in the first instance, cost half so much as Malta, and be of all the use of Malta, and ten thousand times as much. I have told Lord Hobart fully my opinion on this subject. 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.

The Turk calls to me might and main, so does Naples, Sardinia, (and Malta for to guard Egypt,) but' my course is steady, and I hope some day, very soon, to fulfil the warmest wishes of my Country and expectations of my friends, amongst whom, in the first rate quality, I rate you, my old and sincere friend -and I only hope you may be able, at some debate, to say, as your partiality has said before, Nelson has done more than he has done before;' I can assure you it shall be a stimulus to my exertion on the day of Battle. I have seven, the French ten, Spaniards sixteen at Cadiz, and going there easily from Carthagena. I am now on my way to settle a little account with the Dey of Algiers; we had better be at open War than insulted as we have been. Government have reposed great confidence in me, and I hope my conduct will meet their approbation; but, my dear friend, after all, this almost boasting-what is man? a child of the day,—and you will scarcely credit, after all I have wrote, that the Medical gentlemen are wanting to survey me, and to send me to Bristol for the re-establishment of my health; but, whatever happens, I have run a glorious race, and I shall be for ever your most attached and affectionate friend,

NELSON AND BRONTE.

The 20th of this month I have been eight months at seado not mention my health (it is my concern) I beg of you.

6

·

The words from My course,' to debate to say,' are given by Clarke and M'Arthur as the conclusion of the unfinished' letter to the Earl of St. Vincent, in p. 365, and those words do not occur in their imperfect copy of the above letter to Lord Minto, of which they certainly formed part.

TO REAR-ADMIRAL SIR RICHARD BICKERTON, BART., MALTA,

[Letter-Book.]

Sir,

Victory, at Sea, 12th January, 1804.

I herewith transmit you a duplicate Admiralty letter, dated the 9th November last, together with a copy of the one from the Prince of Castelcicala, the Neapolitan Minister at our Court, therein mentioned, complaining of the conduct of the Commander of one of his Majesty's Brigs, and two English Merchant Ships, in entering the Port of Girgenti, in Sicily, and capturing three English Merchant Ships, which had been taken by two French Privateers, and carried into that Port; and, in order that the most minute inquiry may be made into this circumstance, I also enclose for your information a copy of a letter from Lieutenant Harding Shaw, commanding his Majesty's Brig Spider, together with copies of the letters therein referred to; and desire you will be pleased to call upon the said Lieutenant for a clear and correct statement of the whole of his conduct in this transaction, as well as to beg of Sir Alexander Ball (who is privy to the business) to furnish you with the particulars, as far as may come within his knowledge, which you will transmit to me by the first opportunity, with the said duplicate Admiralty letter and papers therein mentioned, for their Lordships' information. I have the honour to be, &c.

NELSON AND Bronte.

TO NATHANIEL TAYLOR, ESQ., NAVAL STOREKEEPER, MALTA.

Sir,

[Letter Book.]

Victory, at Sea, 12th January, 1804.

I have just received your letter of the 15th ultimo, transmitting an account of the Renard's ordnance stores, together with copy of the agreement and plan for building two new punts, which you acquaint me have been approved of by Sir Alexander Ball; communicating to me also that the middle buoy in the entrance of Valetta Harbour had broke loose,

(but afterwards found,) and that the outer buoy had likewise broke loose, and drifted away, owing to the late tempestuous weather. On the subject of Pilotage, mentioned in your said letter, I conceive it a very proper reward to those who pilot such of his Majesty's Ships in and out of harbour as have never been at Malta; but I am of opinion that the Masters of Ships making frequent use of that harbour ought to be their own Pilots, and save Government at least half of the pilotage. This I desire you will acquaint the respective Captains with, and at the same time inform the Navy Board, that you may, in this, act under their authority and approbation. I have further to desire for your immediate government, that you will consult with Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton and Sir Alexander Ball, as I have not a sufficient knowledge of the ingress or egress to and from that harbour to judge of the propriety of continuing or disallowing this practice. On your letter of the 19th November, I have to observe, that there could have been no objection to your sending the William Store-Ship up the Adriatic for a cargo of hemp; but the lapse of time is now so great, and Store-Ships being much wanted in England, that I do not consider it advisable to send her on that service, and therefore she must go home with the next Convoy. I am, &c. NELSON AND Bronte.

TO CAPTAIN CHARLES MARSH SCHOMBERG, HIS MAJESTY'S

Sir,

SHIP MADRAS.

[Letter-Book.]

Victory, at Sea, 12th January, 1804.

I have just received your letter of the 20th November last, acquainting me with the various Naval occurrences at Malta, amongst others, that the Tender belonging to the Madras was captured by two heavy Privateers, and that a Mate and two men were killed on the occasion. In answer to which, I am sorry for the loss of the Mate and two men mentioned in your said letter. I am, &c.

NELSON AND BRONTE.

TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ.

[Autograph, in the possession of Colonel Davison.]

