structions, which, after reading, I forwarded in ten minutes to Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton, who I left at Gibraltar, that he might be ready to co-operate with Sir James,3 as I am going to the West Indies in search of the Enemy's Fleet. With respect to our taking possession of Messina, or any part of the Island of Sicily, as it was not done when the first French Soldier set his foot into the Neapolitan Dominions, it would now cause the taking possession of the City of Naples and the whole Kingdom; therefore, unless the French make any movements for an attack upon Sicily, or are in the act of taking possession of Naples, any interference of our Troops will never be consented to by the King of Naples, as it would hasten the downfal of so fine a portion of his Dominions; but in the event of the French coming to Naples, our Troops would be received in Sicily with much pleasure and gratitude, as saving from the French Devils the Island of Sicily. Sir John Acton, I know, thinks Sicily perfectly safe against a coup, and that Messina would be defended: so it might, very easily, if the Officers are faithful to their Sovereign, which I very much doubt is not the case with all of them. The men will do their duty if well commanded. If I had not been in pursuit of the Enemy's Fleet, I should have been, at this moment, in England, having had my leave from October 6th, 1804; but self is out of the question when I am after the Enemy. I have only to again request that Sardinia, its position, and importance, may be duly appreciated before the French possess it; then we may lament, but in vain, the loss of it. I have, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. these dispatches to reach you, unaccompanied by a private acknowledgment from myself, of the confidence I have in your Lordship's hearty co-operation with Sir James Craig, in whatever may best conduce to the advantage of his Majesty's Service. Your Lordship's long experience in these seas, on the shores of which Sir James is to act, and your intimate knowledge of Naples and Sicily will render your advice and assistance most essential to him; and it is needless for me to inform your Lordship, Sir James Craig will join you with every disposition and anxiety to profit from them. I have the honour to remain, &c.-CAMDEN."-Autograph, in the possession of the Right Honourable John Wilson Croker. 1812. Lieutenant-General Sir James Craig, K.B., died a full General in January TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ. "Autograph, in the possession of Colonel Davison.] Victory, May 14th, 1805—36 leagues E.N.E. from Madeira. My dear Davison, I received by Lieutenant M'Kenzie of the Queen, on May 11th, your letters of April 2nd and 10th, for which, and the newspapers, I thank you; and although I do not know when this letter may go, still I shall have it prepared, in case we inect any Vessel bound to England. Your goodness in paying the bills for Merton, I am most truly sensible of, and I wish I had my account to any given period, that I might arrange and pay it off; or, at least, reduce it. But I have not got either it, or the account from the Banking-house. I don't clearly understand what you mean about the necessity of my signing a Power of Attorney to you, as Agent for the Orion. I believe I did sign the Power for the Amphion, if not for the Victory; but it is unnecessary, and not customary for Admirals to interfere in the Agents. appointed by the Captors; at least, the Flag-Officers in the Mediterranean have never signed any Power of Attorney for particular Prizes. We have given to my Secretary, as the person who is customary, and knows all the captures made, a Power to receive the Flag eighth; and he collects it from all the different Agents where the Prize may be sold, and he distributes it in proportion, according to the number of FlagOfficers on the station at the time of the capture. But I certainly intended that you should receive my proportion of Prize-Money for the Orion; and therefore, in case I have not signed the Power, I send an order for Marsh and Creed, if they have received it, to pay it to you, that it may help to reduce my account with you; and I, again and again, entreat that I may have it the moment of my arrival, in order that I may take measures to pay it off, which I shall do with much pleasure, and many, many thanks; and you ought to charge the interest. So much for business, which ought to be often settled between the dearest friends. I believe Lord Melville would have been a good friend to the Navy; and, therefore, am sorry he is out. I have no idea of his pocketing the Public money. I sincerely hope these inquisitors will not find fault with your numerous Public Accounts; but I believe you are regular, and therefore, I hope, from my heart, may defy them. How is Nepean? Remember me to him. And, by this time, I congratulate you upon your return to St. James's Square, where I hope you will live many years; and that I shall often breakfast with you, is the sincere wish of, my dear Davison, your truly obliged and faithful friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO WILLIAM HASLEWOOD, ESQ. [Autograph, in the possession of Earl Nelson.] Victory, May 16th, 1805. It is my desire that Mrs. Gibson' is given an annuity of twenty pounds a-year, when that she gives up my adopted daughter, Horatia Nelson Thompson, to the guardianship of my dear friend, Lady Emma Hamilton, and promises not to have anything more to do with the child, either directly or indirectly; and I leave my estate chargeable with this annuity. