some symptoms of scurvy, which I hope to eradicate by bullocks and refreshments from Tetuan, to which I shall proceed to-morrow. Having completed the Fleet to four months' provisions, and with stores for Channel Service, I shall get outside the Mediterranean, leaving a sufficient force to watch Carthagena, and proceed as upon a due consideration, on reading Vice-Admiral Collingwood's orders, and those which RearAdmiral Sir Richard Bickerton may have received during my absence, may suggest to be most proper, or waiting until their Lordships' orders may arrive from England, for the distribution of this very large force of Line-of-Battle Ships, unless I should hear that the Enemy have gone for some of the Ports in the Bay, when I shall join the Squadron off Ferrol, or off Ushant, as I think the case requires. When I know something certain of the Enemy's Fleet, I shall embrace their Lordships' permission to return to England for a short time, for the re-establishment of my health. The Prévoyante, Store-Ship will sail in a few days, by which Ship I shall write further of my intended proceedings; and I beg, through you, to assure their Lordships, that however erroneous my judgment may be, that I am anxious to act as I think their Lordships would wish me, was I near enough to receive their orders. I am, Sir, &c. Nelson and BRONTE." • The following intelligence was enclosed in the above letter:-" Intelligence received from the American Schooner Sally, Dempsey Wade, Master, from New Burn (North Carolina), bound to Antigua, laden with lumber: boarded at 6 P.M., June the 18th, 1805, by his Majesty's Ship Amazon. Extract from the Sally's Log-book: Saw twenty-two Sail of large Ships to "At noon, the Schooner was in Latitude 27° 28" N., Longitude 60° 58′′ W., ran only 12 miles S.S.E. to the time the strange Fleet was seen: from that time until the Amazon boarded the Schooner she made little way, having the wind very light from the S.E. On asking the Master and Mate why they supposed the Fleet seen by them were French? the Master replied that an American Brig from Martinique spoke him eight days before, and informed him that a Squadron had arrived at Martinique from France; he therefore supposed the Fleet seen to be that Squa PRIVATE DIARY. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii, p. 415.] 20th July, 1805. I went on shore for the first time since the 16th of June, 1803; and from having my foot out of the Victory, two years, wanting ten days. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD BARHAM, FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY. [Autograph, in the possession of Charles J. Middleton, Esq.] My Lord, Victory, July 20th, 1805. It was not until my return to the Mediterranean, that I knew who was appointed First Lord of the Admiralty, in the room of Lord Melville, or I should have wrote you whenever opportunities offered for sending letters; for there must be, your Lordship well knows, many things which may be said to the First Lord, which would be improper to address to a Public Board; and in presuming to offer any opinions, I trust that your Lordship will not think that I offer my opinions with a presumptuous expectation that they ought to be followed, but rather to enable the First Lord to become an accurate judge of the present situation of the Mediterranean. Not having seen either Admiral Collingwood, who is off Cadiz, or Sir Richard Bickerton, who is off Carthagena, I know not what orders they have received, or the reasons on which their present mode of acting is followed; but I have sent for Sir Richard Bickerton, and shall go to Admiral Collingwood, to be better informed. dron returning home. The Master's opinion of the course steered by the strange Fleet was, N.N.E.; the Mate thought, about N.N.W. Both of them went to the mast-head of the Schooner, and were positive that the Ships seen were Men-ofWar, having royals, stay-sails, and all sails set, showing them as low as the lower yards. On referring back to the Schooner's Log, I found entered on it the intelligence obtained by him from the Brig (as before stated) from Martinique. (Copy.) "RICHARD SEYMOUR. "NELSON AND BRONTE." I find the Admiral at Gibraltar without any Naval force under his orders, which, from the orders of the Admiralty to Admiral Knight, does not seem to be the Board's intention. Gibraltar, between the two Admirals, seems (if I may be allowed the expression) almost abandoned. Some regular and proper force must be thought of, and it should be permanent; besides which, if the Town of Gibraltar and the Garrison is to be saved from the harassing and distress occasioned by the Gunboats, something of the Praam kind must be adopted, and a Marine Brigade, to man from ten to twenty Gun-Boats. Nobody in our Service can have more knowledge on this subject than my friend Sir Roger Curtis. It is generally believed that a very formidable annoyance by red-hot shot from GunBoats is intended. I hear, indeed see, by Admiral Collingwood's orders to Admiral Knight, that several of the Frigates are drawn from the upper part of the Mediterranean. Unless Russia takes this service upon herself, the French will, whenever they please, convey an Army to Sardinia, Sicily, the Morea, or Egypt, all which points I have been instructed to guard, and for which service I have repeatedly applied for many, many more Frigates and Sloops of War. The consequence