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greatest care must be taken that you do not approach Toulon so as to render yourself liable to being becalmed, and consequently to an attack from a superior force of Ships and Gunboats in such situation. You will occasionally proceed to Rendezvous No. 102, in order to acquaint any of his Majesty's Ships that the Squadron is gone to Rendezvous No. 97, where they will find me, or intelligence where I am gone to. The moment the Active joins from Port de Torres, you will desire Captain Moubray to follow me immediately to Rendezvous No. 97, and also order the Amazon (daily expected from Malta) to join me at that place. Should any other of his Majesty's Ships arrive on Rendezvous No. 102, you will direct their Captains to join me forthwith; and in the event of the Enemy's putting to sea, or any important intelligence obtained respecting them, you will join me yourself, or send the Niger to Cape St. Sebastians, with all dispatch.

NELSON AND Bronte.

TO J. B. GIBERT, ESQ., PRO-CONSUL, BARCELONA.

Sir,

[Letter-Book.]

Victory, at Sea, 10th September, 1804.

I have received the copy of your letters dated the 14th and 22nd ultimo, the former acquainting me that you had forwarded some letters from Madrid and England, by the Master of a Vessel leaving Barcelona, who was good enough to say that he would deliver them to some of the Fleet, and the latter on the subject of Mr. Ford's offer for your wine at Rosas. I have likewise received your two letters of the 1st instant, acquainting me that an epidemical disease had again broke out at Malaga-that you had determined not to send any more letters to me by casual Vessels, from the great uncertainty of their delivery, and enclosing a letter from Mr. Hunter from Madrid. In answer to your said letters, I am extremely obliged by your kindness in forwarding my letters, but request, as mentioned in my last letter by Sir William Bolton, that no more of my Public dispatches or private letters are sent out, unless by a Vessel directed to

cruize till she shall fall in with some Ship of War belonging to the Fleet. It is, however, strange that the Vessel you mention to have taken out my letters, should have missed the Fleet, or some of the look-out Frigates, which are constantly cruizing in the vicinity of Toulon.

I have [to offer you] many thanks for your forwarding my letters to England, and very much obliged by your sending me Mr. Hunter's letter, the answer to which, herewith transmitted, I shall beg you to forward. On the subject of the wine, I have sent Mr. Ford, the Agent-Victualler, to make a final settlement, with respect to the quantity at Rosas which may be fit for his Majesty's Service; and you will judge from the sentiments communicated in my private letter to you of this date, the propriety of making a statement of the loss sustained from its being so long kept, &c., in order that I may use my influence with the Victualling-Board for such remuneration being made you as may appear proper. Mr. Ford, being perfectly acquainted with these matters, will assist you in the arrangement. I am, &c.,

NELSON AND Bronte.

TO CAPTAIN WILLIAM DURBAN, H. M. SHIP AMBUSCADE.

[Autograph draught, in the possession of Miss Bolton, of Burnham, and OrderBook.]

Victory, at Sea, 11th September, 1804.

Whereas I wish very much to be made acquainted with the Anchorage and Gulf of Palma, in the Island of Majorca, and as a most favourable opportunity now presents itself by the circumstance of the Cardinal Despuig wanting a passport from me, and as he is brother to the Vice-Roy, the Marquis de Monte Negro, You are therefore hereby required and directed to proceed to Palina, and first by offering to salute the place upon the assurance of an equal number of guns being returned, deliver my letter to the Cardinal, and personally assure his Eminence of my earnest desire to meet his wishes; so much so, that even should he wish to go to Italy in the Ambuscade, that you are at liberty to carry him to either Cività Vecchia or Naples, without any further order from me, provided his Eminence is ready to embark in forty

eight hours, to which time I must limit your stay; during which time you are to examine not only everything laid down in the printed orders of the Admiralty, but examine the general state of the Island, its forts, and the probability of its being taken, in case of a Spanish war. You will examine in the environs of Palma, the best place for landing Troops, the situation of the forts or towers which are in the Gulf, the best mode of approaching the Town, the strength of its fortifications, both on the land and sea side; whether there is a ditch; how deep; and what is the probable height of the wall; whether Ships could approach near enough to batter the fortifications; how Bomb-Vessels could act; what is the general Garrison: in short, everything which my opinion of your good sense and abilities leads me to expect from you. Whether, if the Fleet was to anchor there, that it would be ill or well received; the cattle or other refreshments it could obtain. Having made the observations, &c., at Palma, as before-mentioned, which must not detain the Ambuscade more than two or three days, you will leave that place, and return and join the Squadron on Rendezvous No. 97, under Cape St. Sebastians, with all possible dispatch, where you will find me, or orders for your further proceedings. But should Cardinal Despuig express a desire to be conveyed to Italy in the Ambuscade, you will receive his Eminence and suite on board, and proceed with them, with all convenient expedition, either to Cività Vecchia or Naples, where you will land them, and afterwards return and join me on Rendezvous No. 97, without delay, as before directed. You are not to wait for his Eminence at Palma, in the event of his going with you, longer than the time above-mentioned.

