Sir, TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 10th January, 1804. You will please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that the Enemy's Squadron at Toulon is still in Port, and that by Captain Donnelly's account, who reconnoitred them on the 6th Instant, they are apparently ready for sea; their force nine Sail of the Line and Frigates, the same as when last reported to you. From the information I have received, there is every reason to believe that the Enemy intend sending a force from Corsica, to take possession of the Madalena Islands, with a view to prevent us from using that place as an anchorage. I have, therefore, left the Amazon to bring me an account of their proceedings, and have ordered the Cameleon to proceed there and remain for the protection of the Inhabitants, and endeavour, if possible, to frustrate the Enemy's intention of landing. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE TRANSPORT BOARD, LONDON. [Original, in the Record Office, in the Tower of London.] Gentlemen, Victory, at Sea, 10th January, 1804. I yesterday received your letter of the 16th September last, acquainting me that you had appointed Captain Philip Lamb, of the Navy, to be Agent for Prisoners of War at Malta, and that you had directed him to communicate his Warrant of appointment and instructions to me immediately on his arrival; that his Warrant appoints him generally as the Agent of your Board; and that he is also authorized to act as Resident Agent for Transports at Malta, as well as Agent for Prisoners of War at that place. I have also received your printed instructions to Agents for Prisoners of War abroad, together, with copies of a Contract which you have entered into with Mr. William Webb, for victualling the Prisoners of War in health at Malta and at Gibraltar. I cannot allow Lieutenant Pemberton to be withdrawn from his late situation as Resident Agent for Transports at Malta, without expressing my full and entire approbation of his conduct. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO MRS. BOLTON. [Autograph, in the possession of James Young, Esq., of Wells.] My dear Sister, Victory, January 11th, 1804. Your kind letter of October 9th, is just arrived; and you may rest assured that, although I may not write or make all sorts of professions, which I might never have the power of accomplishing, yet I am not less anxious for your and Mr. Bolton's interest in every respect. Sir William Bolton has not yet been fortunate; and if I knew where to place him in fortune's way, he should go. If a Spanish War comes on, he is sure of one, or he must be truly unlucky. With respect to Tom,' although I do not know if it be absolutely in my power to say I will entirely keep him at College, yet you may be sure of my assistance; and when poor blindy' goes the way of all flesh, and please God some other vacancies which at present drain my pocket very deeply, I shall be more at my ease in pecuniary matters, and, of course, better able to afford permanent assistance. You know, my dear Sister, how I have teazed and teazed for that paltry Prebendary,3 and I really believe no Minister would give me a place of £50 a-year; but if I know what Mr. Bolton looks to, I shall then know how to act. My sincere friendship for him, independent of his relationship, would induce me to do everything in my power to meet his wishes, and that, I trust, he is sure of; but he knows I have had, in reality, not an atom of interest. The French having no trade in the Mediterranean, but very little has been done in the Prize way; indeed, I am afraid my pursuit lays another way. I never did, or could, turn my thoughts to money-making. With most affectionate regards to Mr. His nephew, afterwards second Earl Nelson. Bolton and all your family, believe me ever, my dear Sister, your most affectionate brother, NELSON AND BRONTE. I am glad [to hear] such a good account of Mr. Suckling of Wootton. He is most perfectly right to keep his carriage and live comfortably. Remember me kindly to him, and assure him that no person rejoices more at his comfortable situation than myself. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 352.] 11th January, 1804. I had not, my dear Lord, forgot to notice the son of Lord Duncan. I consider the near relations of Brother Officers, as legacies to the Service. On the subject of promotions, I beg leave to say a few words, because I feel now exactly as you have felt in a similar situation to mine; and I rejoice that you, my dear Lord, are not only alive, but in Office to bear witness to the truth of my words, which I should have quoted, even if you had not been in Office, that it was absolutely necessary merit should be rewarded on the moment; and that the Officers of the Fleet should look up to the Commander-in-Chief for their reward: for that otherwise the good or bad opinion of the Commander-in-Chief would be of no consequence.' You always promoted meritorious Officers out of the Victory, and Ville de Paris, and many private Ships, for their merit. The good effect was, that whatever was undertaken, succeeded. I, myself, stand in that situation, and