the stamp of whose character (if it was not so well known by his actions) is clearly marked by his sensible, clear letters. Amongst other questions, and his swearing that he never would receive Mr. Falcon, he was asked, What complaint have you?' his answer was, 'Women in his house.' Captain K., 'That we can prove he was not privy to.' Answer, Well, they were in his house and he is answerable; besides, two years ago, his servant rode over a Moor and killed him.' I merely mention this part of the conversation to show your Lordship, as I am now convinced, that Mr. Falcon has committed no impropriety, but that he is disagreeable by his spirited conduct. Your Lordship will find him a very sensible, clearheaded man. After what has passed, it is not for me to suggest any mode, short of hostilities, to the wisdom of His Majesty's Ministers; the only thing to be done short of hostilities, and even that is in some measure giving up the point, is a declaration that His Majesty will never to this Dey send another Consul to be liable to insult, and to demand what we can prove by name were taken in Maltese Vessels. Mediterranean Passes should be sent out to Malta, as was done to Minorca. I shall be very anxious to receive His Majesty's commands, and I will endeavour to withhold from hostilities till they arrive, which, if sent as soon as possible, may be in March. I shall give Mr. Falcon a letter of introduction to your Lordship; and, I have, &c., Sir, NELSON AND Bronte. TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART., ADMIRALTY. [Original in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 20th January, 1804. Mr. Falcon, his Majesty's Agent and Consul-General at Algiers having joined me, I detached Captain Keats in the Superb to Algiers, and supported his Mission by showing the Squadron off Algiers on the 17th Instant; but, as their Lordships will perceive by the enclosed papers, nothing can be done with the Dey at present, by anything but humiliation, which I shall never assent to; for, if we do, he will treat us in future (as he has often threatened) like the Danes and Swedes. As all his Cruizers are in Port, I have left the business of declaring to the Algerines hostilities, until a more favourable opportunity offers of giving his Marine, which has been allowed to get too powerful, a most severe blow. I have apprised both Sir Alexander Ball and Sir Thomas Trigge, by the enclosed notice, to warn our Commerce. I am sure the conduct of Captain Keats has been such as will merit the increased esteem of their Lordships as it has done of, Sir, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. TO COMMISSIONER OTWAY, GIBRALTAR. [Letter-Book.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 20th January, 1804. As great circumspection is necessary to prevent our Trade from falling into the hands of the Algerines, in case they should be hostile to us (as you will observe by the enclosed Notice) I am to desire you will be pleased to acquaint the Commanders of all future Convoys bound up the Mediterranean to pass, if convenient, to the Northward of Ivica and Majorca; but should that not be practicable, to pass close to the Southward of Ivica and Majorca, unless under the protection of a Ship of the Line. I am, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD HOBART. [Autograph, in the Colonial Office.] My dear Lord, January 20th, 1804. I send you the Queen of Naples and General Acton's last letters. Mr. Elliot's are in the same strain of doubt as to the lot of Naples. I am, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. TO SIR ANDREW SNAPE HAMOND, BART. [Autograph, in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir Graham Eden Hamond, Bart., K.C.B.] My dear Sir Andrew, Victory, January 20th, 1804. I received yesterday a packet from our friend Mr. Falconet, at Naples, for you. I should have been truly happy to have been useful to so good a man in any manner in my power, but from the Neutrality of his Country, and having the finding money for the French Troops, nothing is in my power to offer, or his to accept; but Mr. and Mrs. Falconet are every day executing commissions for me at Naples, as my private wants require. I hear of you occasionally from our friend Davison. I hope Captain Hamond has sufficiently recovered to join his Ship again: I think he would have been better in this Country. The weather is certainly not so raw as a Channel cruize, and I need not say what pleasure it would give me to have him here on the day of Battle, which cannot be much longer deferred. I am ever, my dear Sir Andrew, with the sincerest attachment, your most obliged and faithful friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 355.] 