TO CAPTAIN ROSS DONNELLY, H. M. SHIP NARCISSUS. [Autograph, in the possession of the late Adam Bromilow, Esq.] Sir, Victory, at the Madalena Islands, Sardinia, 30th January, 1804. Secret. In the event of your falling in with and capturing the Enemy's Ships, with Troops on board, expected from Ville Franche, as mentioned in my order to you of this date, I am to desire you will bring them to this anchorage; and after having taken the whole of their arms, use every means to secure them on board their respective Vessels and Transports, till such time as an opportunity offers of sending them to Malta, as the service of the Ship you command cannot, at this important season, be spared to accompany them there. I am, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO REAR-ADMIRAL GEORGE CAMPBELL, H. M. SHIP CANOPUS. Sir, [From a Copy in the Admiralty.] Victory, at the Madalena Islands, Sardinia, 30th January, 1804. The two Ships named in the margin' being wanted for immediate service, I delivered orders for their proceedings to Captain Donnelly, immediately on his coming on board here after the Court broke up. I have, therefore, to desire you will be pleased to communicate to the Members composing the Court, that circumstances of the most important nature to the Country require the immediate service of those two Frigates. I have the honour to be, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO REAR-ADMIRAL GEORGE CAMPBELL. [Letter-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, Sardinia, 30th January, 1804. As his Majesty's Ships named in the margin' will proceed to sea to-morrow, on secret and important service, if the Narcissus, Juno. A Court-Martial on Lieutenant Wales, of the Renown. weather will permit, (which will be officially announced to you,) I am to desire you will be pleased to order the JudgeAdvocate to acquaint the prisoner thereof, in case he should desire to have the evidence of Lieutenant Thompson of the Narcissus, or any person belonging to either of those Frigates, that they may be summoned to-night, and left behind accordingly. I have the honour to be, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE CAPTAIN OR COMMANDER OF ANY OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS OR VESSELS WHO MAY ARRIVE AT THE MADALENA ISLANDS IN SEARCH OF THE SQUADRON. Sir, [Letter Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, Sardinia, 30th January, 1804. I am to desire you will proceed immediately with the Ship or Vessel under your command to a station from twelve to fifteen leagues West of Rendezvous No. 70, and cruize there for the space of seven days, for the purpose of joining the Squadron; but should you not fall in with it, or gain any intelligence thereof, I am to desire, at the expiration of the above time, that you will proceed to Rendezvous No. 60, where you will find me, or orders for your further proceedings. This letter to be sealed up and left with the Governor under the same address. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN THOMAS STAINES, H. M. SLOOP CAMELEON. [Order-Book.] Victory, at the Madalena Islands, Sardinia, 31st January, 1804. You are hereby required and directed to proceed immediately with his Majesty's Sloop under your command, and cruize off the North end of Asinara, for the purpose of acquainting any of his Majesty's Ships or Vessels that the Squadron is gone to a station twelve or fifteen leagues West of Rendezvous No. 70. You will also recommend them to cruize for the space of seven days on the said station, and in the event of not gaining any intelligence of me to proceed to Rendezvous No 60, where they will find the Squadron, or orders for their further proceedings. NELSON AND BRONTE. Should any Transport arrive off Asinara, I think she could be securely moored in the snug Cove, in the S. E. part of the Island, and would be safe under the protection of your cruizing, until I shall come, or send for her. TO CAPTAIN ROBERT PETTET, H. M. SHIP TERMAGANT. Secret. [Order-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, Sardinia, 31st January, 1804. Whereas I judge it necessary that his Majesty's Sloop Termagant, under your command, should remain at this anchorage, for the protection of such Transports, or Victuallers, as may arrive for the Fleet, You are hereby required and directed to remain with the said Sloop, in the N.W. part of the Bay, at single anchor, and take the Transport which the Amazon may accompany to this place, or any other that may arrive from Malta or Gibraltar, taking care to moor them close to the Termagant, and remain here till you receive my further orders. And as it is probable the French may send Troops from Corsica to take possession of these Islands, you are to cause a look-out to be kept by day on the height immediately to the N.W. of your anchorage, for the purpose of discovering the approach of the Enemy, should they make an attempt; and you will order an Officer to row guard constantly during the night, round the Transports or Victuallers under your charge, that on the least appearance of danger, or capture by a superior force, you may take the necessary measures for their safety, and proceed to sea with them. NELSON AND BRONTE. P.S.