of our abandoning this service will be the loss of our influence in this Country, which has hitherto (I mean Sardinia, Naples, and Turkey) considered themselves as protected by Great Britain. Your Lordship will, I trust, pardon my remarks; and I could enlarge very much upon those important subjects, but I will not intrude more upon your time, than to assure you that I am, with the highest respect, your Lordship's most faithful and obedient servant, NELSON and Bronte. TO VICE-ADMIRAL COLLINGWOOD.' [Autograph, in the possession of the Honourable Mrs. Newnham Collingwood.] Victory, July 20th, 1805. My dear Collingwood, The Martin Sloop arrived this morning, and, as Captain Savage' says that the Pickle Schooner left the Fleet before him, for Gibraltar, I fear that some accident has happened to her. I shall be in Tetuan on the 22nd; and twenty-four hours will then complete us for an East India voyage; and I shall see you as soon as possible. I have sent for Sir Richard Bickerton, as I am in total ignorance of the intentions of the Admiralty, and I find that the Frigates are ordered from aloft to join you, and at a moment when I have fancied that at least double the number are wanted; but the orders of the Admiralty must be obeyed. I only hope Officers will not be blamed for the events which it is not difficult to foresee will happen. God bless you, my dear friend, and believe me ever, yours most faithfully, NELSON AND Bronte. On the 19th of July, Vice-Admiral Collingwood replied to Lord Nelson's letter of the 18th. (Vide p. 472, ante.) "My dear Lord, "Dreadnought, July 19th, 1805. "I well know what your Lordship's disappointment is, and share the mortification of it. It would have been a happy day for England, could you have met them; small as your force was, I trust it would have been found enough. Truly glad will I be to see you, my dear friend, and to give you my best opinion on the present state of affairs, which are in the highest degree intricate; but reasoning on the policy of the present French Government, who never aim at little things while great objects are in view, I have considered the invasion of Ireland as the real mark and butt of all their operations. The flight to the West Indies was to take off the Naval Force, which is the great impediment to their undertaking. The Rochfort Squadron's return confirmed me. I think they will now collect their force at Ferrol, which Calder tells me are in motion-pick up those at Rochfort, who, I am told, are equally ready, and will make them above thirty Sail; and then, without going near Ushant, or the Channel Fleet, proceed to Ireland. Detachments must go from the Channel Fleet to succour Ireland, when the Brest Fleet-twenty-one, I believe, of them, will sail, either to another part of Ireland, or up the Channel-a sort of force that has not been seen in those seas, perhaps, ever. "The Martin has just arrived here; and by her, I shall send all the letters, &c., for Gibraltar. I send your Lordship a packet which Admiral Knight transmitted to me to go to England for the Secretaries of State. I have the honour to be, &c., "CUTHBERT COLLINGWOOD. "Is not your Lordship surprised to find Vice-Admiral Nugent, First Captain to the Commander-in-Chief, Channel Fleet?"-Autograph, in the Nelson Papers. 2 Captain R. S. Savage appears to have died a Commander, between 1806 and 1809 TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Autograph, in the possession of Mrs. Leake.] [About 20th July, 1805.] I am, my dear Mr. Marsden, as completely miserable as my greatest enemy could wish me; but I neither blame fortune or my own judgment. Oh, General Brereton! General Brereton Pray forward the inclosed, I shall see and thank you very soon. Ever your obliged, NELSON AND Bronte. TO HIS EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT, ESQ., NAPLES, [Autograph, in the Elliot Papers.] My dear Sir, Victory, Gibraltar, July 21st, 1805. I arrived here a day before the Martin Sloop; therefore, I can only tell you, that I heard nothing since of the Enemy's Fleet-therefore, whether they are bound for the Mediterranean, Cadiz, or some Port in the Bay, I am ignorant. I shall sail to-morrow to watch for them outside the Straits, and to act as circumstances shall render necessary. I have only, from public rumour, not having seen either the Admirals off Cadiz, or off Carthagena, [heard] of what is passing at Naples, except some extracts of letters sent by Sir Alexander Ball, which Admiral Knight has sent off Cadiz. But I see too clearly that matters seem drawing to a conclusion respecting Naples; but I hope the Allies of Naples will not suffer those Kingdoms to be seized by Buonaparte. I can say nothing more. The Admiralty, I hear, have ordered three Frigates from up the Mediterranean outside the Straits. It is past my comprehension, when I have wrote that many, many more than are there at present are wanted. I shall direct a Ship to relieve the Excellent as soon as the destination of the Enemy's Squadron is ascertained; and if it is true that the Line-of-Battle Ship is anchored at Genoa, I must send, and try and take her. When these things are arranged, I shall proceed to England. ever, my dear Sir, your Excellency's most faithful and obedient servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. Your son is very well. I am * A French Ship of the Line building at Genoa. Vide p. 488, post. |