NELSON AND Bronte.

Sir,

TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY.

[Original, in the Admiralty.]

Victory, at Sea, 12th September, 1804.

I herewith transmit you for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a copy of a Survey held on Lieutenant Thomas Vol, of his Majesty's Ship Niger, and

request you will be pleased to acquaint their Lordships that I have removed Lieutenant Nicholas' (at his own request) to the Niger, and have appointed Mr. Edward Flin, of the Victory, to act in the Bittern, in consequence thereof; a copy of whose Acting-Order is also herewith transmitted. I must beg to observe that Mr. Flin's conduct very justly merits my approbation as stated in the margin of the said Acting-Order,' and that his general conduct since he has been in the Victory, has been very meritorious. I therefore hope their Lordships will approve of my having placed him in this invaliding vacancy, and confirm the appointment. I am, &c.

NELSON AND Bronte.

TO CAPTAIN HENRY RICHARDSON, H. M. SHIP JUNO.

[Order-Book.]

Victory, at Sea, 14th September, 1804. You are hereby required and directed to proceed immediately to Barcelona, for the purpose of landing the passengers found on board the Vessel detained by his Majesty's

Mr. Vol died a Lieutenant, between 1816 and 1820. Lieutenant Robert Nicholas was made a Commander in 1805, and was lost in command of the Lark Sloop, off Cape Causada, in August 1809.

• The circumstance is thus noticed in the Victory's Log:-" Tuesday, 11th September. P.M. At 9-55, James Archibald, seaman, fell overboard: down Cutter, and got him in safe, being saved by Mr. Flin, Master's Mate, who jumped overboard after him." In the Recollections of Dr. Scott," p. 125, where the accident is erroneously stated to have occurred "one bright morning", while Mr. Flin" was sitting on the deck, comfortably sketching," and where the man is said to have been Mr. Flin's servant, the following anecdote is added:-"On Lord Nelson's presenting Mr. Flin with his Commission, a loud huzza from the Midshipmen, whom the incident had collected on deck, and who were throwing up their hats in honour of Flin's good fortune, arrested Lord Nelson's attention. There was something significant in the tone of their cheer, which he immediately recognised, and putting up his hand for silence, and leaning over to the crowd of Middies, he said, with a good-natured smile on his face-Stop, young gentlemen! Mr. Flin has done a gallant thing to-day, and he has done many gallant things before, for which he has got his reward. But mind, I'll have no more making Lieutenants for servants falling overboard!" Mr. Flin died a Post Captain, and a Companion of the Bath, in May 1819.

The Marginal Note was as follows:-" Appointed, in consequence of his having jumped overboard, on the night of the 11th instant, then very dark, and at the risk of his life, saved James Archibald, a Seaman belonging to the Victory, who had by accident fallen overboard, and certainly would have been drowned. Mr. Flin's conduct, independent of this, is very meritorious. NELSON AND BRonte."

Ship Juno, under your command, a few days ago. And, whereas it is my intention to proceed with the Squadron the first strong Westerly wind off Toulon, for the purpose of reconnoitring the Enemy at that Port, and from thence pass through Rendezvous No. 102, to receive any information the Ships there may have obtained of them, You are hereby required and directed, the moment you have landed the pas- · sengers before-mentioned at Barcelona, to return to your station, and inform any of his Majesty's Ships, Vessels, or Transports arriving on Rendezvous No. 97 thereof, and direct. their Commanders to remain on the last-mentioned Rendezvous, under Cape St. Sebastians, until my return, whatever may be the importance of their orders, as the Squadron will only take the route above-mentioned, and return immediately to Rendezvous No. 97, where the strictest look-out is to be kept for arrivals from England, Malta, &c., daily expected. Nelson and Bronte.

Sir,

TO CAPTAIN JOHN GORE, H. M. SHIP MEDUSA.

[Letter-Book.]

Victory, at Sea, 15th September, 1804.

As no Return has been made by the Ships that have lately joined the Squadron, of any men being sent by you to the Victory, to complete the complements of the different Ships, as I may judge proper, I must desire, in future, whether the men are sent by a Senior or Junior Officer to the Victory, that you transmit me a regular list of their names, entries, and charges, &c., in order that they may be discharged to the different Ships in want of them, and not detained on board the Ship bringing them from Gibraltar, at the pleasure of the Captain. I am, &c.

NELSON AND BRONTE.

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