-Keep a strict watch during the night, and have your guns loaded with grape.' To this Order, the following addition was made by Lord Nelson's Secretary:— "Lord Nelson desires you will give it out at Madalena, that you not only wait here for the protection of the Transports, but also to acquaint the Gibraltar, expected from Naples, and others of his Majesty's Ships from Malta and Gibraltar, where his Lordship is gone with the Squadron.-JoHN SCOTT." TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART., ADMIRALTY. [Copy, in the Admiralty. Wednesday, 1st February. "A.M. At 7, weighed and made sail; Squadron in company."-Victory's Log.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 1st February, 1801. I herewith transmit the sentence of a Court-Martial on Lieutenant Richard Wales,' of his Majesty's ship Renown, and request you will be pleased to lay it before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty for their information; and, at the same time, acquaint their Lordships that in consequence of my having received information that the Enemy had embarked troops at Ville Franche, which were to proceed immediately to St. Fiorenzo, in Corsica, for the purpose of taking possession of the Island of Sardinia, I ordered the Narcissus and Juno, who arrived in the afternoon of the 29th ult. (in a heavy gale of wind) to complete their water, &c., with the utmost dispatch, which, from its blowing so excessively hard was found impracticable, till early on the 30th, when the Juno (who was in want of every description of provisions) completed from the Line of Battle Ships. Conceiving, therefore, that the Court-Martial, which was ordered for the 30th, on the said Lieutenant, would be over in the course of that day (and before the Juno was ready for sea) I suffered it to assemble, under the most perfect conviction that it would so terminate; and the instant the signal was hauled down on board the Canopus, Captain Donnelly came on board the Victory, and received his orders to proceed with the before-mentioned Frigates off Cape Revellata, for the purpose of preventing the Enemy from landing in Corsica, and of capturing or destroying them on their coming on that Coast. Impressed with the importance of this service and the necessity of preventing the Enemy from landing their Troops in Corsica, I felt justified, although the Trial was not over, in ordering the Frigates to proceed immediately, without risking the delay of a moment, or subjecting their Captains to detention by the Court; and, therefore, wrote a letter to the President' (a copy of which accompanies this) communicating the necessary absence of those Frigates, which I trust will meet their Lordships' approbation. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. He was tried for having behaved himself with contempt and disobedience to his Captain. Vide p. 397, ante. TO CAPTAIN PARKER, H.M. SHIP AMAZON. [Order Book.] Victory, at Sea, 7th February, 1804. Having been prevented by the late blowing weather from reconnoitring the Enemy at Toulon, You are hereby required and directed to proceed, without a moment's loss of time, in his Majesty's Ship Amazon,' under your command, off the entrance of Toulon Harbour, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the Enemy's Ships are still in Port, and return and join the Squadron at the Madalena Islands with the utmost possible expedition, with an account thereof, where you will find me, or orders for your further proceedings. NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN WILLIAM PARKER, H.M. SHIP AMAZON. [Letter-Book.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 8th February, 1804. When the signal No. 1223 is made for the Amazon to part company, I am to desire you will proceed with the utmost dispatch off the North end of Asinara, where you will find his Majesty's Sloop Cameleon, and on joining her, deliver Captain Staines the letter you will herewith receive, bearing his address. In the event of not falling in with the said Sloop immediately on her Rendezvous, as above, you are to proceed with all dispatch, and put in execution my order to you of yesterday's date, which also accompanies this. I would recommend you, in standing over to Toulon, not to keep more to the Northward than N.W. b N., as the wind at this season hangs very much to the North-West, which prevented the Squadron from reconnoitring the Enemy in that harbour, in our late attempt. You will acquaint any of his Majesty's Ships or Vessels which you may fall in with, that I am gone with the Squadron to the Madalena Islands, where they will find me, or orders for their proceedings. I am, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. 2 The Amazon and Donegal joined the Squadron in the afternoon of the 7th of February. |