means. been unpardonable in him to have left his widow with so little Your Majesty well knows that it was her capacity and conduct which sustained his diplomatic character during the last years in which he was at Naples. It is unnecessary for me to speak more of it. It only remains for me-begging pardon for having occupied your Majesty's time so long-to subscribe myself your Majesty's faithful and devoted servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE REVEREND DAVID EVANS," H. M. SHIP SUPERB. [Autograph, in the possession of Mrs. Evans, his widow.] Dear Sir, Victory, July 10th, 1804. I feel very much obliged by your kind offer of translating any pieces for me in case of Dr. Scott's ill health or absence. I have no doubt but that the translation was a perfect good one; and should I want your kind assistance in future, you have encouraged me to apply without hesitation, which very much obliges, dear Sir, your very faithful servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN KEATS, H. M. SHIP SUPERB. [Autograph, in the possession of the Reverend Richard Keats.] Victory, July 10th, 1804. My dear Sir, If your nephew, Mr. Buck, can effect an exchange into the Kent, I will do the needful; but if an exchange cannot be effected, and you wish your nephew to go home a passenger, had he not better remain in the Kent, and go home a passenger in her? Will you dine here to-morrow, and we will talk more upon the subject. Be assured whatever you wish I shall be happy in doing, being ever your most obliged and faithful, NELSON AND BRONTE. Then Chaplain of the Superb, and afterwards Secretary to Admiral Sir George Martin, G.C.B., G.C.M.G. Lieutenant Richard Buck, son of George Stucley Buck, Esq., by Martha, daughter of the Rev. Richard Keats, and sister of Admiral Sir Richard Goodwin Keats, G.C.B.: he died a Post-Captain in July 1830. TO SIR JOHN ACTON, BART. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 376.] [About 10th July, 1804.] Admiral Gantheaume, I see, has hoisted his Flag at Brest; a sure indication to my mind, that at least a part of that Fleet is destined for the Mediterranean. It is in this Country that Buonaparte wishes to make himself great, and, therefore, this is the Country where large Armies and Fleets should be placed. I trust our Government will take care not to allow a superiority, beyond my power of resistance, to get into the Mediterranean. I calculate upon no joint exertion of the Russian Fleet, even should the Emperor go to war; and if it is only a War of manifestoes, as Catherine's War, and sending Troops to the Morea, and Ionian Republic, I do not see any good either to Naples or England from it; indeed, I fear such a War would much endanger both Naples and Sardinia. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO EDWARD GAYNER, ESQ., ROSAS. [Letter-Book.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 11th July, 1804. I have received your letter of the 1st instant, acquainting me that the Captains of some of his Majesty's Ships frequenting Rosas have requested you to pay the sum of eight dollars for the apprehending any Seamen, &c., who may desert from their Ships, and that, in consequence, you had paid the sum of sixteen dollars for two Seamen that had been apprehended as deserters from the Phoebe, and eight for one from the Victory, which you intend putting into the general account. In answer to which, I feel very much obliged by your kind attention to this circumstance of Service; but must beg to observe, that as those sums are charged respectively against the Deserters on the Ship's Books, and paid by the Captain's certificate, I can have nothing at all to do with it, nor must it appear in the general account you allude to. The Captains, on such occasions, pay for apprehending Deserters from their Ships, and are reimbursed by the certificate before mentioned. I must beg you will be good enough to send me an account of your expenses for the Hindostan's people, as mentioned in my letter of the 26th April, in order that I may direct its being paid immediately, as in the event of Captain Le Gros's accounts being closed previous to yours arriving in England, it is more than probable it will be charged against me. I am, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO ADMIRAL SIR PETER PARKER, BART. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 353.] [About July, 1804.] I most sincerely condole with you, on the premature death of my dear friend and contemporary, your son.' In your grandson Peter, you possess everything which is amiable, good, and manly-an Officer and a gentleman. He is sure of my warmest and affectionate interest for his welfare, as long as I live. Never whilst I breathe shall I forget your kindness to me, to which I owe all my present Honours. May God bless you, my dear Friend, and keep you in health many, many years. