Log, therefore all I have to request of you is, to advise Captain Schomberg, whom I have ordered to consult you, to send to every position you can think of to get information. If they are passed by Cape Bon, I should think they would know it at Tunis. What would I give to know where they are bound to, or to see them!-the result of a meeting I should be a wretch to doubt. I am naturally very anxious, therefore you must forgive my short letter. 11 A.M.—The Seahorse saw yesterday, at 3 P.M., a French Frigate off Pula, but it was so thick that he could not see three miles distant, therefore could not make out the French Fleet. We have a dead foul wind and heavy sea. I cannot, for want of Frigates, send off this letter. I am ever, my dear Ball, yours most faithfully, DIARY. Nelson and Bronte. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 393.] 22nd January, 1805. We had in the morning very heavy squalls from the Westward; Seahorse in sight coming down. At half-past nine, she made the signal that she had been chased by the Enemy's Frigates; and at ten, that she had Intelligence to communicate.' At eleven, Captain Boyle informed me, that yesterday afternoon, at three o'clock, he had seen a French Frigate standing in for Pula, but it was so thick he could not discern the French Fleet, and it blew a heavy gale of wind at S.S.W. I sincerely pray for a favourable wind; for we cannot be more than twenty leagues from them, and if Cagliari be their object, and the Sardes will but defend their Capital, we shall be in time to save them: pray God it may be so. TO HIS EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT, ESQ., NAPLES. My dear Sir, [Autograph, in the Elliot Papers.] Victory, Gulf of Cagliari, January 25th, 1805. I send your Excellency a copy of my letter to Sir John Acton, which will tell you all I know. If the French Fleet is gone to Naples, you will never get this letter. If they are not, it will be pleasant to know my position, and that I must cover Messina by my going to the Eastward. I shall probably push for the Morea, and heel of Italy, should they be destined to carry across the Adriatic the Army in the Kingdom of Naples. But God knows their intentions!—perhaps it may be Egypt again. Pray don't keep Captain Boyle one moment, for I have neither Frigates or small Vessels with me. Present me to their Majesties as most anxious to defend their Kingdoms. You will believe how anxious I must be. I am ever, my dear Sir, your most obliged and faithful servant, NELSON AND Bronte. TO HIS EXCELLENCY SIR JOHN ACTON, BART., PALERMO. [From a Copy, in the Elliot Papers.] Victory, standing into the Gulf of Cagliari, January 25th, 1805. My dear Sir John, It has blown a heavy gale of wind from the S.S.W. until this morning, when I am off the Island of Serpentari. From the information of the French Frigates standing into the Gulf of Cagliari, I sent my two Frigates to watch the Enemy's motions, or to get me some information of their movements: one has just returned with no information, but as she has not communicated with Cagliari, I am obliged to send her back. If the Vice-Roy knows nothing of them, I shall push direct for Palermo, in case Sicily should be their object; and I shall, the moment I can get hold of any other Frigate, send her to Naples, with orders for her to join me off the Faro of Messina. I shall then be at hand to cover Messina, in case they should pass round Cape Passaro, or to proceed to Naples in case they are in that Bay. You will believe my anxiety. I have neither ate, drank, or slept with any comfort since last Sunday. 10 o'clock.—I have just spoke a Vessel which left the Gulf of Palma last night. The Enemy's Fleet was not there. I hope to have my answer from Cagliari by four o'clock, and I hope to be with you to-morrow. Pray, Sir John, tell the Captain all you know; Captain Bayntun is an excellent Officer, and can tell you as much as I can. Excuse my hasty scrawl; but I am ever your Excellency's most faithful and obliged friend and servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. I hope the Governor of Augusta will not give up the Post to the French Fleet; but if he does, I shall go in and attack them, for I consider the destruction of the Enemy's Fleet of so much consequence, that I would willingly have half of mine burnt to effect their destruction. I am in a fever. God send I may find them! TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE VICE-ROY OF SICILY. [Autograph draught, in the possession of Miss Bolton, of Burnham.] Victory, at Sea, January 26th, 1805. Sir, The difficulties which some of his Majesty's Ships under my command have experienced in obtaining pratique in the Ports of Sicily, although they were clearly entitled to the most liberal pratique, render it necessary for me to demand, in the name of my Sovereign, that orders may be instantly given to all the Governors, &c., in the different Ports of Sicily, that all Ships having my Certificate of Health shall be instantly entitled to the most liberal pratique, and receive every hospitable reception which the close and intimate alliance between our most gracious Sovereigns so justly entitles them to expect; and I beg to be furnished with a duplicate copy of the Order. I have the honour to be, NELSON AND Bronte. PRIVATE DIARY. