Plane Island and the Point of Porto Farino, to the Island of Zimbra; from which place, the French Privateers, last year, made several captures of our Ships, as mentioned in the Memorandum which accompanies this, to which, I desire you will particularly attend, in order that, if possible, these Privateers may be captured or destroyed, strictly consistent with the Neutrality of Tunis, should you fall in with them at the Island of Zimbra, or near the Rocks called the Cannes, or in fact, any way near those places without gun-shot of the Bey of Tunis' forts or batteries. Not falling in with them at either of these places, you will stand over to Pantellaria, and from thence to Maritimo, where you will make every inquiry respecting them, and also, at Trepani. In the event of your capturing these Privateers or any of them, you will proceed with them to Malta, giving particular directions that neither the Captains nor Officers of them are to be liberated on any account whatever. After having seen them in safety to Valetta Harbour, and completed your provisions and water, &c., to the usual time, (which is to be done with the utmost dispatch,) you will return and join me without loss of time on Rendezvous No. 102, where you will find me, or orders for your further proceedings; but, should you not fall in with the Privateers before-mentioned, or receive certain information respecting them at Pantellaria, Maritimo, or Trepani, you will return and join me immediately on the said Rendezvous. NELSON AND BRONTE. MEMORANDUM FOR CAPTAIN SIR WILLIAM BOLTON. [Autograph draught, in the possession of Earl Nelson, and Order-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 3rd May, 1804. In looking for these Privateers mentioned in my order of this date, I would recommend, if the wind is favourable, sending a Boat into St. Pierres, South-West end of Sardinia, for information, as last year that was their place of great resort ; but it is possible they may lay under the Isle of Vache or Toro, and keep people on the top to give them information. From St. Pierres, or Toro, I would advise making Galita, running close round it. This Island I do not consider as belonging to any State which can give it Neutrality. From thence, passing under the Cannes, and either pass between Plane Island, and the Point of Porto Farino, or outside of it, steer for the Islands of Zimbra, from which place last year one of these Captains of French Privateers made captures of our Ships passing, using the Tunisian flag, and dressing their men with turbans &c.; and on representing the capture to the Bey of Tunis, his answer was, that the Islands of Zimbra were Rocks in the sea, from which the English might look out, as well as the French, but that Prizes must not be taken within gun-shot of his Coast. It is therefore evident that the Bey did not consider the Zimbras as part of his Coast, and therefore that you may take Vessels close to Zimbra, and you may do the same close to the Rocks called Cannes, which are several miles from the shore; but you will be very careful not to infringe the Neutrality of Tunis, by making captures within cannon shot of the shore. Should you gain no information of the Privateers, you will stand over to Pantellaria, and from thence to Maritimo, inquiring at those places, and Trepani, for information; and not being able to get such information as may lead you to suppose it in your power to get at them, you will return and join me. I would recommend disguising both the Brigs from the moment of separation, and I rely upon your exertions in getting hold of these gentry; and if you do, take them to Malta, and take care the Captains and Officers of the Privateers are not liberated upon any account. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD HOBART, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE WAR DEPARTMENT. [Autograph, in the Colonial Office.] My dear Lord, Victory, May 3rd, 1804. In addition to what I have formerly said about Sardinia, I have only to add, that such is its present state, that an offer will generally be made of it to the French, if we will not take it, by treaty, or some other way; for under the present Government the Inhabitants do not wish to live. Having, in former letters, stated its immense importance, I only now presume to bring the subject forward to your Lordship's most serious consideration. The question is not, shall the King of Sardinia keep it? that is out of the question; he cannot, for any length of time. If France possesses it, Sicily is not safe an hour; and the passage to the Levant is completely blocked up. Pardon me, my Lord, for bringing this important subject again before you: but I really think that I should not do my duty to my Country if I did not. