of such a measure, and how detrimental it is to his Majesty's Service, You are hereby required and directed to discharge the said two men immediately, and deliver them to Captain Mouat, Agent for Transports at Gibraltar, that they may be sent to the Active Transport by the very first opportunity. NELSON AND Bronte. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 4th January, 1805. Sir, I herewith transmit you an extract of a letter from Mr. Richard Lewis, Garrison Apothecary at Gibraltar, who it appears has acted as Surgeon of his Majesty's Naval Hospital at that place, since the death of the late Mr. William Burd,' and previous to that, as Dispenser, on the death of Mr. Christie, by order from Mr. Burd, as stated in the accompanying certificate from Mr. Pownall, Naval Storekeeper, which I request you will please to lay before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, for their information, and move their Lordships to comply with Mr. Lewis's request, as I think him very justly and fully entitled to the remuneration he requires. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN ROBINSON, H. M. SHIP SWIFTSURE. [Autograph, in the possession of Commander Robinson.] Dear Sir, Victory, January 7th, 1805. As you must feel more comfortable to have an Officer on board who has been at Madalena, I send you Lieutenant Brown, of Victory. I sincerely hope that your gout is removed. We shall get a Westerly wind, and to-morrow forenoon be at anchor; and I beg that you will dine here if that is the case, and believe me, dear Sir, yours most faithfully, NELSON AND Bronte. He died of the fever, at Gibraltar, on the 21st November 1804. TO HIS EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT, ESQ., NAPLES. [Autograph, in the Elliot Papers. "January 12th [i.e., 11th.] P.M. At 5, shortened sail and came to in the Straits of Bonifaccio. Squadron anchored as convenient. 12th. A.M. At 5, weighed and made sail. At 7 P.M., shortened sail and anchored. 13th. A.M. At 9, weighed and made sail for Agincourt Sounl. At I P.M., anchored."-Victory's Log.] My dear Sir, Victory, Madalena, January 13th, 1805. I am much pleased with your Excellency's letters of January 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, which put me in full possession of what is passing both in, and relative to, the Kingdom of Naples. Your Excellency will not expect from me that regular answer to every one of your dispatches which they deserve, as it would take up more time than either I or you, probably, have, to give to mere opinions. With respect to the French Fleet, I wish to God they were out; but I begin to despair of their putting to sea during the short time I shall probably be in the Mediterranean. I have stayed much longer than I ought to have done, if I had only considered myself; but I thought it very possible the short days might have tempted them to make a run. I saw them myself fourteen days ago, and the Frigates saw them the 6th; and since, the wind has been Easterly; therefore they could not go to Naples. I am much pleased to hear that the Queen takes such a spirited part for the defence of Naples, but I would not have her Majesty depressed by hearing that the French are at sea; for if they never come out, how can she enjoy the spectacle of a Battle in the Bay of Naples? She may rely that nothing shall be wanting on my part to make it superior to the Nile, which it may be; and could anything add to my exertions against the Enemy, it would be the additional pleasure of knowing that I was fighting for the existence of the Monarchy of my benefactors. But let who will command this Fleet, they cannot go wrong: only get close enough. I wish her Majesty would cause some inquiry to be made at Messina. The Gun-boats are given up, and the provisions are selling out of the Citadel, upon an idea that they will spoil; and that may be true. But no orders are given to replace them, and I own I suspect much many of the Neapolitan Officers at that place; therefore, entreat her Majesty to keep one of her eyes fixed upon Messina, and do not be too late in calling for our Troops from Malta. I am sure both King and Queen will take what I say in good part; for they have not a creature more sincerely attached to them, and their Royal Family, than their faithful Nelson. With respect to Russia, I am clearly of opinion that she should not show her teeth, unless she is ready to bite, and the sending a few Troops would, perhaps, only expedite the plans of the French, unless they were ready to be supported by a large Army; but the distance of Russia is so great that all the mischief may be done before they get upon the scene of action. I like the idea of English Troops getting into the Kingdom of Naples; and if they are well commanded, I am sure they will do well. They will have more wants than us Sailors, but it will be nothing compared to those of the Russians, who will certainly fight well; but they are a scourge to the Country that unfortunately wants their assistance. But when the French are turned out, I would recommend removing the others into places where they