmit you copies of two Reports of Survey held on board the Ships named in the margin,' on slops received from the Ellice Transport, by which you will observe the considerable deficiency of shoes,-I must, therefore, desire to recommend the most strict attention to all future supplies of slops, and that the cases of shoes, &c. are particularly examined, previous to their being shipped on board the Transport, in order to avoid unnecessary trouble to the Service, as well as to prevent fraud or abuses after they are so shipped. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO HIS EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT, ESQ. My dear Sir, [Autograph, in the Elliot Papers.] Victory, Madalena, December 29th, 1803. Your kind letters of December 10th, and also your private letters of the 10th and 11th, arrived at nine o'clock last night. Your news, every part of it, is so interesting, that I read it over and over; and I am sorry that I cannot send you news in return, of the sailing of the French Fleet-our meeting, fighting, and beating them; but, as yet they have not come out: therefore, I can only thank you for your letters. A Cutter sailed from Portsmouth November 27th, came on my Rendezvous this day fortnight; but not finding me, has, instead of remaining, run after me, and I know not where she is gone. She sailed without notice, and has only dispatches. The dispatches, the Commander states, (but he can know nothing,) are of great importance. He has fell in with many of our Frigates, who are now with me. With respect to Sardinia, I have not the smallest doubt but if we do not, that the French will possess it before two months, Superb, Canopus. and the invasion of Sicily is not difficult from Sardinia. The Viceroy of Sardinia has no means to prevent a descent: he could not send a hundred men here. I have stated my opinion fully to Lord Hobart. If we possessed this Island, it would save Sicily—perhaps Italy, certainly Turkey and Egypt. But we shall never point out to the King of Sardinia that he will lose it, until the French have it. I can be of little use in having a Vessel cruising in these Straits. It is only ten miles from Bonifaccio; and either a calm or a gale of wind renders all our efforts useless. The good King of Naples has, under the advice of Sir John Acton, always supported his honour and dignity; and if other Powers, more powerful, had done the same, they would not now have become degraded by great sacrifices. The Queen is a great woman, and, I think, would hardly commit herself in communicating secrets to a Frenchman." We have had the French papers to December 5th, and the King's speech I sent to Malta. Windham spoke violently on the Address, but there was no opposition to it. The moment I get the Cutter, if there are any dispatches for your Excellency, they shall be instantly forwarded; and I am, my dear Sir, most faithfully yours, NELSON AND Bronte. TO HIS EXCELLENCY MR. JACKSON, MINISTER AT TURIN. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 345.] Madalena Islands, 29th December, 1803. I anchored here to clear my Transports with provisions, and was going to sea this morning, but I am prevented from a heavy gale of Westerly wind. By letters from Mr. Elliot, of December 11th, received last night, I find apprehensions are renewed of the invasion of Sardinia from Corsica. The King may be assured, that as far as I am able, I should be happy in preventing it; but a Vessel cruising in the Straits of Bonifaccio would not have the desired effect; for either a calm, a gale of wind, or even a night, would preclude any use from such a Cruiser. I only hope that the King will not be * The Queen of Naples was suspected of giving too much confidence to a French Officer, Colonel St. Clair. |