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO J. B. GIBERT, ESQ., HIS MAJESTY'S VICE-CONSUL, Sir, BARCELONA. [Letter Book.] Victory, at Sea, 3rd May, 1804. In answer to your letter of the 1st instant, I herewith enclose you a list of the late Swift Cutter's crew, received by his Majesty's Ship Juno, and Cameleon Sloop. I am happy to find that our two Countries still continue in amity, though I have very much to complain of the limited supplies of bullocks and fresh beef at Rosas, as contrary to the subsisting treaties between them, and request you will officially mention this to his Excellency, the Captain General at Barcelona. I am, with much respect, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO LADY HAMILTON. [From "Lord Nelson's Letters to Lady Hamilton," vol. ii. p. 37.] Victory, May 5th, 1804. I find, my dearest Emma, that your picture is very much admired by the French Consul at Barcelona; and that he has not sent it to be admired-which, I am sure, it would be-by Buonaparte. They pretend, that there were three pictures 4 On the 3rd of May 1804, Lord Nelson signed an acknowledgment to have received from J. B. Gibert, Esq., his Britannic Majesty's Vice-Consul at Barcelona, by the Juno and Cameleon, Mr. Isaac Watson, Master, the Gunner, Boatswain, and fifteen Seamen, late belonging to the Swift Cutter.-Letter-Book. taken. I wish I had them; but they are all gone, as irretrievably as the dispatches-unless we may read them in a book, as we printed their correspondence from Egypt. But, from us, what can they find out? That I love you most dearly; and hate the French most damnably. Dr. Scott went to Barcelona, to try to get the private letters; but, I fancy, they are all gone to Paris. The Swedish and American Consuls told him, that the French Consul had your picture, and read your letters; and, the Doctor thinks, one of them probably read the letters. By the Master's account of the Cutter, I would not have trusted a pair of old shoes in her. He tells me, she did not sail, but was a good Sea-boat. I hope, Mr. Marsden will not trust any more of my private letters in such a conveyance; if they choose to trust the affairs of the Public in such a thing, I cannot help it. I long for the Invasion being over; it must finish the War, and I have no fears for the event. . . . . TO CAPTAIN CRACRAFT, H.M. SHIP ANSON. [Order-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 6th May, 1804. Whereas, it has been represented to me that the Private Marine named in the margin, had for some particular reasons entered into the service by that name, but is, in reality, a young man of genteel family, with good expectations, and his discharge having at the same time been solicited, you are hereby required and directed to discharge the said Charles Taylor from his Majesty's Ship under your command, into the first Ship of War going to England, directing the Commander of such Ship to state to the Admiralty the particulars of his case, in order that their Lordships may grant him his discharge from the Service, in such manner as may appear to them proper. NELSON AND BRONTE. 5 Vide vol. v. p. 503, note 4. TO CAPTAIN MOUBRAY, H.M. SHIP ACTIVE. [Order-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 10th May, 1804. 6 Whereas, it is my intention to proceed immediately with the Squadron to the Madalena Islands, for the purpose of completing the wood and water of the different Ships, and procuring the necessary refreshments for their Companies, which will not detain me more than five or six days at that anchorage; You are, therefore, hereby required and directed to take his Majesty's Ships named in the margin under your command, and remain on Rendezvous No. 102, for the purpose of watching the Enemy's motions at Toulon, and acquainting any of his Majesty's Ships or Vessels in search of the Squadron where I am gone to. You will take an early opportunity of reconnoitring the Enemy's force at the above mentioned place, and as they are occasionally in the habit of sending out two or three of their Frigates, (sometimes under cover of a Ship of the Line), you will perform this service with proper caution, so as to enable you to ascertain their real situation, without the risk of being captured. And as it will be desirable for me to know the Enemy's motions, you will on the first examination of Toulon, after my leaving you, send a Frigate to Madalena with an account thereof, and continue frequently with the rest of your Ships to reconnoitre them, during my absence as above mentioned; taking particular care that some Vessel of War is left upon Rendezvous No. 102, in order to acquaint anything in search of the Fleet where it is gone to, calculating from the time I leave you, when the Squadron may be able to gain the anchorage at Madalena, and bearing in mind that it will only remain there five or six days for the purpose before mentioned; and afterwards, if the wind is from the Eastward, the Squadron will proceed on the West side of Corsica, but if from the Westward on the East side of that Island, to Rendezvous No. 102, where you will keep a good look-out for my return, in order that I may be joined by the Frigates the moment I arrive on the said Rendezvous. Should the Enemy in the meantime Active, Seahorse, Phoebe, Amazon. |