be penny-wise and pound-foolish. A small sum, well laid out, will keep Fleets healthy; but it requires large sums to make a sickly Fleet healthy, besides the immense loss of personal services. Health cannot be dearly bought at any price -if the Fleet is never sickly. By general exertions, we have done well; but we have not a place that we can be sure of supplies from. Spain will not give us a live animal; Naples dare not; and Sardinia ought not: but that is the only place we have a chance for fresh provisions. God knows how many days-it will not be many-that Island will be out of the hands of the French. I hope to hold out till after the Battle; but, as you know, mine is a wretched constitution, and my sight is getting very, very bad. I rejoice to hear the Earl is so well. Believe me ever, yours faithfully and obliged, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO SIR JOHN ACTON, BART., NAPLES. [From Clarke and M‘Arthur, vol. ii. p. 361.] March, 1804. Will Russia come forth as she ought, or are her plans only preparative to the taking possession of Greece, and of course Constantinople? This is a subject I have no business at present to enter into, although it is seriously in my mind. I am, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. TO SPIRIDION FORESTI, ESQ., CORFU. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 361.] March, 1804. The ultimate views of Russia become every hour more distinct; how long the mask may be kept on I cannot say, but sooner or later the Morea will belong by conquest to Russia. What part Great Britain may take, the connexions which Russia may form will point out. form will point out. However, we are at present on the most friendly terms with the Emperor, and I hope we shall always continue so. I have said enough to so sensible a man as yourself. I am, &c., 8 Earl St. Vincent, NELSON AND Bronte, TO CAPTAIN PHILIP LAMB, AGENT FOR PRISONERS OF WAR AND TRANSPORTS, MALTA. [From a Copy in the Admiralty.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 20th March, 1804. I have received your letter of the 28th ultimo, together with the state of the Transports and Prisoners of War at Malta, and I have to desire that you will prepare two coppered Transports, and have them in momentary readiness to proceed to Odessa, for the purpose of bringing stores and provisions from thence to Malta, under the charge of Lieutenant Woodman, whenever I shall deem proper to order a Convoy for that purpose. The said Transports are to be as commodious as possible, and in every respect complete for the service they are to be employed on. With respect to the others that are not wanted for the service of the Island of Malta and the Fleet under my command, I must desire you will hold them in readiness to proceed to England with the first Convoy; and on the subject of the number necessary to be kept for those purposes, I desire to refer you to the copy of my letter of the 7th October last, to Lieutenant Pemberton (then Resident Agent of Transports) herewith transmitted, and to which you will pay most implicit obedience, in order that no more Transports may be kept in this Country than what may be absolutely necessary for the services before mentioned. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 20th March, 1804. Sir, I have to request you will be pleased to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that in consequence of Lieutenant William Miller (2nd)' of the Triumph being appointed an Agent of Transports, and ordered to England by the Commissioners of that Board, I have given Mr. William Faddy,' He became a Retired Commander in July 1839, and died early in 1844. Midshipman of the Victory, a Commission in his room, (a copy of which is herewith transmitted,) and trust their Lordships will order the appointment to be confirmed. I am satisfied when I call to their Lordships' recollection, that this deserving young man is son to the late Captain of the Marines who was killed on board the Vanguard, in the Battle of the Nile, they will feel as much pleasure in confirming the appointment, as I do in making the request on his behalf. I beg leave also to observe that his widowed mother is alive, with the charge of a large family unprovided for, and naturally looks up to him for assistance. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. [Added, in Lord Nelson's own hand :] Mr. Faddy was a Mid. in the Vanguard, when his father was killed. Sir, TO CAPTAIN CRACRAFT, H.M. SHIP ANSON. [Letter-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 20th March, 1804. I have received your letter of the 23rd January last, together with the one therein mentioned from Captain Raynsford, of his Majesty's Sloop Morgiana, giving an account of his having taken possession of the French Privateer L'Intrepide, which, under the circumstances stated in Captain Raynsford's said letter, I very much approve of, and trust that he brought a sufficient number of her crew with him to Malta, to answer the necessary interrogatories by the Vice-Admiralty Court at that place. I have also to acknowledge your letters of 8th and 10th ultimo, acquainting me that the false keel and copper were the only parts of the Anson that had received any damage by her having been on shore, and with the orders you had given his Majesty's Sloops named in the margin,* which also meet my approbation, as I take it for granted that you have directed Captain Vincent' to bring all the Trade with him from Smyrna, and the different Ports in the Levant, to Malta. I am, &c. Arrow, Morgiana, Bittern. NELSON AND Bronte. 3 of the Arrow. TO NATHANIEL TAYLOR, ESQ., NAVAL OFFICER, MALTA. [Letter-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 20th March, 1804. Sir, I have received your letter of the 10th ultimo, on the subject of the stores you had found necessary to purchase for the indispensable repairs of his Majesty's Ships at Malta, and requesting an order to pay the Bills, and to enable you to pass your accounts at the Navy-Board. In answer to which I herewith transmit you an order for the purpose above-mentioned, satisfied that you would not have made the purchases in question, but under the most pressing and absolute necessity. It is not necessary to repeat my instructions respecting purchases, as I trust none will be made but upon occasions of the most indispensable necessity; more particularly so as the stores under your charge have lately been recruited from England. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th, ultimo, with the extract therein mentioned, and am very glad to find the Imperial Schooner Hungaria, with the cordage and tar, is safe arrived at Malta. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. MEMORANDA. [Autograph in the possession of the Reverend Henry Girdlestone.] [About 20th March, 1804.] To Captain Schomberg, or Senior Captain at Malta:— The Trade from Naples, Sicily, and the Adriatic to be collected by the middle of April, that they may be ready to proceed to England when the Levant Ships arrive, under convoy of the Monmouth, or Argo, or both. A Letter to the Senior Captain at Malta: Should the Agincourt be left in Egypt by Captain H., the Reynard Schooner, or some other fast sailing Vessel, to be sent here with my letter. TO CAPTAIN SCHOMBERG, H.M. SHIP MADRAS, MALTA. [Letter Book.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 20th March, 1804. Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton having left Malta previous to his receiving my letter of the 12th January, and paper therein referred to, I herewith transmit you the said letter, and papers therein mentioned, and desire you will consider it as addressed to yourself, and comply with it accordingly. Lieutenant Shaw has sent me his own statement of the circumstances, together with a Letter from Mr. Noble, Merchant at Malta; but I wish a more particular account from the Senior Officer, and also Sir Alexander Ball's opinion on the occasion, in order that Lieutenant Shaw may be perfectly clear of any blame. You will please to return the several papers with your report to, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN GEORGE HART, H. M. SHIP MONMOUTH. [Order-Book, and Autograph Memorandum in the possession of the Reverend Henry Girdlestone.] Victory, at Sea, 20th March, 1804. Whereas it is my intention that his Majesty's Ship Monmouth, under your command, shall convoy all the Trade which may be collected at Malta by the time the Merchant Ships arrive from Smyrna, which I expect the Arrow is ordered to bring down on her return from Constantinople, You are therefore hereby required and directed to remain in Valetta Harbour until the arrival of the Arrow and Trade from the Levant, when you will make the Signal for, and take under your convoy and protection, the whole of the Trade which shall be collected at Malta, together with the Ships brought from the Levant by the Arrow, and proceed with them as soon as possible to Gibraltar, where you will also take under your convoy all the Merchant Ships from Malaga and Cadiz which may be ready, and whose Masters are desirous to avail themselves of your protection, and proceed with the |