whole of them to England as expeditiously as possible, consistent with their safety. On your arrival off Plymouth, you will be governed with respect to their future protection as circumstances shall render expedient, and proceed with the Monmouth to Spithead, together with such of the Convoy as are bound to the Eastward, dropping them in your way up Channel as they arrive off their respective destinations. You are to pay the most strict attention to the safety and protection of the Trade under your charge, that none of them may separate from you, or fall into the hands of the Enemy. You are, until the arrival of the Arrow from Smyrna, as before mentioned, to employ the Monmouth in any manner you judge best for collecting the Trade; and in the event of Captain Vincent's not having brought the Trade with him from the Levant, you are hereby directed to proceed immediately, with his Majesty's Ship under your command, to Smyrna, and the different Ports in the Levant, for the purpose of collecting the Trade, and bring them with you to Malta; and on your arrival there, proceed with the whole, as before directed. In order to enable you the more effectually to perform this service, I have directed Captain Hallowell of the Argo to put himself under your command. You will, therefore, take him and the said Ship under your orders accordingly. On the Monmouth's arrival off Spithead, you will acquaint the Secretary of the Admiralty thereof, and transmit an account of your proceedings for their Lordships' information.' NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN BENJAMIN HALLOWELL, H. M. SHIP ARGO. [Order-Book, and Autograph Memorandum.] Victory, at Sea, 20th March, 1804. Whereas I consider the protection of our Trade the most essential service that can be performed, You are, therefore, "Should it happen that the Monmouth has left Malta for England, then this order is to be put in full and entire execution by Captain Benjamin Hallowell, of his Majesty's Ship Argo; for in no manner must the Trade of Great Britain be neglected."-Autograph Memorandum. hereby required and directed, in the event of the Monmouth's having proceeded from Malta without the Convoy for England, to open the letter directed to Captain Hart, (which is also, in such case, intended for you, as mentioned in the said letter in the possession of the Senior Officer,) and consider the order it contains" as addressed to yourself, and most strictly and punctually put it into execution. But should the Monmouth be at Malta on your return from Alexandria, you are hereby directed to put yourself under the command of Captain Hart, and follow his orders for your further proceedings. NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN THOMAS BRIGGS, H. M. SHIP AGINCOURT. [Order-Book, and Autograph Memorandum.] Victory, at Sea, 20th March, 1804. Whereas I judge proper that his Majesty's Ship Agincourt, under your command, shall proceed to Gibraltar and take in her lower-deck Guns, You are (notwithstanding my orders to the contrary) hereby required and directed to proceed, without a moment's loss of time, in his Majesty's said Ship to Gibraltar, and after having received your lower-deck Guns on board, (which you will cause to be done with the utmost dispatch,) put yourself under the command of Captain Gore of the Medusa, or the Senior Officer at that place, and follow his orders for your further proceeding. But should no Senior Officer be at Gibraltar, you will proceed, the moment the Agincourt is ready, outside the Straits, and cruize there for the protection of our Commerce, and the destruction of the Enemy's Privateers and Cruizers. You are to continue on this service till further orders, and endeavour as early as possible to communicate with Captain Gore, or the Senior Officer, and be governed in your future proceedings agreeable to the instructions you may receive from him. NELSON AND BRONTE. Vide p. 466, ante. "Vide p. 358, ante, note. TO CAPTAIN SCHOMBERG, H.M. SHIP MADRAS, MALTA. [Letter-Book.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 20th March, 1804. I have received your letter of the 26th ultimo, acquainting me that you had ordered the Morgiana up the Adriatic with the Fish Ships, that the Sophie Sloop was to join me, and that the only Merchant-ship bound to England (the Hero) sails so well, and is so well armed, as to be able to run it." In answer to which, I approve of your having sent the Morgiana up the Adriatic with the Fish Ships, and take it for granted that you have ordered Captain Raynsford to collect and bring with him all the Trade for Malta and England. I must desire in future that you will order the Captains proceeding with Convoys to send you a regular list of the Ships they may have under their charge, to and from Malta, which you will transmit to me as opportunity offers, for