THE

DISPATCHES AND LETTERS

OF

VICE ADMIRAL

LORD VISCOUNT NELSON

WITH NOTES BY

SIR NICHOLAS HARRIS NICOLAS, G.C.M.G.

"The Nation expected, and was entitled to expect, that while Cities vied with each other
in consecrating Statues in marble and brass to the memory of our NELSON, a Literary Monu-
ment would be erected, which should record his deeds for the immortal honour of his own
Country, and the admiration of the rest of the World." — QUARterly Review.

THE FIFTH VOLUME.

JANUARY 1802, TO APRIL 1804.

LONDON:

HENRY COLBURN, PUBLISHER,

GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET.

MDCCCXLV.

226. a. 192.

PREFACE.

SOME explanation of the contents of this Volume seems necessary, because many of the public documents in it are of rather a different description from those that preceded them, and LORD NELSON's private correspondence was partly with different persons, and on different subjects from his former Letters. Though equally illustrative of his character, occasionally treating of important topics, and forming valuable materials for Naval, and sometimes for General History, they have not the vivid interest of either his previous or his subsequent correspondence, being written while he was on half-pay, or during the monotony of a blockade. They exhibit NELSON, however, in a new position; and the admiration which was bestowed on his matchless exploits, will now be given to the wonderful energy and zeal which he displayed as Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean; and the Public will learn for the first time, what were the multiplied duties of an Officer holding that most important post.

The period over which this portion of NELSON'S Dis