and letter which accompanied them, which I hope will meet their Lordships' approbation, and that my reasons for not sending them to England, as communicated to you in my letter of the 27th of March last, and which at this moment strikes me with greater force and propriety, will also meet their Lordships' approval. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO JAMES CUTFORTH, ESQ., AGENT VICTUALLER AT GIBRALTAR, HEREBY APPOINTED SOLE AND ENTIRE AGENT FOR ALL THE SPANISH SHIPS AND VESSELS, WITH THEIR CARGOES, DETAINED BY ANY OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS OR VESSELS OF WAR, AND SENT INTO GIBRALTAR AS AFORESAID, PRIOR TO THE 11TH DAY OF JANUARY, 1805. From a Copy in the Admiralty.] Victory, in Gibraltar Bay, 6th May, 1805. Whereas the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have directed me by their order, bearing date the first day of February, 1805, to send to England all Spanish Ships and Vessels, with their cargoes, that have been detained at sea by any of his Majesty's Ships or Vessels of War prior to the 11th day of January, 1805, (the date of the King's proclamation for granting reprisals against Spain,) in order to prevent abuses, and to ensure the said Ships and cargoes being disposed of to their full value, (except such parts of their cargoes as may, from their perishable state be necessary to dispose of at Gibraltar;) and having, at the same time, authorized me to appoint an Agent, who will be held responsible to account for the proceeds of the same to the proper Officer of the Court of Admiralty in England; And whereas I think proper, from the high and honourable character I have received of you, as well as from the public confidence which Government reposes in you as Agent-Victualler, to appoint you to be the sole and entire Agent for all the Spanish Ships and Vessels detained and sent into Gibraltar by any of his Majesty's Ships or Vessels of War prior to the 11th day of January, 1805, as before mentioned; I do, by virtue of the power and authority to me granted, hereby nominate and appoint you sole and entire Agent, on behalf of the Crown, for all the Spanish Ships and Vessels detained and sent into Gibraltar by any of his Majesty's Ships or Vessels of War, prior to the 11th day of January, 1805; and do hereby require and authorize you (from judging the impracticability of sending the said Ships and Vessels, with their cargoes, to England, as directed by their Lordships, as aforesaid,) to enter upon, and immediately dispose of, at public sale, all the said Spanish Ships and Vessels, with their cargoes, detained, as aforesaid, prior to 11th day of January, 1805, and sent into Gibraltar, and to transmit a regular account of their sales and amount, respectively, to the proper Officer of the Court of Admiralty in England, to whom you are to hold yourself accountable for the whole and every particular transaction and amount of the said Ships and their cargoes; and you will also, in like manner, transmit to me copies of the accounts of sale, and amount thereof accordingly; and, for so doing, this shall be your sufficient authority. NELSON AND Bronte. N.B. An order of the above tenor and date sent to Mr. Wilkie, Agent at Malta. TO JAMES CUTFORTH, ESQ., SOLE AND ENTIRE AGENT for all SPANISH VESSELS DETAINED AND SENT INTO GIBRALTAR BY ANY OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS OR VESSELS, PRIOR TO THE 11TH DAY OF JANUARY, 1805. Sir, [From a Copy in the Admiralty.] Victory, in Gibraltar Bay, 6th May, 1805. Observing that my authority to you, dated the 27th March last, only directs you to take into your charge, and dispose of at public sale, all Spanish Ships and Vessels, with their cargoes, detained and sent into Gibraltar by the Fleet under my command, prior to the 11th day of January 1805, instead of all the Spanish Ships and Vessels detained, prior to the said 11th day of January, and sent into Gibraltar by any of his Majesty's Ships or Vessels of War, as directed by the order from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, dated the 1st day of February, 1805, I herewith transmit you a new appointment, with full power and authority, agreeable to their Lordships' said A sign thereof also accompanies this, which I desire you will present the Joige of the Vice-Admiralty Court « Giratın vat pour new appointment, that both (if necessary may be registered in the said Vice-Admiralty Court, and mer Lariatize” instructices, through me, most fully carried in: efern. I am. Sr, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. X3-4 letter of the above tenor and date sent to Mr. The Agent & Ma WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ. ADMIRALTY. - Tiền đe làm ăn. Mộc FM. A:130, anchored in Rosia Bay, Corular And weighed and made sal out of the Bay to the Westward."