Hardy, rewarded by you as Commander-in-Chief. You know, my dear Lord, there is nothing you can desire me to do that I shall not do with pleasure; and if I had known the intentions of the Admiralty respecting the Lieutenant mentioned, he would certainly have been appointed; but having appointed a very gallant and meritorious Officer, who had in a most particular manner distinguished himself on board the Isis at Copenhagen,' it would have lowered me in the Fleet, that my follower, who had performed gallant services under my eye, should be displaced. • Lieutenant William Layman. I trust you will be so good as to state, what you thought proper for the benefit of the Service to the Admiralty, and be my friend at the Board. I have said enough for any friend to act upon, and I rely on your kind support. I shall certainly endeavour to imitate you, when you commanded here with so much advantage to your Country. I shall not trouble you with complaints of Ships, the Board shall be answered. Thank God, the health of the Fleet has been wonderful, and I wish I could add my own; however, I hope to hold out to meet the French Fleet, and after that I believe my career will finish. In addition to my other cares, Sardinia must be guarded; the French most assuredly mean to invade it, first, I suppose, under a pretext for keeping us out of it; and then they will have it ceded to them. I have written to Lord Hobart on the importance of Sardinia, it is worth a hundred Maltas in position, and has the finest Man of War harbour in Europe; they tell me it is superior to Beerhaven-in short, it has nothing but advantages; the mode of getting it is to be considered by Ministers, but money will do anything in these days. To keep it, could not in the first instance cost half so much as Malta. I can have no reserves-I venture my opinion, Ministers are not bound to follow it: I can have no views, but to benefit my Country by telling all I know of situations, and how far they can be useful. I am, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD MINTO. [Autograph, in the Minto Papers.] My dear Lord, Victory, at Sea, January 11th, 1804. You have allowed the effusion of your good heart to go too far, but I own it was grateful to my feelings; now, I desire you will never mention any obligation to me again; I assure you on my word of honour that George Elliot is at this moment, for his standing, one of the very best Officers in our Service, and his Ship in high order. I placed him under Sir Richard Strachan's command, off Cadiz, and he does nothing but praise him in every letter; I hope yet he will make 5 Vide the Note in page 367, post. £10,000, and then I have done with him; if Lord St. Vincent does not confirm him' it will be the cruellest thing in the world, but I cannot bring myself to believe it, and I hope he has got his Commission long since. I beg you will present my respects to Admiral Elliot; I have had the honour of being introduced to him twenty-two years ago, but never had the pleasure of serving with him; but his action with Thurot will stand the test with any of our modern Victories. Your speech, my dear Lord, was yourself, and there is not a tittle that every man who loves his Country must not subscribe to. I have not heard very lately from Naples, but I expect a Vessel from thence every hour-their situation is very critical -Buonaparte threatening that if the King does not disarm his Subjects, he will march another Army into his Kingdom; the King has positively refused. I have letters both from the King and Queen, reposing the greatest confidence in our Country: of my services they are sure. services they are sure. Sardinia, if we do not take it very soon, the French will have it, and then we lose the most important Island, as a Naval and Military station, in the Mediterranean. It possesses at the Northern end, the finest harbour in the world; it equals Trincomalee. It is twenty-four hours sail from Toulon; it covers Italy; it is a position that the wind which carries the French to the Westward is fair for you to follow. In passing to the Southward they go close to you. In short, it covers Egypt, Italy, and Turkey. Malta must not be mentioned in the same century. I delivered my opinion on the inutility of Malta as a Naval station for watching Toulon. A Fleet would sooner pass from St. Helens to Toulon than from Malta. If I lose Sardinia I lose the French Fleet; and to keep it, it could not, 4 Vide p. 184, ante. 5 John Elliot, then an Admiral of the White, uncle of Lord Minto. On the 29th of February, 1760, when Captain of the Eolus of 32 Guns, and having under his orders the Pallas and Brilliant, he attacked and captured, after a gallant action off the Isle of Man, the Marshal Belleisle of 48 guns, commanded by the celebrated Monsieur Thurot, who was killed; La Blonde of 36 guns, and La Terpsichore of 26 guns. A memoir of this veteran Officer, who died an Admiral of the Red, on the 20th of September 1808, and an account of Monsieur Thurot, will be found in the Naval Chronicle,' vol. ix. p. 426, et seq. No speech is attributed to Lord Minto in the "Parliamentary History" of that period. |