TO CAPTAIN SIR WILLIAM BOLTON, H. M. SLOOP CHILDERS. [Order-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 16th February, 1804. In order that the French Fleet may not pass without information thereof being communicated to me, You are hereby required and directed to proceed off Monte Christo immediately, in his Majesty's Sloop under your command, for the purpose of falling in with the Enemy's Squadron, or of gaining intelligence of them; and, upon meeting with two or more Frigates, or Ships of the Line, you are to return to this place with an account thereof, without a moment's loss of time, and on no consideration suffer their approach, so as to endanger the Childers to capture. You are not to be absent on this service longer than three days from the date hereof; but, at the expiration of the above time, return to this anchorage, where you will find me, or orders with the Governor at the Madalena Islands for your further proceedings. NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN SIR WILLIAM BOLTON, H,M. SLOOP CHILDERS. Dear Bolton, [Letter Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 17th February, 1804. I shall stand to the N. W., towards Toulon, and from thence towards St. Sebastians. If you have a good opportunity, approach near Ajaccio to see if the French Fleet are there, but do not get near enough to endanger being taken yourself. Ever yours faithfully, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN GORE, H. M. SHIP MEDUSA. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 359.] 17th February, 1804. The Admiralty seem to think that the Spaniards may be hostile to us, and therefore have put me on my guard. Do not let it escape your lips-I am determined to have the first blow; even if they come with their whole eighteen, they shall not join the French. If they come up the Mediterranean, and you have a mind for a shooting party, come with your Frigates. Every part of your conduct is like yourself, perfect. Your letters will be answered formally. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO MAJOR LOWE.? [Autograph, in the possession of Josiah French, Esq.] Dear Sir, Victory, February 17th, 1804. I am just favoured with your letter of the 5th, from Cagliari; poor King and Princes! they have neither money or Troops. That Sardinia will be invaded I am sure of; and I only hope that we shall fall in with the French Fleet, and I may reasonably suppose that we shall frustrate their plans. As you are coming here, I shall probably, after the Battle, have the pleasure of seeing you. Your Officers here are very attentive. Some Recruits are gone to Malta with Colonel Phillips, who sailed on the 15th. I am, dear Sir, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO LIEUTENANT ROBERT LLOYD, COMMANDING HIS MAJESTY'S Sir, PRISON-SHIP GUERRIER. [Letter-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 18th February, 1804. In answer to your letter of the 5th December last, I herewith transmit you an order to bear twenty Seamen, including two Midshipmen, on the Books of the Guerrier Prison-Ship, under your command, which I trust will enable you to carry on the duty of your situation till their Lordships shall think 7 Afterwards Lieutenant-General Sir Hudson Lowe, G.C.M.G. K.C.B. He was then employed in Sardinia to raise recruits; and was desired by Mr. Elliot, Minister at Naples, to ascertain the means which that Island possessed of resisting an invasion of the French, and to report on the expediency of assisting the Sardinian Government with money. This zealous and intelligent, but ill-treated Officer; so well known as Governor of St. Helena, died on the 10th of January 1844. proper to send you the establishment of the said Ship. I am very much pleased with your conduct in keeping the Guerrier so perfectly clean, as well as with your exertions in assisting the Merchant-Ships coming into Gibraltar in distress, and also with your ready endeavours to prevent their being captured by the Enemy, and hope you may soon be enabled to render them more effectual service. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. P.S.-I desire to recommend your applying to the Admiralty for the establishment of the Guerrier. TO CAPTAIN WILLIAM PARKER, H. M. SHIP AMAZON. [Order-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 18th February, 1804. Whereas it is of the utmost importance that I should be acquainted with the movements of the Enemy's Squadron, You are hereby required and directed to proceed, without a moment's loss of time, in his Majesty's Ship under your command, from twenty to twenty-five leagues due W. N. W. of Asinara, where it is probable, if they are bound to the Southward, you may be fortunate enough to fall in with them. And as it is my intention to put to sea with the Squadron the moment the wind will allow me to do so, and proceed to Rendezvous No. 97, under Cape St. Sebastians, the movements of the Amazon must be governed from circumstances of wind and weather, as you, upon due consideration thereof, may judge proper. But should the wind continue to blow so hard from the Eastward as to prevent the Squadron from putting to sea, and you gain intelligence of the Enemy's motions, you will land an express at Castel Sardo or Porto di Torres, with directions to proceed with an account thereof to me, at this anchorage, with the utmost dispatch; or send a Boat from the Amazon, if you judge that to be the most expeditious way of communication. You are to continue on this service for the space of three days, or longer, if you think the Squadron is not able to proceed from this anchorage, and afterwards join me on my Rendezvous No. 97, as before-mentioned. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN JOHN WHITBY, H.M. SHIP BELLEISLE. [Letter-Book. "Sunday, 19th February. A.M. At 6:40, weighed and made sail, as did the Squadron, through Agincourt Sound to the Westward."—Victory's Log.] Memorandum. Victory, Madalena Islands, 19th February, 1804. 'As an anchor and cable is of great importance, it is my directions that you remain and weigh the anchor, which his Majesty's Ship under your command parted from in the night of the 17th Instant; and after having done so, you are to proceed after the Squadron with the utmost possible dispatch, to Rendezvous No. 97, under Cape St. Sebastians, where you will find me, or orders for your further proceedings. NELSON AND BRONTE. The Childers will be in to-day. You will not suffer her to anchor, but acquaint Captain Sir William Bolton that he will find a Private letter with the Governor at Madalena, from me, which he will open, and proceed accordingly. The Public one is not meant for him, and therefore desire he will not open it. Sir, TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART., ADMIRALTY. [Letter-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 20th February, 1804. I have received your letter of the 19th December last, together with a copy of the orders which have been given to Captain Hallowell of the Argo, as also a copy of a secret letter to that Officer; and you will please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that Captain Hallowell shall be permitted to return to England, agreeable to their Lordships' directions, communicated to me in your said letter. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART., ADMIRALTY. [From a Copy in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 20th February, 1804. I have received your letter of the 9th November last, with a copy of the one therein mentioned from Mr. James Douglas, Master of the Ship Mentor, respecting the depredations committed by the Enemy's Privateers in the Adriatic. In answer thereto, I beg to transmit you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, duplicate of my letter of the 24th November last, and to acquaint you, for their information, that the utmost possible attention has been paid to the protection of our Trade in the Adriatic, as far as the force under my command has enabled me, and, I may add, to a greater extent than comes within my knowledge on any former occasion. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART., ADMIRALTY. [From a Copy in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 20th February, 1804. Sir, Lieutenant Robert Lloyd, commanding his Majesty's Prison-Ship Guerrier, at Gibraltar, having, with his letter of the 5th December, transmitted me a copy of their Lordships' instructions of the 27th September last, and at the same time requested permission to bear a sufficient number of men to enable him to carry the said instructions into execution, till such time as the Guerrier's establishment shall be sent to him, you will be pleased to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that I have directed Lieutenant Lloyd to enter twenty Seamen, including two Midshipmen, and to bear them upon a supernumerary list for wages and victuals, till such time as their Lordships shall think proper to furnish the said Lieutenant with the Guerrier's establishment. I have also directed him to enter as part of the said number, any Seamen who may be invalided at Gibraltar Hospital, as unfit for active service in this Country. |