-Victory's Long Victory, at Sea, 6th May, 1805. St. The Enemy's Fleet having quitted the Mediterranean, and judging it probable that their route may lead me to the West Lodes, or some distant service, I have thought it proper to leave Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton at Gibraltar, in order that the important duties of the Mediterranean may be duly attended to, and their Lordships' further instructions carried into effect by that excellent Officer, whose zeal, abilities, and perfect knowledge both of this Country, and my sentiments upon every particular point of their Lordships' instructions render him most fully competent to this charge, and their expectations. Inclosed you will receive for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a copy of my order of the 5th instant, to Sir Richard Bickerton, together with a copy of the schedule of unexecuted orders, &c. left with him, which puts the Rear-Admiral in the perfect possession of their Lordships' instructions, and of the various circumstances which have presented themselves to me as necessary to adopt; and their Lordships may rely that they will be duly followed up by that zealous Officer, and which I trust will meet their approbation. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. P.S.-A copy of their Lordships' letter of the 15th ultimo, relative to the Troops given to Sir Richard Bickerton. TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ. [Autograph, in the possession of Colonel Davison.] My dear Davison, Victory, at Sea, May 7th, 1805. God only knows, my dear friend, what I have suffered, by not getting at the Enemy's Fleet, and when I naturally consoled myself that, at least, time would be given for Sir John Orde's Frigates, who were naturally sent after them, to return to Gibraltar with information for me, I had the mortification yesterday to find that none had been sent there. Nor was it generally believed that Sir John Orde had sent after them; but this I cannot believe, and I must suppose that they have all been unfortunately captured. I think it more than probable I shall go to the West Indies; for, I believe, from what I have yet heard of their course, &c., that is their destination, and there I hope to get hold of them, and to save our valuable West India possessions, and then I shall immediately return to England. But my health, or even my life must not come into consideration at this important crisis; for, however I may be called unfortunate, it never shall be said that I have been neglectful of my duty, or spared myself. The business of Merton still will call for your kind and friendly attention. The kitchen I hope will be built before even this letter reaches you, and I must trouble you, my friend, to pay the bills; but I hope soon to repay you with many, many kind thanks. I have just heard that Lord Melville has left the Admiralty, owing to the Tenth Report of the Navy Inquiries. His Lordship was doing much for the Service, and now we have to look forward to some one else. I shall write a line to our friend Nepean, who must be harassed by these changes. God bless you, my dear Davison, and believe me ever, with the truest friendship, yours most faithfully and affectionately, NELSON AND Bronte. All my letters by Niger and Avenger are gone up the Mediterranean, and will never be received by me. But salt beef and the French Fleet, is far preferable to roast beef and champagne without them. May God prosper my exertions, I pray most fervently, and I think He will in the end. Viscount Melville was succeeded as First Lord of the Admiralty on the 30th of April, 1805, by Admiral Charles Lord Barham. Sir Evan Nepean and all the other Lords remained. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ. ADMIRALTY. 【Original, in the Admiralty.” Victory, at Sea, May 7th, 1805. After a heavy beat down the Mediterranean I reached Tetuan Bay on the 4th, and completed the water of the Fleet, and cleared a Transport with wine, and sailed on the 5th. Yesterday, at 2 P.M., we anchored in Gibraltar Bay, with fresh breezes Westerly, and began to clear Transports with fuel and provisions; but, before the whole Fleet had anchored, there was every appearance of a Levanter coming on. The Fleet was unmoored, the Transports taken in tow, and at 6 o'clock the whole Fleet was under sail, steering through the Gut. I was in great hopes that some of Sir John Orde's Frigates would have arrived at Gibraltar, from watching the destination of the Enemy, from whom I should have derived information of the route the Enemy had taken, but none had arrived. The Halcyon, which left Lisbon on April the 27th in the evening, reports to me, that nothing had been heard of them at Lisbon when the Halcyon sailed. I am now pushing off Cape St. Vincent's and hope that is the station to which Sir John Orde may have directed his Frigates to return from watching the route of the Enemy, and I shall also join the Amazon from Lisbon. If nothing is heard of them from Lisbon or from the Frigates I may find off Cape St. Vincent's, I shall probably think the rumours which are spread are true, that their destination is the West Indies, and in that case think it my duty to follow them, or to the Antipodes, should I believe that to be their destination. I shall detach a Sloop of War to England, from off the Cape, when my mind is made up from either information, or the want of it. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART. From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 406.] 7th May, 1805. I still am as much in the dark as ever. I am now pushing off Cape St. Vincent, where I hope to be more fortunate; and I shall join the Amazon from Lisbon, from which place I |