my information. On the subject of the Hero's sailing for England without convoy, I cannot give my approbation, and would recommend to you great care in furnishing the Masters of such Ships with certificates under any circumstance. In the event of the Ship in question getting safe to her destination, it will be all very well; otherwise, the Under-writers will certainly attach blame for sanctioning her sailing. I am, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. CERTIFICATE. Victory, at Sea, 20th March, 1804. These are to certify that I have no objections to the Greeks belonging to a Ship of that Nation, which was taken by his Majesty's Ship Niger, being liberated; provided the Proctor of the Vice-Admiralty Court at Malta deems it proper, under the circumstances of their having fired upon the Boats of his Majesty's said Ship, and killed an Officer and one or more of her people. NELSON AND BRONTE. T i. e., To proceed without the protection of a Ship of War. TO LIEUTENANT HENRY FREDERICK WOODMAN, AGENT FOR TRANSPORTS AT MALTA. [Letter-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 21st March, 1804. Sir, Most Secret. Admiral Holloway having acquainted me by letter of your arrival in this Country as an Agent of Transports, and also of your being very equal to any important service, from your intelligence and observation; and the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having recommended me to send an Officer of that description in charge of the Transports, I have, therefore, thought proper to send You, and must recommend to your serious attention the circumstances in general that are passing in the Black Sea on the part of Russia, who, it is said, is forming an Armament to a very considerable extent; and although there is not the most distant idea that this Armament will direct its operations against the interests of Great Britain, yet it is essentially necessary that its real intentions ⚫should be discovered as early as possible, and, therefore, you will let no opportunity escape you of obtaining all the information you may be able to collect on this important subject. And I must desire you will endeavour to gain a particular account of the Naval Force which Russia may have at Sebastapol and Cherson, (their two principal Naval Ports in the Black Sea,) and to what extent they are arming there. You will likewise endeavour to obtain a knowledge of their Fortifications, and what number of guns is mounted on their different Batteries, and whether they are able to protect their Trade. It will be advisable to ascertain whether these Armaments are with a view to check and oppose the measures of the French, should they attempt to possess themselves of the Morea. You will also endeavour to gain information of the trade and manufactures carried on by the Russians in the Ports above mentioned-what supplies of provisions and Naval stores might be drawn from that Country, and upon what terms. In order to obtain a perfect knowledge of the local situation of the Russian Territory in the Black Sea, you are to procure a Chart of their Country, which will assist you in forming a more clear idea of the places of principal importance, and endeavour, by every means, to obtain information of their present and future intentions with regard to England, transmitting me a very full and correct account of your observations, &c., on your return to Malta, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. MEMORANDA. [Autograph draught in the possession of Earl Nelson.] [About 22nd March, 1804.] The Fleet to proceed to Palma, where they will remain as few days as possible; and when they sail, a letter will be left with the Consul at St. Pierres. Orders for Active to take Seahorse, Phoebe, and Amazon under his orders, to look into Toulon every two or three days at furthest; and in the event of the Enemy's putting to sea, to detach a Frigate to me; and as it will be of the very utmost importance my being acquainted with it, should the wind prove contrary when on the Coast of Sardinia, an intelligent active Officer to be sent to me in a Boat, which will probably get along shore faster than the Frigate. The Phoebe is expected every hour from Gibraltar. Captain Moubray must calculate about the time of the Fleet's return, and keep a good look-out for me. Seahorse being in want of wood, to be ordered, when Phoebe joins, to the Island of Asinara, to cut wood, for which purpose she may remain forty-eight hours. In much less time, I am informed the Victory could be wooded. To call at Cagliari for two English Ships, and to take them to Malta. Niger to proceed to Malta, deliver the stores she has on board, and to return and join me on Rendezvous 100, without a moment's loss of time. Is it necessary to give an order for the Invalids to be sent to England in the first Ship of War? |