time in concerting with Sir Alexander Ball, his Majesty's Commissioner at that Island, such arrangements as may be necessary with a view to the protection and security of that Island; you are then to proceed off Toulon, with such part of the Squadron under your command as you may judge to be adequate to the service, and take such a position as may, in your Lordship's opinion, be most proper for enabling you to take, sink, burn, or otherwise destroy, any Ships or Vessels belonging to France, or the Citizens of that Republic, and also for detaining and sending into Port any Ships or Vessels belonging to the Batavian Republic, or the Citizens thereof, that you may happen to fall in with. Your Lordship is to be very attentive to the proceedings of the French at Genoa, Leghorn, and other Ports on that side of Italy, for the purpose of gaining the most early information of any armaments that may be forming there, either with a view to an attack upon Egypt, or any other part of the Turkish Dominions, or against the Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily, or the Islands of Corfu; and in the event of your having reason to believe that any such plan shall be in contemplation, your Lordship is to exert your best endeavours to counteract it, and to take, sink, burn, or destroy any Ships or Vessels which may be so employed; as well as to afford to the Sublime Porte and his Sicilian Majesty and their subjects, any protection or assistance which may be in your power, consistently with a due attention to the other important objects entrusted to your care. "As it is highly important that your Lordship should be watchful of the conduct of the Court of Spain in the present moment, you are to direct your attention to the Naval preparations that may be making in the several Ports of that Kingdom in the Mediterranean, as also at Cadiz, and to take every practicable means of obtaining, from time to time, all the intelligence you may be able to collect on that subject. Your Lordship is to take care that no interruption be offered by any of the Ships or Vessels under your command to any Spanish Ships of War or Trade, while they conduct themselves in a manner becoming a Neutral Nation; but, at the same time, your Lordship is to understand, that however desirable it may be to avoid any measure of hostility against that Country, you are not to suffer any Squadron of Spanish Ships of War to enter a French Port, or to form a junction with any Squadron, or Ships or Vessels of that, or the Batavian Republic. Your Lordship is also to be careful not to infringe the Neutrality of other Powers, so long as their conduct towards his Majesty and the commerce of his Subjects shall be actuated by a similar principle. And whereas there is reason to believe that some of the French Line of Battle Ships which have recently been employed in conveying Troops to the French West India Islands may, on their return to Europe, attempt to proceed to the Ports in the Mediterranean; your Lordship is to detach such part of the Squadron under your command as you can spare from other more important services, as soon as possible, to Gibraltar, with orders to the Senior Officer of such Detachment, after obtaining the best information he may be able to collect at that place, to take such a position as he may conceive to be most convenient, with a view to the intercepting the said Ships, and any others belonging to the French or Batavian Republics, which may attempt to pass or repass the Straits; and your Lordship is to apprise the Senior Officer, from time to time, of your movements, to the end that no delay that can be prevented may take place in the furnishing your Lordship with any orders or instructions which we may have occasion to send you, for the further regulation of your conduct; and, finally, you are to transmit to our Secretary, for our information, frequent accounts of your proceedings, and every intelligence you may have obtained, proper for our knowledge. Given under our hands, the 18th May 1803,-ST. VINCENT, PH. STEPHENS, T. TROUBRIDGE." On the 15th of May, Lord Nelson was directed by the Admiralty " to detain and bring into Port all Ships and Vessels belonging to the Batavian Republic, there to remain until his Majesty's further pleasure shall be signified respecting them;" giving "directions to the Officers to whom the charge of such Ships or Vessels may be entrusted, to take all possible care that no embezzlement of any kind whatever do take place, as they will answer the contrary at their peril.” On the 17th of May, Lord Nelson was informed that the King had directed Letters of Marque and Reprisals to be issued against the Ships and Vessels of the French Republic; and he was directed to use his "best endeavours to seize or destroy all Ships and Vessels belonging to the French Republic, or to any persons being Citizens of the said Republic, or inhabiting within any of the Territories thereof, you may be able to fall in with accordingly, and to give the like directions to all the Captains and Commanders of his Majesty's Ships and Vessels under your command." Originals, in the possession of the Right Hon. John Wilson Croker.] Sir, Victory, at Spithead, 20th May, 1803. I was honoured with your letter, sent by a Messenger at half-past four yesterday, at half-past one this morning; and I beg leave to assure you that I hold it impossible for any Officer, under such orders as their Lordships' to me, to designedly miss Admiral Cornwallis off Brest. Their Lordships may rely on my strict obedience to their orders, and I rely with confidence on their liberal constructions of my actions. The Victory shall sail the moment she is paid. I have the honour to be, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, off the Start, 21st May, 1803. You will please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that I have this morning detained a Dutch Merchant Ship from Surinam, laden with cocoa, coffee, and sugar, and sent her into Plymouth. