TO CAPTAIN WILLIAM EDWARD CRACRAFT, H.M. SHIP ANSON. [Letter Book.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 24th January, 1804. I have this day received your letter of the 13th ultimo, with a copy of the one therein mentioned from Captain Corbett of his Majesty's Sloop Bittern, giving an account of his having run on shore a large Ship near Brindisi, and of his having set fire to her, owing to his not being able to get her off. In answer thereto, from the circumstances mentioned in Captain Corbett's said letter, his conduct appears to have been perfectly correct, and that the Ship in question, from her suspicious manœuvres, was, most probably, Enemy's property. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO MR. JOHN WOODHEAD, AGENT TO THE NAVAL HOSPITAL, MALTA. [Letter-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 24th January, 1804. Sir, I have received a copy of your letter of the 27th ultimo to Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton, representing the neccssity of your having the assistance of a Clerk, and requesting, for the reasons therein mentioned, that he would give his sanction and directions to that effect. In answer thereto, I do not feel justified to comply with your request, as the Commissioners of the Sick and Hurt Board must certainly have known at the time they appointed you, that it was probable upwards of two hundred men might be in the Naval Hospital at Malta at once, (on several occasions,) and, therefore, desire you will apply to the said Commissioners for a person of the description you mention. I am, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. TO CHARLES STUART, ESQ.," SECRETARY OF LEGATION AT THE COURT OF VIENNA. [Letter-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 24th January, 1804. Sir, I have received your letter of the 1st September last, acquainting me that every possible reparation has been made by the Austrian Minister for the outrage against the British Flag, and that you had transmitted to Government copies of the several papers which passed between Captain Fyffe and the Commandant of Venice, on the occasion. I am very glad the Austrian Government have seen Captain Fyffe's conduct in its proper light, and that the necessary reparation has been made, as I was perfectly satisfied with the correctness of that Officer's proceedings on the above occasion. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN SAMUEL SUTTON, H. M. SHIP AMPHION. [Letter-Book.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 24th January, 1804. I have this day received your letter of the 16th October last, acquainting me, for the reasons therein mentioned, of your having gone to Lisbon, and also that, in consequence of the inclosure from Lord Robert Fitz-Gerald, his Majesty's Minister at Lisbon, which accompanied your said letter, you had brought the Duke de Coigny from that place to Gibraltar, in order to his proceeding by the first Frigate to England. In answer to which, I approve of your having gone to Lisbon under the circumstances you represent, and also of your having brought the Duke de Coigny to Gibraltar. I am, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. P.S.-I have received your letter of the 16th October, with the Amphion's state and condition, together with the log therein mentioned. 1845. Afterwards Lord Stuart de Rothsay, G.C.B.: he died on the 5th of November, TO CAPTAIN JOHN GORE, H. M. SHIP MEDUSA. [Letter-Book.] Sir, 8 Victory, at Sea, 24th January, 1804. I have this day received your letter of the 9th October last, together with one from the Captain of the American Sloop of War Siren, dated the 7th of that month, and your answer thereto respecting the three British Subjects named in the margin, who had returned to their duty and allegiance from the said Sloop, on board his Majesty's Ship under your command. In answer thereto, as the Officers of the said Sloop of War declare they knew them to be British Subjects at the time they entered for the Service of the United States, I very much approve of your not having delivered them up, and also of the orders you gave Lieutenant Williams of the Victory, to receive all British Seamen in Gibraltar for the Service of their Country. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN THOMAS STAINES, COMMANDING HIS MAJESTY'S SLOOP CAMELEON. [Order-Book. Thursday, 26th January. "P.M. Standing into Agincourt Sound. At 5, came to with the small bower, in 10 fathoms."-Victory's Log.] Victory, Madalena Islands, Sardinia, 26th January, 1804. Whereas, it is probable, from the information I have received, that the Enemy's Fleet may be at Sea, or that some of their Frigates, with Transports, having Troops on board, may be coming this way, You are therefore hereby required and directed to proceed immediately with his Majesty's Sloop Cameleon, under your command, off Monte Christo, and between that and the Mainland, and use your utmost endeavour to speak every Merchant-Vessel which you may be able to fall in with, for the purpose of gaining intelligence of any of the Enemy's Ships or Vessels which may be coming that way from Genoa, or the Island of Elba, either accompanied by Transports or otherwise; and upon gaining such information, you are to join me at this anchorage without a James Dunbervan, James Pearce, John Cox. moment's loss of time. The Termagant will proceed and join you to-morrow on the above service, in the execution of which you will continue three or four days; but upon gaining any intelligence, you are to send the Termagant or join me yourself, with an account thereof, without a moment's loss of time. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO HIS EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT, ESQ. [Autograph, in the Elliot Papers.] Victory, Madalena, January 30th, 1804. My dear Sir, The non-appearance of the Gibraltar tells me what the answer of Buonaparte has been. Nothing but insolence could be expected from him. My movements are regulated as my intelligence and fancy lead me to suppose the French Fleet will [come] out. Sardinia is certainly to be taken by the French, and I do not believe that I can prevent it. The French Fleet were to have sailed on Friday the 20th, and it was then put off to Wednesday the 25th, but they had not sailed the 27th. I go from here in a few days, and all my hopes are to meet them. By your letter No. 2, I am glad to find that your dispatches from England have been so agreeable to yourself and where you are placed. No. 3.—I have no Vessel to send to Naples. I am kept in great distress for Frigates and smaller Vessels at this critical moment. I want ten more than I have, in order to watch that the French should not escape me. I shall keep this letter till an opportunity offers, of which I see no prospect at present. I have talked to Captain Hardy about your son, and as we have no schoolmaster in the Victory, and the greater part of our youngsters dispersed, we have asked Captain Parker of the Amazon to take him, which he has kindly promised to do. He could be nowhere so well placed on every account: therefore, you may send him when you please. A good Schoolmaster is also in that Frigate. I observe what you say in No. 5, and shall pay great attention to it. I hope to hold out till the French Fleet are taken, burnt, or sunk; and that they shall be, will be the exertion of, my dear Sir, your most obliged friend and servant, NELSON AND Bronte. Doctor Scott is very well. TO SIR JOHN ACTON, BART., NAPLES. [From Clarke and M‘Arthur, vol. ii. p. 357.] 30th January, 1804. I am distressed for Frigates, which are the eyes of a Fleet; for the terrible winter we have had has obliged me to send three into Port to be refitted: however, I trust we shall fall in with the Enemy, and do the business. Your Excellency knows, that with all the care and attention possible, it has happened that Fleets have passed each other; therefore I need not apprise you, how necessary it is to keep a good lookout for them. 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, at the Madalena Islands, 30th January, 1804. Secret. Having received information that the Enemy intend sending Troops from Ville Franche to the Island of Corsica, and it being of the utmost importance that they should be intercepted, You are hereby required and directed to take his Majesty's Ship named in the margin' under your command, and proceed with all possible dispatch off Cape Revallata, on the West side of Corsica, where you will take such station as you may judge most likely to fall in with the Enemy, as above mentioned; and, on doing so, use every means in your power to take or destroy them. It may, therefore, be advisable, under favourable circumstances, first to attack and destroy the Transports with the Troops on board, and afterwards engage the Ships or Vessels of War which may accompany them. You will continue on this service for the space of fourteen days from this date, and at the expiration thereof, (should you not fall in with the Enemy,) return without loss of time to this anchorage, where you will find me, or orders for your further proceedings. ⚫ Juno. NELSON AND BRONTE. |