arrangement of the Ships under your orders; and only observe that the protection of our Commerce, and the destruction of the Enemy's Privateers and Cruizers, are most essential objects for your consideration. I must desire to refer you to my secret letter of yesterday's date, with respect to the Spaniards, and that you will furnish me with the most early intelligence of the Enemy's Ships, should they escape from Ferrol and be bound into the Mediterranean. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN SUTTON, H.M. SHIP AMPHION. [Autograph, in the possession of Captain Ives Sutton.] My dear Sutton, March 17th, 1804. Many thanks for your letter of February 9th, and I assure you that I shall always rejoice in your success, whether I may be benefited or not. The French Fleet will some day or other put to sea, and it shall go hard but that some of them shall visit Spithead. I am ever, dear Sutton, your much obliged friend, Hardy writes you. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 359.] My dear Lord, March 17th, 1804. Whilst I have your support, and the Officers of the Fleet look up to me, I can do anything which the number of Ships can allow the warmest wishes of my friends to anticipate. Take that from me, and I am nothing. I am the child of opinion, and the Admiralty can with their breath destroy it. But I rely with confidence upon you, my dear Lord, and that alone keeps me up. My general health, I think, within this last fortnight is better; but my sight is much fallen off,—I have always thought I should be blind. If I can but meet the French Fleet, and do the thing well, I shall certainly ask for rest; it is necessary for me. I have sent your nephew 5 Captain Parker, of the Amazon. 5 this morning, to see if he can lay salt upon the tail of a French Frigate; I every day see new and excellent traits in him. Hardy is his great pattern about his Ship, and a better he could not have. I have only to hope the restless animal, Buonaparte, will be upset by Frenchmen, and then we may have some quiet. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN SIR THOMAS TROUBRIDGE, BART., ADMIRALTY. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 360.] My dear Troubridge, 17th March, 1804. You must have reading enough, and your letters convey to you only complaints and misery, of Ships and Men. I have none to make: we are all cheerful and healthy, and our expenditure of stores has been, comparatively speaking, nothing. The French want to get out, and we want them out. Yesterday two of their Frigates were outside Hieres, peeping to know if we were gone to the Devil. Ball is sure they are going to Egypt; the Turks are sure they are going to the Morea; Mr. Elliot at Naples, to Sicily; and the King of Sardinia, to his only spot. Your son cannot be anywhere so well placed as with Donnelly. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CLARENCE. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 360, who state that, "at the conclusion of a long and most interesting Letter to his Royal Highness, in which Nelson pointed out how very erroneous the opinions of some of our ablest Ministers, and even of the French themselves, had been, respecting a thorough knowledge of the Mediterranean," he added:] [Query, March, 1804.] I have often sat and smiled to hear grave and eminent Senators expatiate on the importance of a place,' which I well knew was of no importance to us. I think I have told your Royal Highness enough, to induce you at all times to steer clear of possessing it. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE Now Rear-Admiral Sir Edward Thomas Troubridge, Bart., C.B. 'Query, Malta? TO CAPTAIN RYVES, H.M. SHIP GIBRALTAR. [Letter-Book.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 18th March, 1804. I have this day transmitted an order to his Excellency Sir John Acton, Bart., directing the return of his Majesty's Ship under your command to join me on the Rendezvous No. 100, as therein mentioned, the moment he shall signify that his Majesty the King of Naples has no further occasion for the services of the Gibraltar. You will herewith receive a List of Rendezvous from No. 97 to No. 101, issued to the Squadron since you left it, together with the Order of Battle and of Sailing. I am, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ. [Autograph, in the possession of Colonel Davison.] My dear Davison, Victory, March 18th, 1803. This latter I must manage you will let me know how I have not only personal obligations to you out of number, but also a load of pecuniary debt. and pay off; therefore, I beg that the account stands. We hope the Dutch Ship will be given us; for it will be very hard that those taken before June 13th should not be given to the Captors. We were equally at War. We all look to you, as our Agent, for having petitioned, or done whatever is proper, in order to obtain it; and if it is given up, you will, of course, keep my proportion, two-thirds of one-eighth, in your hands, and place it to my credit, as also that of Copenhagen, and every day I am asked why it is not paid? At all events, a portion might be reserved for the Army; but I should think Mr. Falkner could easily get this settled, and Sir Hyde might write [?] about it. At all events, I must try and get out of your debt for money. There is not one farthing of Prize-money stirring here. Except at the first start, I have not got enough to pay my expenses. You will place the £200 sent Mr. Bolton to my account. 8 Query, Lady Hamilton. She is generous beyond her means, and, therefore, she should not be asked for what is not in her power to spare. I much doubt whether the Pension' will ever be given-more shame for them! I am sorry to hear you have not been well, which has grieved me very much. Take care of yourself; for what signifies all the riches of this world! I am ever, my dear Davison, most faithfully yours, NELSON AND Bronte. TO HIS EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT, ESQ. [Autograph, in the Elliot Papers.] Victory, March 18th, 1803. My dear Sir, The Royal Sovereign has joined me, and the Admiralty, unless our Enemies increase by the Spaniards, will order a Ship to England in lieu of her; therefore, as the Gibraltar is ordered to be refitted at Gibraltar, I must request that she may leave Naples whenever the King has no further commands for her. I have sent orders to Captain Ryves, and shall write to his Excellency Sir John Acton; for, however displeased the Admiralty may be with me for keeping a Ship of the Line constantly at Naples, yet I have always considered, and do still consider the preservation of the Royal Family a most particular part of my duty. I have no doubts but that the French Fleet would long ago have sailed from Toulon, but for the commotions in France. Your Excellency's two packets of January..., and February 14th, arrived the same day-one by Cagliari, the other by the Cameleon. Nothing but Troops can save Sardinia; and if Russia does not send them, she only misleads the King of Sardinia. I believe they are jealous of our doing anything, and will do nothing themselves. I have been but very indifferent, but I am much recovered, and I hope to hold out a few months longer, when I shall lay down my Office, which, whoever may take up, however they may carry on the service with greater ability, will never do it with more zeal than, my dear Sir, your faithful and obliged, NELSON AND BRONTE. I send a letter which I have just received from the Bey of Tunis, and I am sure that your Lordship will think it right to pay attention to his request, but not knowing the name of the Neutral Vessel or Vessels may create some little difficulty; but I shall assure his Highness of the readiness of his Majesty's Ministers to meet his wishes, and that the moment I receive the passports, they shall be sent to him. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART., ADMIRALTY. [Letter-Book.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 19th March, 1804. You will please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that the Enemy's Fleet at Toulon is still in Port, but in a perfect state of readiness to proceed to sea. The Seahorse reconnoitred them on the 17th instant-eight Sail of the Line are in the outer Road, and two in the inner. Their Frigates and Corvettes are, apparently, all perfectly equipped. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN RICHARDSON, H. M. SHIP JUNO. Sir, [Letter-Book.] Most Secret. Victory, at Sea, 19th March, 1804. As it is probable from the recent accounts I have received from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that a rupture with Spain may soon take place, I am to desire you will communicate weekly with Mr. Gibert, His Majesty's Consul at Barcelona, in order to obtain the most early information of the intentions of Spain towards our Country; but, I must |