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 395.] Victory, January 29th, 1805. Stromboli burnt very strongly throughout the night. Passed round it at three in the morning. As we ran outside the Lipari Islands, we had been obliged to steer E. b N., and for two hours E.N.E. by compass, when, by the Spanish chart, E. and E. b S. were laid down as the proper course. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty, and Autograph draught, in the possession of Miss Bolton, of Burnham.] Sir, 9 Victory, Faro of Messina, January 29th, 1805. From the middle of December, I had information from various places, and amongst others, from the King of Sardinia, that the French were assembling Troops near Toulon, and had taken some of the best Troops and a corps of Cavalry from the Riviere of Genoa. Captain Capel obtained information that every Seaman was pressed and sent to Toulon. On the 16th, the Active spoke a Vessel from Marseilles, who reported that seven thousand Troops embarked on board the French Fleet. The wind had been nearly fourteen days Easterly, from N.E. to S.E.; therefore, if the Enemy had been bound to the Westward, they could not have gone with a fair wind. On the 18th, the Enemy put to sea, steering for the South-end of Sardinia. On the 19th, I was informed of it, and put to sea from the Madalena Islands, that evening. On the 21st, a French Frigate was seen off the South-end of Sardinia by the Seahorse; but the weather was so thick and gale so strong, that Captain Boyle could not see their Fleet, and he joined me the 22nd with the information; but it was from heavy gales the 26th, before I could communicate with Cagliari, at which place they knew nothing of the Enemy. On the same day, the Phoebe joined with information that a French Ship of eighty guns had put into Ajaccio on the 19th, in the evening, with the loss of her topmasts, and otherwise much crippled. The Seahorse was detached to Naples the 25th, with information. On the 28th, I was off Palermo and communicated with Sir John Acton; and the news which the Court of Naples has from Paris of January 5th, makes them fear that Sicily might be the object of the Enemy's armament. On the 12th of February, 1805, Lord Nelson sent a duplicate of this dispatch, to which he made the following addition:-"N.B. I now know that the Enemy's Fleet came out of Toulon on the 17th of January, with a gentle breeze from the N.W., and waited between that and the Hières Islands until the breeze freshened on the 18th, when they proceeded with a strong gale.-NELSON AND BRONTE." One of two things must have happened, that either the French Fleet must have put back crippled, or that they are gone to the Eastward, probably to Egypt, therefore, I find no difficulty in pursuing the line of conduct I have adopted. If the Enemy have put back crippled, I could never overtake them, and therefore I can do no harm in going to the Eastward; and if the Enemy are gone to the Eastward, I am right. My future movements must be guided by such information as I may be able to obtain, but their Lordships may rely that every exertion shall be used to find them out and bring them to Battle. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO SIR ALEXANDER JOHN BALL, BART., MALTA. [Autograph, in the possession of Sir William Keith Ball, Bart.] My dear Ball, Victory, January 31st, 1805. The French Fleet may possibly be severely crippled, and put into various Ports. On the 22nd, in the evening, in a gale W. S. W. the Hydra saw three large Ships running along shore towards St. Fiorenzo; but as Captain Mundy did not know the Enemy's Fleet had sailed, he thought they might be some of our Ships. I have sent Morgiana to look into Elba and St. Fiorenzo, then to drop a letter for me either at Madalena, St. Pierres, or Cagliari, and proceed to Malta, Bittern to Tunis and Pantalaria, then to Malta; Seahorse round Cape Corse, or through the Madalena Islands, off Toulon. Hydra round the South end of Sardinia, or Madalena off Toulon. Active, orders left at Messina, round either end of the Islands or through Bonifaccio, off Toulon. Each ordered to send letters for me to St. Pierres, Madalena, and Cagliari, and to Malta -Termagant to cruize off Toro fourteen days. Phobe to Coron, round by Goza of Candia. I shall proceed as winds, or information, or the getting no information may make me judge proper; you shall hear of me. If I return I shall call perhaps off Malta, but that must be very uncertain. Celerity in my movements may catch these fellows yet. By |