Sir, TO CAPTAIN JOHN GORE, H.M. SHIP MEDUSA. [Letter Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 14th February, 1804. I have received your letter of the 14th ultimo, acquainting me of the arrival of his Majesty's Ship Medusa, under your command, at Gibraltar, with the Portuguese Merchant-Ship Lassa, and also with your having ordered the Weazle to examine several Vessels going through the Gut, one of which Captain Layman brought in, as mentioned in the list which accompanied your said letter, and which you had detained for a breach of blockade. I presume the latter will be condemned to the captors, but the former appears à doubtful case. I, however, hope it may prove otherwise, and am, Sir, your most obedient servant, NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN SAMUEL SUTTON, H.M. SHIP AMPHION. Sir, [Letter-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 14th February, 1804. I have received your letter of the 3rd ultimo, giving me an account of your having seen the English Convoy clear of Cape St. Vincent, agreeably to Captain Sir Richard Strachan's directions, and also with your having fallen in with a large Ship off Cape St. Mary's, dismasted and abandoned by her Crew, which you had carried into Gibraltar. In answer to which, I am very much pleased with your having seen our Convoy in safety past Cape St. Vincent, and with the circumstance of your having fallen in with the Merchant-Ship above mentioned, and convoying her in safety to Gibraltar. The list of her cargo, which accompanied your said letter, has also been received. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. VOL. V. EE TO JAMES CUTFORTH, ESQ., AGENT VICTUALLER, GIBRALTAR. Sir, [Letter-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 14th February, 1804. I have received your letter of the 1st instant, acquainting me with the arrival of the Victuallers named in the margin,2 at Gibraltar, and that three others are said to have gone to Lisbon with the Sophie; also that the Nestor and Lady Shaw Stewart wait my orders. In answer thereto, I desire to acquaint you that the Chatham and Latona have completed the victualling of the Ships at present with me, to five months; and are gone to Malta with some small remains of their cargoes to be deposited there, and afterwards to proceed under the first Convoy to Gibraltar. You will, therefore, order the Nestor and Lady Shaw Stewart to proceed to Malta with the first Convoy, and also one of the three Victuallers expected from Lisbon, in order that the Stores under the charge of Mr. Wilkie, may be equal to the exigency of any future service. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO EDWARD POWNALL, ESQ.,3 NAVAL OFFICER, GIBRALTAR. Sir, [Letter-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 14th February, 1804. I have received your letters of the 2nd instant and 23rd ultimo, enclosing an account of the twine put on board the Childers by Commissioner Otway's directions, for the use of the Fleet under my command; also an account of the stores put on board the Donegal, together with a copy of a bill of lading of sails brought out in his Majesty's Ship Diana, which, from their being landed in so very wet and bad a state, you judged it necessary to keep them to dry and repair. I have also received your letter of the 30th ultimo, and from the difficulties you have experienced in mustering the Companies of his Majesty's Ships which have hitherto arrived at Gibral Thetis, Latona, Nestor, Lady Shaw Stewart. • Mr. Pownall was afterwards Clerk of the Cheque at Sheerness, and died on the 26th of February, 1829. tar, as stated in your letter to Commissioner Otway, of the 19th December, I have judged it necessary to transmit an additional Memorandum on that subject to the Commissioner, which I trust will obviate the evils you so justly complain of. I am, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. MEMORANDUM TO THE RESPECTIVE CAPTAINS AND COMMANDERS OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS AND VESSELS WHICH MAY ARRIVE AT GIBRALTAR. [From a Copy in the Admiralty.] Victory, at the Madalena Islands, Sardinia, 14th February, 1804. In addition to my Memorandum of the 10th ult.,' respecting the mustering his Majesty's Ships and Vessels at Gibraltar, it is my most positive directions that the Commanding Officer of the Ship which the Naval Officer may go on board to muster, immediately turn the people up for that purpose, (meal times excepted) and that he is not delayed by the frivolous excuse