cannot plunder the people of the Country. I now send you the Excellent, Captain Sotheron, to relieve the Renown, who will go to England; and you will find in Captain Sotheron every qualification of a complete gentleman and excellent Officer. With respect to my making War upon Spain, and Sir John Orde not having done it, I believe you will think that I have acted not precipitately, but consistent with the firmness of John Bull. I can't tell what schemes Ministers may have; but when I am without orders, and unexpected occurrences arise, I shall always act as I think the honour and glory of my King and Country demand. Upon the most mature and serious consideration I can give the subject, the present lays within the compass of a nut-shell. Our Ministers demand certain points to be conceded to them; they, to give a spur, detain the Spanish treasure. Spain, the moment she hears of it, kicks your Minister out of Madrid; a plain proof they had not acceded to our propositions. Indeed, Mr. Frere, you will see by his letter, did not believe it would have a favourable termination, even had not the Frigates been detained. I send your Excellency his letters. I feel I have done perfectly right. No desire of wealth could influence my conduct; for I had nothing to take worth twopence to me. Sir John Orde was sent, if it was a Spanish War, to take the money; but until he saw my orders, he did not act. I suppose he was fearful of that responsibility which I am ever ready to take upon me; and now he is to wallow in wealth, whilst I am left a beggar. But such things are. I receive the kindest letters from Lord Melville and the Secretary of State, but they think the French Fleet is prize enough for me. You will believe, my dear Sir, that if I had small Vessels, that one should be with you every month, or oftener, but I have them not. No, not half enough for the different services, and they are decreasing daily by Convoys going to England. Not one has arrived for these fifteen months. I will try and forward your letters to Lisbon, or it's possible the Renown may carry them to England. She will have orders to stay till the 20th instant at Naples, and I shall wait three or four days for her at this place. I hope both Austria and Prussia may be induced to oppose the upstart Emperor, and I think the ancient Monarchy nearer being established than since 1793. The Fleet, as Captain Sotheron will tell you, cannot be in better health. There has been much pains taken to make Europe believe that we were all dying of the fever. General Fox is arrived at Gibraltar, and the Rock was considered in pratique, and the yellow flag struck upon January 1st. But I fear the dead have been buried so very incautiously, that danger may be feared in the summer heats. Your Excellency will be so good as to present my humble duty to both the King and Queen, and believe me ever, with the highest respect, your most faithful, obliged, and obedient servant, NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN MALCOLM, H. M. SHIP RENOWN. My dear Sir, Victory, January 13th, 1805. Long looked for is come at last. Captain Sotheron will relieve you. I hope you will be able to sail with all Mr. Elliot's dispatches on the 20th, when he assures me he shall be ready. If you still keep in the mind to have an exchange into the Donegal, Sir Richard is ready for you, and I have given my consent, to oblige both him and you. I am ever, dear Sir, faithfully yours, I will take care of your Russians." NELSON AND Bronte. TO HIS EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT, ESQ., NAPLES. [Autograph, in the Elliot Papers.] Secret. Victory, January 13th, 1805. My dear Sir, Sir John Orde brought me out my leave to go to England for the re-establishment of my health, and many suppose that, the moment I had passed the Straits, he would take upon him the command. Others suppose Sir John Colpoys will be my successor, and there are others that think I shall return, if my health permits, and that my services will continue to be acceptable. However, I have kept my permission a profound secret in the Fleet. Everybody expects that it will come; therefore do not mention my having received it, to either Captain Sotheron or Captain Malcolm, although you may to the King and Queen. I do assure you that nothing has kept me here, but the fear for the escape of the French Fleet, and that they should get to either Naples or Sicily in the short days; and that when I go I shall leave such instructions with Sir Richard Bickerton (who I am sure will follow them well up) to guard the Two Sicilies, as he would the apple of his eye; and nothing but gratitude to those good Sovereigns could have induced me to stay one moment after Sir John Orde's extraordinary Command, for his general conduct towards me is not such as I had a right to expect. Amazon is gone with my last dispatches to Gibraltar. I saw William for five minutes. He was to have dined here, but a fair wind came, and that cancels all invitations. I expected a much later letter from Mr. Jackson, at Rome, for I 5 The Russian young gentlemen before mentioned. |