the Saint's Bridge, twenty leagues, latitude 48° 04", longitude 6° 35" W. You will see, by our track, that at half-past six o'clock this morning we were on the Rendezvous, with the two Frigates, they looking out on different bearings all night. At seven saw a Dogger, which the Sirius spoke; at eight, saw two other Sail bearing S.S.E., spoke a Brig from Bordeaux; from this time till noon steering E.S.E., which makes an East course good, the wind being at N.N.E. blowing strong. Supposing Admiral Cornwallis to have been yesterday noon on his Rendezvous, he must have drifted to the Southward; therefore, allowing for a reasonable drift, he must be as far to the Southward as ourselves at noon-viz., 47° 41". I think, with this wind, it is impossible he could keep his head to the Westward, he would certainly make Southing with his Westing; therefore I think he must be inshore, unless, for some reason totally beyond my guess, he has judged it proper to avoid the French Coast. In this case, I have my choice to take the Victory or Frigate. I am decidedly of opinion that I ought, under all the circumstances of the case, to proceed in the Victory; for either Admiral Cornwallis has found the French Fleet ready for sea so insignificant, that it was not an object to block up Brest very close, in which case he could not want a First-rate, which would remove the objection of the Admiralty to my taking the Victory; or, the Admiral has judged it proper to go off the Coast, in which case I do not think I ought to leave the Victory. Yet, as I feel from your Letter of the 19th May, on no account to pass Admiral Cornwallis, so as to run any chance of his being deprived of the services of the Victory, if he should judge it necessary to detain her,' I shall, therefore, contrary to my judgment, leave the Victory to look out for one week for Admiral Cornwallis; and if Captain Sutton does not fall in with him, to return to Plymouth for further orders. I am proceeding in the Amphion, in the execution of the important instructions to me. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. P.S.-Enclosed is Captain Murray's report, for their Lord ships' information. TO ADMIRAL THE HONOURABLE WILLIAM CORNWALLIS, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. [Letter-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 23rd May, 1803, past 6 o'clock P.M. Sir, I have the honour to transmit you the directions of the Admiralty for my joining you off Brest; but as I have not been so fortunate as to meet you, and the whole business of the Mediterranean waiting my arrival, I have judged it proper to shift my Flag to the Amphion, and to proceed in her. If you have no commands for the Victory, I trust you will order her to join me without a moment's loss of time. I am, Sir, with great regard, your obedient humble servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO ADMIRAL HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CLARENCE. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 313.] Off Cape Finisterre, 26th May, 1803. Your Royal Highness will have heard that I sailed in the Victory to join Admiral Cornwallis off Brest; but as I could not find him on his Rendezvous, or near Brest, and having a fair wind, I determined on embarking in the Amphion, and proceeding to the Mediterranean, leaving the Victory to follow, if Admiral Cornwallis did not want her assistance. I now wish I had not persevered so long in looking for him, for I have lost the fair wind. I never could fancy that our assistance would be wanted. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE RESPECTIVE CAPTAINS AND COMMANDERS OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS AND VESSELS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN STATION. [Order-Book.] Amphion, off Cape Finisterre, 30th May, 1803. The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having acquainted me in consequence of a Letter of the 17th instant, from the Right Hon. Lord Hobart, one of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, that IIis Majesty had been pleased to order Letters of Marque and Reprisals, to be issued against the Ships and Vessels of the French Republic, You are therefore hereby required and directed to use your 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. NELSON AND Bronte. TO THE RESPECTIVE CAPTAINS AND COMMANDERS OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS AND VESSELS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN STATION. [Order-Book.] Amphion, off Cape Finisterre, 30th May, 1803. The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having acquainted me, in consequence of a letter of the 15th instant, from the Right Hon. Lord Hobart, one of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, that from the measures lately adopted by the French Government, there is too much reason to apprehend that the Batavian Republic will be forced to take part with the French in hostility against this Country, and at the same time signified His Majesty's pleasure that directions should be given for detaining and bringing into Port all Ships and Vessels belonging to the Batavian Republic, You are therefore hereby required and directed, on falling in with any Ships or Vessels of the said Republic, to detain and bring them into Port, there to remain until His Majesty's farther pleasure shall be signified respecting them. In the event of your detaining any Ship or Vessel of the above description, it is the orders of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that the most positive directions are given 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. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE RESPECTIVE CAPTAINS AND COMMANDERS OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS AND VESSELS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN STATION. [Order-Book.] Amphion, off Cape Finisterre, 30th May, 1803. Pursuant to instructions from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, you are hereby required and directed on no account whatever to interrupt any Spanish Ships or Vessels of War which you may fall in with, nor to molest the Trade of his Catholic Majesty. It is also their Lordships' particular direction that you do not infringe on the Neutrality of any Power in Amity with Great Britain. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO ADMIRAL THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD RADSTOCK. [Antograph, in the possession of Rear-Admiral Lord Radstock, C.B.] My dear Lord, Off Lisbon, June 2nd, 1803. You may rely that I shall not omit anything in my power to be useful to your son: when he has served his time he shall come directly into the Victory. You had, my dear Lord, only to tell me where he was placed, to be sure of my attention; and if he is not a good young man, I am sure he will not be like his Father. We have had a long passage, having had to go off Brest, and since which time foul winds. With every kind wish, believe me, my dear Lord, ever your most obliged and attached, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO ADMIRAL HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CLARENCE. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 313. "Saturday, 4th June, (i. e., Friday, 3rd June, P.M.,) at 6·30, boarded a French Brig under French colours; took possession. At 9-30, came to, in Gibraltar Bay."-Amphion's Log.] June 3rd, 1803. Having buffeted with a foul wind and nasty sea, we are now entering the Straits, and I hope to anchor at Gibraltar before dark. As they knew nothing of the War being abso The Honourable George Granville Waldegrave, now Rear-Admiral Lord Radstock, C.B. lutely begun here, I am much hurried, being very anxious to join the Fleet as soon as possible; this must apologize for the shortness of my letter. Buonaparte's brother Jerome passed from Martinique a few days ago in a Ship of the Line. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO EDWARD POWNALL, ESQ., NAVAL STORE-KEEPER AT GIBRALTAR. [Order-Book.] Amphion, in Gibraltar Bay, 3rd June, 1803. Whereas it is essentially necessary for the good of his Majesty's Service, that the most strict attention is paid to the preservation and issue of every description of Naval Stores committed to your charge; You are therefore hereby required and directed to pay due attention to the preservation of the Stores committed to your charge accordingly; and on no account or consideration whatever, to supply any of his Majesty's Ships or Vessels under my command with Naval Stores, without being furnished with the Boatswain's and Carpenter's Supplies, Expenses, and Remains, by the Commander of the Ship or Vessel making such demand. You are then only to complete their remains to four months, agreeable to the establishment. It is also my particular directions that you do not on any account supply those of his Majesty's Ships or Vessels which may arrive from England with Stores of any kind, unless it shall be to replace articles which (from accidents in bad weather) may have been rendered unserviceable on the passage. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN SUTTON, H.M. SHIP VICTORY. [Autograph, in the possession of Captain Ives Sutton.] Gibraltar, June 4th, 1803. My dear Sutton, You will not anchor here, but proceed and join me as expeditiously as possible on the Rendezvous: if no place is mentioned, of course Malta. I recommend making the South end of Sardinia and also Maretimo in Sicily-this Island is |