My dear Davison,

Victory, January 13th, 1804.

The Cutter brought me your kind letter of the 24th November, on the 9th; and as I do not know hardly where to begin thanking you, it's almost as well to say nothing. But your kindness to my dear, good Lady Hamilton, is what I never shall forget. Your packages will come out safely in the Convoy. That every person in Government or out, should know you, is not to be wondered at, and knowing you, not to esteem you, both as a public and private man. I am sure you felt all which the sincerest friendship could do, that justice had triumphed. This event' will put me out of debt, and, I hope, build my room at Merton, and leave my income, whatever it may be, unclogged. I suppose my Agents will receive it. They will do what is right. As Mr. Matcham' is buying an estate out of the Kingdom, perhaps he will want his £4000. No; upon reconsideration, it is trust-money. What a speculation he is going upon! I have no fears for Old England, whilst we are true to ourselves; and in that belief I send your Banking-house a Bill for £1000. I do not know that it will all be mine, but it will serve to open an

account.

Apropos of money; Hardy desires me to ask you what has been done about the Dutchman: whether you petition as the

9 The successful termination of his Lawsuit with the Earl of St. Vincent on the 14th of November 1803, which is thus reported in the Naval Chronicle,' vol. x. p. 432:-"Court of King's Bench, November 14. Lord Nelson v. Tucker. The Court pronounced judgment in this cause, the particulars of which have been long before the public. It was an action in the Common Pleas nominally against the defendant, Agent for the Prizes taken by the Mediterranean Fleet, in October 1799, but the real defendant was the Earl of St. Vincent. It was to recover £13,000, one-eighth share of the Prizes taken by Captain Digby, of Lord St. Vincent's Squadron, after his Lordship had left his station and returned to England, and when Lord Nelson had the command. Judgment was given for Lord St. Vincent in the Court below; but upon Writ of Error, Lord Eilenborough delivered it as the opinion of the Court, that the moment a Superior Officer left his station, the right of the next Flag Officer commenced; and, consequently, that Lord St Vincent having returned to England, the enterprise and conduct of the Fleet devolved on Lord Nelson. Judgment was, accordingly, given in favour of Lord Nelson, who thereby becomes entitled to the whole of the Admiral's share of the Prize-money."

His brother-in-law,

Agent, or whether the Captors must petition? and if so, to send them a form. There is another Dutchman in the same situation at Malta, only laden with wine and brandy.

I am glad you are known to Mr. Addington: he is a good man. I began a correspondence, or rather ventured an opinion on the state of affairs in this Country, but he had not time to answer me, and turned me over to Lord Hobart, who I now write to occasionally; but, in fact, I have nothing to write about. That the French are rascals, every one knows; and that they want Naples, Sicily, Sardinia, and Turkey, and Egypt, and Malta-by the way, to write this is no news; nor that I long most ardently to meet the French Fleet. I think they cannot remain much longer in Port. If they do, they might as well have no Fleet. Whenever you write to Lord Moira, you will not fail to remember me most kindly. I have entrusted him with what I did not believe I would entrust any man; and I hope he will be a firm supporter of Mr.

Vide pp. 106, 220, ante.

His Proxy. Vide p. 305, ante. Lord Nelson attached the greatest importance to the use of his Proxy, and gave it very unwillingly, even to Lord Moira. For the following anecdote on the subject, the Editor is indebted to Mr. Haslewood, Lord Nelson's Solicitor:

"A few days before Lord Nelson last left England, in September 1805, Mr. Haslewood accompanied his Lordship to the door of Mr. Pitt's house in Downing place. Lord Nelson appeared thoughtful, and said, abruptly-'I wish I had never given a Proxy to Lord Moira;-not that I can complain of his having used it improperly; he is a distinguished Officer, an enlightened Statesman, and a man of too much honour to abuse so sacred a confidence; but I ought to have considered that partiality will cloud the judgment, and that Lord Moira was, or might become, attached to a Party.'

"The next day, Lord Nelson called on Mr. Haslewood; and almost immediately said—I was so full of the subject we were speaking of yesterday, as to continue it in my interview with Mr. Pitt. I gave some specimen of a Sailor's politics by frankly telling him, that not having been bred in Courts, I could not pretend to a nice discrimination between use and abuse of Parties; and, therefore, must not be expected to range myself under the Political banners of any man, in place or out of place; that England's welfare was the sole object of my pursuit; and where the tendency of any measure to promote or to defeat that object seemed clear, I should vote accordingly, without regard to other circumstances; that in matters where my judgment wavered, or to the full scope of which I might feel unequal, I should be silent, as I could not reconcile to my mind the giving a vote, without full conviction of its propriety. Mr. Pitt listened to me with patience and good humour; indeed, paid me some compliments; and observed, that he wished every Officer in the Service would entertain similar sentiments.'

"Lord Nelson afterwards declared more than once, with reference to the above conversation, that he felt his mind at ease,' and expressed himself highly pleased with the liberal conduct and language of the Minister.”