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN ROŠS DONNELLY, H. M. SHIP NARCISSUS. [Autograph draught, and Order-Book.] Memorandum. Victory, at Sea, 12th July, 1804. Lord Nelson has received with much satisfaction the report of Captain Donnelly, of the gallant conduct of the Officers and Men employed in destroying the Enemy's Vessels at La Vendura. The judicious arrangement of Lieutenant Thomp Vice Admiral Christopher Parker, who died on the 26th of May, 1804, leaving a son, Peter, who succeeded his grandfather in the Baronetcy, in December 1811, and was killed while Captain of the Menelaus, in storming an American camp at Bellaire, near Baltimore, in August 1814. 2 Captain Donnelly's and Lieutenant John Thompson's letters, describing the successful attack by the Boats of the Narcissus, Seahorse, and Maidstone, on some Enemy's Vessels at La Vandour, in Hières Bay, in the night of the 10th of July, son merits my praise, for without that, bravery would be useless; and the example of Lieutenants Parker, Lumley, and Moore, was such as to ensure the bravery of the inferior Officers and Men; for I never knew the superior Officers to lead on well but that they were always bravely supported by the men under their orders. Wounds must be expected in fighting the Enemy. They are marks of honour, and our grateful Country is not unmindful of the sufferings of her gallant defenders. A regular list will be sent to the Patriotic Fund at Lloyd's, and the Captains are to give each man a certificate before he leaves the Ship, describing his wound, signed by the Captain and Surgeon. The wounded men to be sent to the three Flag-Ships, as they will probably find better accommodation than in a Frigate. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN HARGOOD, H.M. SHIP BELLEISLE. Memorandum. [Order-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 12th July, 1804. You will be on your guard against a surprise of the Enemy, during your stay in Agincourt Sound, as it's by no means improbable but they will make a descent on the Madalena Islands; in which case, you will render the Governor and Inhabitants every assistance in your power, and endeavour to destroy the Enemy's Vessels and Troops. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN ROSS DONNELLY, H. M. SHIP NARCISSUS. [Order-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 14th July, 1804. Having received information that the Enemy are in the habit of sending their Privateers and other Vessels of War 1804, were published in the London Gazette of August following. Lieutenant John Thompson's subsequent career has not been ascertained. [Query if he were the Lieutenant of those names who died in 1809.] Lieutenant John Richard Lumley died a Post Captain, about 1821: Lieutenant Ogle Moore died in that rank, about 1816; and Lieutenant Hyde Parker is now a Rear Admiral of the Blue, and a Companion of the Bath. from Corsica to the Port of Genoa, You are hereby required and directed to take his Majesty's Ship named in the margin' under your command, and proceed immediately off the abovementioned Port, where you will cruize very diligently, and endeavour to fall in with any Vessels of the above description, or Transports with Troops on board; upon doing so you will use your utmost exertions to capture or destroy them. In the execution of this service, should any intelligence be obtained necessary for my immediate information, you will join me forthwith on Rendezvous, No. 102. At all events, you must not be longer absent from the Squadron, which you will find on the said Rendezvous, than the 10th of next month, August. It is my intention to send the Thunder Bomb-Vessel on this service, the moment she joins; you will, therefore, take her under your orders, and employ the whole as you may find best for the execution of the said service. NELSON AND BRONTE. The closer you cruize off the Mole Head the better, and send your Boats out at night. N. & B. TO CAPTAIN ARTHUR FARQUHAR, H.M. BOMB-VESSEL ACHERON. [Order-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 15th July, 1804. Having ordered the two Transports named in the marginʻ to be loaded with empty water-casks from the different Ships, You are hereby required and directed to take the said Transports under your charge, and proceed immediately with them. to Porto Conte in the Island of Sardinia; and on your arrival there you will cause the utmost exertion to be used in filling the same empty water-casks, directing the Officers superintending that service, to see that the greatest care is taken of the casks, in rolling them to and from the spring, that no injury may be done them. You will also instruct the Officers so employed not to suffer the casks to be filled at high water, as the surface of one of the wells at those times is level with the sea, consequently impregnated with salt water. A Corporal's |