should acquaint you that the Victualler, which he brought from Gibraltar, is still at the former place. In the event of your falling in with any other of his Majesty's Ships, you will acquaint their Commanders that I am on my way to the Madalena Islands, and recommend their approaching that place with caution, unless they are satisfied of my arrival there, as it is probable the Enemy may have taken possession of them. NELSON AND Bronte. TO THE CAPTAIN OR COMMANDER OF ANY OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS OR VESSELS WHICH MAY ARRIVE AT ST. PIERRES. [Letter-Book.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 22nd January, 1804. I am on my way with the Squadron to Rendezvous No. 60, where I am to desire you will join me in his Majesty's Ship under your command, without a moment's loss of time, together with any Transport or Victualler which may be under your charge; and as it is probable the Enemy may have taken possession of the Port to which the above Rendezvous alludes, you will approach it with great caution, unless you learn that I have gained that anchorage. I am, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO HIS EXCELLENCY JOHN HOOKHAM FRERE, ESQ., MADRID. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 356.] 23rd January, 1804. If this goes on, you may acquaint them that I will anchor in Rosas with the Squadron, and receive our daily supplies, which will offend the French much more than our staying at sea. Refreshments we have a right to as long as we remain at Peace. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. The refusal of the Spanish Governors to supply the Fleet with refreshments, TO HIS EXCELLENCY JOHN HOOKHAM FRERE, MADRID. [From a Copy, in the State Paper Office.] Victory, January 23rd, 1804. Sir, I have just received information that leads me to believe that the French Fleet is either put to sea, or on the eve of it, and bound to the Eastward, towards Naples and Sicily. I am this moment making sail in the direction I think most likely to intercept them. His Majesty's Fleet is in high health, and the event of a meeting ought not to be doubted. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN ROSS DONNELLY, H.M. SHIP NARCISSUS. [Autograph, in the possession of the late Adam Bromilow, Esq., and Order-Book.] Victory, off Cape St. Sebastians, 23rd January, 1804. You are hereby required and directed to proceed immediately, with his Majesty's Ship Narcissus under your command, into the Bay of Rosas, and endeavour to communicate with the shore, for the purpose of obtaining the latest and most correct information of what is passing in France. Having so done, you will make the best of your way off the entrance of Toulon Harbour, to ascertain the state of the Enemy's Squadron in that place; and if their Fleet is in Port, you will proceed off the Harbour of Ajaccio in Corsica, and reconnoitre the Enemy's force in that place, and afterwards use your utmost endeavours to join me at the Madalena Islands with the information you may have obtained from the abovementioned places. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN RICHARD HUSSEY MOUBRAY, H. M. SHIP ACTIVE, [Order-Book.] Victory, off Cape St. Sebastians, 23rd January, 1804. Whereas, it is my intention to proceed immediately with the Squadron to the Madalena Islands, You are hereby required and directed to remain on the present Rendezvous, No. 97, under Cape St. Sebastians, with his Majesty's Ship Active, under your command, for the purpose of acquainting any of his Majesty's Ships which may come on the above Rendezvous, that I am gone to the Madalena Islands, and to direct their Commanders to proceed and join me there with the utmost possible expedition. You are to continue on this Service till further orders, and upon no account to quit it in chase of any Vessel; but should you get any positive information of the sailing of the Enemy's Fleet, you are to join me at Madalena, without one moment's loss of time. If the Termagant or Childers join, to direct them, if to be done without much loss of time, to look into either Barcelona, or Rosas, for letters; and in the course of a week, I have no objection to the Active's calling off Barcelona for any letters, but by no means to anchor. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN RICHARD BUDD VINCENT, H.M. SLOOP ARROW. [Letter Book.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, January 24th, 1804. By the Termagant I received your letter of the 19th ult., giving me an account of your proceedings with the Trade from Malta up the Adriatic, and the protection afforded them from thence to Valetta Harbour; also transmitting me copies of the several letters, &c. therein referred to, together with a Log of your proceedings, and a list of the Convoy under your charge. In answer to which, I very much approve of the whole of your conduct on this occasion, and am much pleased with your attention to the Government concerns up the Adriatic, under the direction of Mr. Leard,' who has communicated to me the object of his being there; and transmitted bills of lading of the stores sent in the Mentor, Giuro, and Imperial Schooner Hungary, which last mentioned Vessel I hope may arrive safe at Malta, as the stores she has on board are more particularly wanted than any of the others. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. Vice-Consul at Ragusa. Sir, TO CAPTAIN JOHN GORE, H. M. SHIP MEDUSA. [From a Copy, in the Nelson Papers.] Victory, at Sea, 24th January, 1804. I have this day received your letter of the 27th August by the Termagant, and very much approve of the exertion used in heaving down his Majesty's Ship Medusa under your command, as well as of the precaution taken for preserving the health of your Seamen, by issuing an additional half-pint of wine to each man; but I would recommend your acquainting the Admiralty with the circumstance, that you may have their Lordships' sanction for so doing; otherwise the VictuallingBoard will most certainly impress your Account for the wine so issued. I have received copies of the several orders you found necessary as Senior Officer at Gibraltar to issue, which very fully meet my approbation, as well as the arrangement you proposed making with Commissioner Otway, for the reception of British Seamen as they arrive from Spain. I am, &c. NELSON AND Bronte, TO J. B. GIBERT, ESQ., HIS MAJESTY'S CONSUL AT BARCELONA. Sir, [Letter-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 24th January, 1804. I have received your letter of the 5th instant, together with the enclosures from Madrid, therein mentioned, and also your duplicate letter of the 24th ultimo, with the one from Mr. Frere, acting Consul-General at Madrid, therein alluded to. I am very much obliged by your intentions of sending me the earliest information of any political news respecting our two Countries. Agreeably to your request, I herewith transmit a copy of my letter to the Victualling Board. I am, &c. NELSON ANd Bronte. TO REAR-ADMIRAL SIR RICHARD BICKERTON, -BART. [Letter-Book.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 24th January, 1804. This morning I received your letter of the 27th ultimo, with copy of one from Mr. Woodhead, Agent to the Naval Hospital at Malta, requesting, for the reasons therein mentioned, that you would give your sanction and directions for his having a Clerk. In answer thereto, I perfectly approve of the temporary Assistant-Clerk which you recommended that gentleman to employ, but shall certainly not give my sanction to his having a Clerk allowed him, and therefore have desired him to apply to the Sick and Hurt Board for such Assistant. I have the honour to be, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO MR. WILLIAM BEND, SURGEON OF HIS MAJESTY'S NAVAL HOSPITAL, GIBRALTAR. [Letter-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 24th January, 1804. Sir, I have this day received your letter of the 20th October last, (with the statement of the Hospital therein mentioned,) acquainting me, that you had, in consequence of Doctor Snipe's directions, visited the prisoners on board the Guerrier Prison-Ship, and removed such of them as were confined to bed, to the Hospital, to prevent contagion being generated. I am to desire you will, with all future Returns of the Hospital under your charge, transmit me a regular list of the Officers and Men who may die at the said Hospital, stating the Ships they belong to, when received, and the time of their death, that the respective Captains may be made acquainted therewith, and regulate their Books accordingly. I approve of the orders Doctor Snipe gave respecting your visiting the Prisoners on board the Guerrier, and your conduct in consequence. You will bear in mind my directions respecting a Porter for the Hospital gate, and apply to Commissioner Otway to recommend a proper person for that purpose. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. |