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE CAPTAIN OF ANY OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS WHICH THE AMPHION MAY MEET AT SEA, OR IN CAWSAND BAY. Sir, [Letter-Book.] Victory, off the Start, 21st May, 1803. It is my directions that you take charge of the Dutch Ship under the charge of Captain Hardy, and see her safe into Plymouth: or if this letter should be delivered to any Ship in Cawsand Bay, it is my directions that the Senior Officer there take charge of her; and it is my positive directions that the Amphion is not detained one moment. Great care is to be taken that none of her cargo is embezzled, [for,] as the Admiralty order expresses, you will answer it at your peril. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. [Autograph, in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B. "Monday, 23rd (i. e., Tuesday, 22nd, P.M.) At 5, Ushant Light House, N.E. b E. seven miles. Standing off and on off Ushant. Joined H. M. Ships Sirius and Amphion." Tuesday, 24th May (i. e, 23rd May, P.M.) At 4, saw two strange Sail, S.E. b E., which proved to be H. M. Ships Naiad and Hazard; hove to; at 7-40, out Boats. The Admiral shifted his Flag to the Amphion. At 7-50, Lord Nelson came on board the Amphion, and hoisted his Flag, and made sail. At 10, lost sight of the Squadron."-Log.] My dear Lord, May 22nd, 1803, Noon, close to Ushant. I am looking out for Cornwallis. I think we must see him before one, if he is this side the Saints, and I hope that he will not want the Victory. I am very comfortably placed here. I forgot to mention Mr. Barrillier to you. If Sir John Henslow3 goes off, could he not be more generally usefully employed than at Milford? I have cleared the Victory for to carry a raft fifty feet by fourteen. It can be done with ease, and a passage can be had in the place where the double hammocks are stowed. I hope one will be built and tried: answer the purpose intended with my head. 3 P.M. We are inside Ushant, but where is Cornwallis? However, I shall block up Brest till he comes to liberate me. past 5.-In sight of Saint Matthew's. Murray says, if the Fleet was off Brest, that they must be seen. Blows strong at North. What a wind for carrying us to Portugal. 6 P.M.-Just got hold of the Sirius. Captain Prowse tells me, that the Admiral is cruizing W.N.W. from the Saints' Bridge twenty leagues. I have demonstrated the Victory off Brest, and am now going to seek the Admiral in the ocean. Surveyor of the Navy; he died, aged eighty-six, in September, 1815. Captain William Prowse: he died a Rear-Admiral, and a Companion of the Bath, in March 1826. May 23rd. You will, by my letter to the Admiralty, see how much ground we have traversed in search, and if I do not find him by six o'clock, if the weather will allow me [to] shift myself into the Amphion, and leave the Victory to look for Cornwallis. I am clear, by his conduct, that there can be nothing in Brest to demand his attention. It blows very strong, and a heavy sea. I doubt the possibility of my getting out of the Ship, whether I meet him or not. 6 P.M.-Captain Neve" is on board. He supposes the Admiral ten leagues off Ushant: therefore there is no looking for him, and I am embarking in the Amphion. God bless you, and ever believe me yours most faithfully, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO LADY HAMILTON. [Extract from the "Letters of Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton," vol. i. p. 108.] May 22nd, [1803.] Eight o'clock in the Morning. My dearest Emma, We are now in sight of Ushant, and shall see Admiral Cornwallis in an hour. I am not in a little fret, on the idea that he may keep the Victory, and turn us all into the Amphion. It will make it truly uncomfortable; but I cannot help myself. We are very comfortable. Mr. Elliot is happy, has quite recovered his spirits: he was very low at Portsmouth. George Elliot is very well; say so to Lord Minto. Murray, Sutton-in short, every body in the Ship, seems happy; and, if we should fall in with a French Man-of-War, I have no fears but they will do as we used to do. Hardy is gone into Plymouth, to see our Dutchman safe. I think she will turn out a good Prize. Gaetano desires his duty to Miledi! He is a good man, and, I dare say, will come back; for I think it cannot be a long War: just enough to make me independent in pecuniary matters. If the wind stands, on Tuesday we shall be on the Coast of Portugal; and, before next Sunday, in the Mediterranean. To Mrs. Cadogan say every kind thing; to good Mrs. Nelson, the Doctor, &c. &c. If you like, Captain Robert Jenner Neve, of the Hazard: he was Posted in 1806, and died about 1815. • His Steward. you may tell him about the entailing of the Pension : but perhaps he will be so much taken up with Canterbury,' that it will do for some dull evening at Hilborough. I shall now stop till I have been on board the Admiral..... I shall direct to Merton, after June 1st. Therefore, as you change, make Davison take a direction to Nepean; but I would not trouble him with too many directions, for fear of embroil. May 23rd. We were close in with Brest yesterday, and found by a Frigate that Admiral Cornwallis had a Rendezvous at sea. Thither we went; but to this hour cannot find him. It blows strong. What a wind we are losing! If I cannot find the Admiral by six o'clock, we must all go into the Amphion, and leave the Victory, to my great mortification. So much for the wisdom of my superiors. I keep my letter open to the last, for I still hope; as, I am sure, there is no good reason for my not going out in the Victory. I am just embarking in the Amphion-cannot find Admiral Cornwallis. May God in Heaven bless you, prays your most sincere Nelson and Bronte. Stephens's publications I should like to have. I have left my silver seal; at least, I cannot find it. Sir, TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 23rd May, 1803, } past 6 o'clock P.M. I send you the track and proceedings of the Victory since she rounded Ushant yesterday afternoon. It is perfectly certain that not even a Frigate was inside of us; nor could Admiral Cornwallis have made inside Ushant his Station from Wednesday last, for on that day the Sirius, Captain Prowse, was inside Ushant, and not finding Admiral Cornwallis returned to Plymouth to know how to proceed, when he received from Admiral Dacres the Rendezvous of the Admiral, W.N.W. of * Dr. Nelson was gazetted as a Prebendary of Canterbury, on the 24th of May, 1803. 864 'History of the Wars of the French Revolution," 2 vols. 4to, 1803. Vide p. 43, ante, and vol. iii. p. 521. |