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO LADY HAMILTON. [Autograph, in the possession of Earl Nelson.] My dearest Lady Hamilton, Victory, at Sea, May 16th, 1805. As it is my desire to take my adopted daughter, Horatia Nelson Thompson, from under the care of Mrs. Gibson, and to place her under your guardianship, in order that she may be properly educated and brought up, I have, therefore, most earnestly to entreat that you will undertake this charge; and as it is my intention to allow Mrs. Gibson, as a free-will offering from myself, (she having no claim upon me, having been regularly paid for her care of the child,) the sum of twenty pounds a-year, for the term of her natural life; and I mean it should commence when the child is delivered to you. But Mrs. Gibson was the person to whose care Lord Nelson entrusted his child, and to whom he wrote several notes. See the next volume. should Mrs. Gibson endeavour, upon any pretence, to keep my adopted daughter any longer in her care, then I do not hold myself bound to give her one farthing; and I shall, most probably, take other measures. I shall write to Mr. Haslewood, upon your telling him that you have received the child, to settle the annuity upon Mrs. Gibson; and if you think Miss Connor disposed to be the governess of Horatia, I will make her any allowance for her trouble which you may think proper. I, again and again, my dearest friend, request your care of my adopted daughter, whom I pray God to bless. I am ever, for ever, my dear Lady Hamilton, your most faithful and affectionate, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN KEATS, H. M. SHIP SUPERB. [Autograph, in the possession of the Reverend Richard Kents.] My dear Keats, Victory, May 19th, 1805. I am fearful that you may think that the Superb does not go so fast as I could wish. However that may be, (for if we all went ten knots, I should not think it fast enough,) yet I would have you be assured that I know and feel that the Superb does all which is possible for a Ship to accomplish; and I desire that you will not fret upon the occasion. I hope, and indeed feel confident, that very soon you will help me to secure the Majesteux. I think we have been from Cape St. Vincent very fortunate, and shall be in the West Indies time enough to secure Jamaica, which I think is their object. Whatever may happen, believe me ever, my dear Keats, your most obliged and sincere friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. The "Majestenx" does not, however, appear to have formed one of the French Squadron, which consisted of Le Bucentaur, 80, Vice Admiral Villeneuve; Le Formidable, 80. Rear Admiral Dumanoir; Le Neptune, 80; L'Indomptable 80; Le Phiton, 74; L'Atlas, 74; Le Swiftsure, 74; Le Mont Blanc, 74; L'Intrepide, 74; Le Scipion, 74; Le Berwick, 74; and L'Aigle, 71; several Frigates, and two Brigs: also the Spanish Ships-the Argonauta, 90, Admiral Gravina; La Firma, >0; Le Terrible, 80; San Raphael, 80; San Jago del America, 64; San Jago del Espana, 74; and one Frigate. Two more of the French Sail of the Line, the Alge siras and Achille, joined the Squadron about the 4th of June, off Martinique. May 27th. I have missed yesterday the opportunity of sending my letter, wrote long ago, as you will see. We shall be at Barbadoes the 3rd or 4th June; and I hope Cochrane will be able to give us every information about the Enemy. I still think Jamaica is their object; but many think that Surinam, Trinidada; and Bayntun, that they will land their Troops at the City of San Domingo. In short, every one has an opinion; but it will soon be beyond doubt. Our passage, although not very quick, has been far from a bad one. They started from Cadiz thirty-one days before we did from St. Vincent, and I think we shall gain fourteen days upon them in the passage; therefore, they will only arrive seventeen days before us at Martinico, for I suppose them bound there. I shall not anchor at Barbadoes. Martin, you know, is gone there; and I have prayed Lord Seaforth to lay an embargo, that the French may not know of my approach, and thus again elude our vigilance. My mind is not altered that Egypt was their destination last January. Ever yours faithfully, NELSON AND BRONTE. PLAN OF ATTACK. [From Clarke and M·Arthur, vol. ii. p. 427, who state that it was taken from the original in the St. Vincent Papers, and that it was drawn up by Lord Nelson during his pursuit of the French Fleet to the West Indies.] The business of an English Commander-in-Chief being first to bring an Enemy's Fleet to Battle, on the most advantageous terms to himself, (I mean that of laying his Ships close on board the Enemy, as expeditiously as possible ;) and secondly, to continue them there, without separating, until the business is decided; I am sensible beyond this object it is not necessary that I should say a word, being fully assured that the Admirals and Captains of the Fleet I have the honour to command, will, knowing my precise object, that of a close and decisive Battle, supply any deficiency in my not making signals; which may, if extended beyond these objects, either be misunderstood, or, if waited for, very probably, from various Francis Humbertone Mackenzie, created Lord of Seaforth, Baron Mackenzie, in October 1797, Governor of Barbadoes: he died in 1814. |