of the Clerk being on shore, or on any pretence whatever; and I am also to desire that the Captain or Commander of any of his Majesty's Ships or Vessels arriving at Gibraltar, do furnish the Naval Officer with a copy of their Complete Book, including all the Officers, Widows' Men, and Ship's Company, which may be actually borne upon such Book, with their entries and ratings complete, which is to be signed by all the Signing Officers. NELSON AND BRONTE. N.B. This Memorandum to remain in Commissioner Otway's possession. TO ADMIRAL LORD RADSTOCK. [Autograph, in the possession of Rear-Admiral Lord Radstock, C.B.] My dear Lord, Victory, February 14th, 1804. Granville is with me. You may rely that I shall be happy in an opportunity of placing him in a vacancy. Many Vide p. 350, ante. Now Rear-Admiral Lord Radstock, C.B, thanks for your papers and good wishes: some day very soon we shall want all the wishes of our friends; for out the Enemy must come, and that they shall go to Spithead, no exertion shall be wanting by, my dear Lord, your old and sincere friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. [From a Fac-simile in Tucker's " Memoirs of Earl St. Vincent," vol. ii. p. 248.] Victory, February 14th, 1804. Most cordially do I hail and congratulate you on the return of St. Valentine; and may you, my dear Lord, live in health to receive them for many, many years. This morning also your nephew, Captain Parker, has very much pleased [me,] (as indeed he always does.) On Sunday, the 12th, I sent him to look into Toulon: as he was reconnoitring under Sepet, he saw a Frigate rounding Porquerolle, the wind was right out of the harbour at North. At first the Frigate seemed desirous to bring him to action; but the determined approach of the Amazon made him fly with every rag of sail: he ran through the Grand Pass, and got under Bregançon; some of the Ships hoisted their yards up. I am rather glad that Parker did not bring her to action, for I think they must have come out and taken him; but I admire his spirit and resolution to attack her under all the disadvantages of situation; and such conduct will, some happy day, meet its reward. A Lieutenant belonging to the Madras being invalided, Į have put Mr. Seymour" into it, but will change him for a more active Ship, the moment the Battle is over, which cannot be much longer deferred. This thought keeps me up under a nasty cough, and which I have always been subject to; but I am always, my dear Lord, your faithful friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. We have not a sick man in the Fleet, except Kent, who has been to Malta. Vide p. 314, ante Sir, TO CAPTAIN JOHN GORE, H.M. SHIP MEDUSA. [Letter Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 14th February, 1801. I have received your letter of the 23rd ultimo, together with a log of your proceedings from the 22nd July to the 23rd January last, and also copies of your orders to the Master of the Boyne Transport, and to the Senior Officer of his Majesty's Ships at Gibraltar, enforcing the instructions contained in the Admiralty letter of the 4th November last, a copy of which also accompanied your aforesaid letter. I have also received a copy of your letter of the 24th ultimo, to the Hon. Captain Capel of the Phoebe, and very much approve of the orders and directions you have given as above mentioned; but apprehend your letter to Captain Capel has, by some mistake been forwarded to me, as there is a large packet addressed to him from the Medusa, with your name in the corner. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN HENRY RICHARDSON, H.M. SHIP JUNO. [Order-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 15th February, 1804. Whereas, it is my intention to put to sea with the Squadron the moment the wind comes to the Eastward, and proceed direct from hence to Rendezvous No. 97, under Cape St. Scbastians, You are therefore hereby required and directed to proceed immediately, in his Majesty's Ship Juno, under your command, and make the best of your way off the entrance of Toulon Harbour, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the Enemy's Squadron is still in Port, and join me with an account thereof, on the above Rendezvous, with all dispatch; but should the wind be to the Westward, the Squadron will proceed on the East side of Corsica, round Cape Corse. You will, therefore, under the above probable chances of the wind, judge where to find me, with any intelligence you may have NELSON AND BRONTE. to communicate. |