20th January, 1804. Captain Hillyar is most truly deserving of all your Lordship can do for him, and, in addition to his Public merits, has a claim upon us. At twenty-four years of age he maintained his mother and sisters, and a brother, until I made him a Lieutenant for his bravery a short time ago. For these reasons he declined the Ambuscade, which was offered him; because, although he might thus get his Rank, yet if he were put upon Half-pay, his family would be the sufferers. From all these circumstances, so honourable to Captain Hillyar, independent of his services, which every one thought would have obtained him promotion in the late War, I beg leave to submit, as an act of the greatest kindness, that as the Niger is a very fine fast-sailing Frigate, well-manned, and in most excellent condition, she may be fitted with the Madras's 32 carronades, which are not so heavy as her present nine-pounders, and that your Lordship would recommend her being considered as a Post Ship, either a thirty-two or twenty-eight. Captain Hillyar's activity would soon complete the additional number Vide p. 186, ante. In consequence of this application, the Niger was established as a Post Ship, and a Commission sent out for Captain Hillyar to command her. of men, and she would be an efficient Frigate. I will not venture to say more; I am sensible of your attention to merit. I am, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ. Autograph, in the possession of Colonel Davison.] My dear Davison, January 20th, 1804. I have nothing new to tell you, since I wrote you a few days ago. I enclose a list of a few things Mr. Chevalier wants, which I will thank you to order from Burgess for my account. I find Mr. Chevalier everything which you recommended, and I wonder he has not set up some hotel. The French Fleet I expect every hour, and that will do me good; for if I beat them, there can be no objection to my getting a little rest: I have not been very stout. Perhaps you may tumble upon Mr. Falcon, our Consul at Algiers. He is going home by this opportunity-the Dey objecting to receive him again. He is a clever man, but too spirited for such a beast, whom the Powers of Europe, to their disgrace, bow down to. I am ever, my dear Davison, with the sincerest friendship, yours most faithfully, NELSON AND Bronte. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 356. In reply to a letter from an Admiral, (whose name is not given,) a friend of Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren, requesting Lord Nelson's intercession on behalf of a young Officer who had behaved improperly to his Captain, and who was, in consequence, to be brought to a CourtMartial.] [About January, 1804.] We would all do everything in our power, to oblige so gallant and good an Officer as our friend Warren; but what would he do, if he were here? exactly what I have done, and am still willing to do. The young man must write such a letter of contrition as would be an acknowledgment of his great fault, and with a sincere promise, if his Captain will intercede to prevent the impending Court-Martial, never to so misbehave again. On his Captain's enclosing me such a letter, with a request to cancel the order for the Trial, I might be induced to do it; but the letters and reprimand will be given in the Public Order-Book of the Fleet, and read to all the Officers. The young man has pushed himself forward to notice, and he must take the consequence. We must recollect, my dear Admiral, it was upon the Quarter-deck, in the face of the Ship's Company, that he treated his Captain with contempt; and I am in duty bound to support the authority and consequence of every Officer under my command. A poor ignorant Seaman is for ever punished for contempt to his superior. I am, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN WILLIAM PARKER, H. M. SHIP AMAZON. [Order-Book.] Victory, off Cape St. Sebastians, 22nd January, 1804. You are hereby required and directed to proceed immediately in his Majesty's Ship Amazon, under your command, off St. Pierres, near the Island of Sardinia, and send your Boats in for the purpose of bringing out the Transport, (left there by the Termagant) which you are to take in tow, and proceed with her to the Madalena Islands with all possible dispatch, leaving the accompanying letter with the English Consul, for any of his Majesty's Ships or Vessels which may arrive there, and bring with you the letters which were left at that place when the Squadron was left in the Gulf of Palma. Should you fall in with the Termagant, unaccompanied by any Transport or Victualler, you will direct her Commander to proceed to the enclosed Rendezvous No. 97, under Cape St. Sebastians, where he will find orders for his further proceedings. But if the Termagant is accompanied with the Transport from St. Pierres, or any Victualler from Malta, you will take her and such Victuallers under your charge, and bring them with you to the Madalena Islands as before directed, without proceeding to St. Pierres, unless Captain Pettet |