TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD BARHAM. [From a Press-copy in the possession of the Right Hon. John Wilson Croker.] My Lord, Victory, Tetuan, July 23rd, 1805. The Fleet is complete, and the first Easterly Wind, I shall pass the Straits. I have yet not a word of information of the Enemy's Fleet: it has almost broke my heart. But the name of General Brereton will never be forgot by this generation; but for him our Battle would have been fought on June 6th. The event would have been in the hands of Providence; but we may without, I hope, vanity, believe that the Enemy would have been fit for no active service after such a Battle. All our losses which have happened, or may happen, are entirely to be attributed to his information. I shall take my position most convenient for receiving intelligence; and if I find the Enemy gone to the Bay, I shall go off Ferrol, or Ushant, as the case appears to me to require. Your Lordship will observe, in my letter to the Board, that I am taking part of the Small Craft, which they directed to be under Admiral Collingwood, unless other Vessels are in the Mediterranean for the different stations, not one of which can with propriety be given up; and I hope the Board will consider it as not wishing to alter any arrangement of theirs, but as a measure absolutely necessary. I shall return to England the moment I know that the Enemy's Fleet is in Port, and out of my reach; and I shall with pleasure give your Lordship every information which twelve years experience has given me of the Mediterranean. I shall add a Postscript when I get out of the Straits: therefore shall only assure you that I am, with great respect, your Lordship's most obedient Servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. No Postscript appears to have been added. TO THE HON. CAPTAIN CAPEL, H.M. SHIP PHŒbe. [From a Press-copy in the possession of the Right Hon. John Wilson Croker.] Victory, July 23rd, 1805. Private. My dear Capel, It is not my intention that you should remain any great length of time on the Gibraltar Station; but whilst you stay, I beg that you will show an active attention to the important service, which will be an example to those who will follow you. Five miles from Cape Spartel you are sure of taking Spanish Barks from, and to the West Indies, and perhaps a Ship from Lima. Be active, and I will ensure you success. I am ever, my dear Capel, your sincere friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Autograph, in the Admiralty.] Victory, Tetuan Bay, July 23rd, 1805. Referring you to my letter of July the 20th, by the Thomas Merchant Brig (of which I send a duplicate) for my arrival at, and proceedings to Gibraltar, I have now only to inform you that, having completed the Fleet to four months' provisions, except bread, of which there was not a sufficient quantity in store, and completed the stores of the Ships to Channel Service, I came over here yesterday; and, by night, the Fleet will be complete with water, and, I hope, have on board a fortnight's fresh provisions, of which, and refreshments, we were much in want, every Ship having much of the scurvy, but, thank God, not the smallest symptom of any other complaint. I shall pass the Straits the moment the wind comes from the Eastward, and take such a position between Cape St. Vincent and Spartel, that I may receive the earliest information of the Enemy's Fleet, and regulate my proceedings accordingly. I should not have come within the Straits for several days after my arrival off Spartel, but the want of water and refreshments rendered it a measure absolutely necessary, for the Fleet could not have gone even off Ferrol with out water, &c.; and now, if the case requires, ten Sail of us can go to Madras, or round Cape Horn. Their Lordships will, I trust, give me full credit that it is not my wish for a moment to get out of the track of the Enemy, but that I am anxious to have the fine Fleet I have the happiness to command, ready to follow them, to whatever place they may proceed. Respecting the alteration I may think it necessary to make in arranging the proper force off Cadiz, Carthagena, the Gibraltar station, the Malta station, the stationing a Squadron to prevent the sailing of Troops from Genoa and Toulon, which I am informed are ready, I beg to refer you to another letter. I only entreat that, as I may have appeared to have removed some of the Frigates and Sloops from stations, to which I think their Lordships have directed their services, nothing but the present urgency of the case having required it [sic.] I trust I am the last Officer in the Service who would not follow up closely the orders, and even wishes, of the Board, as far as I can collect them. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, in Tetuan Bay, 23rd July, 1805. I herewith transmit you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a copy of an order which I have given to Rear-Admiral Knight, respecting the force which I have placed under his command, for the comfort of the Garrison and protection of the Trade in the Straits, as therein mentioned, which I hope will meet their Lordships' approbation. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO REAR-ADMIRAL JOHN KNIGHT, GIBRALTAR. [From a Copy in the Admiralty.] Victory, in Tetuan Bay, 23rd July, 1805. Whereas the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have judged it expedient for the better Naval protection of the "Vide p. 488, ante. Garrison at Gibraltar, its comforts, and the perfect security of our Commerce, passing to, and from thence, through the Straits, that you should hoist your Flag on board the Guerrier, or any Frigate under your orders; and their Lordships having, by their order, dated the 28th March 1805, directed you to put yourself under my command, and it also being their intention that a sufficient force shall be attached to the Straits of Gibraltar, for the purposes above mentioned; and whereas I am fully aware of the very great importance of the services entrusted to your charge, and the necessity of an adequate force being put under your orders for these purposes, You are hereby required and instructed to take his Majesty's Ships, Sloops, and Gun-brigs, named in the margin, under your command, and such others as I may hereafter find necessary, and employ them as you shall judge best for the service of the Garrison, the protection of our Commerce in Gibraltar Bay, and also of our Trade passing to, and from that place through the Straits, for which purpose you will place a Vessel of War either at Tangier, or to the Westward of Cape Spartel, that she may at all times be ready, not only to give you intelligence of the approach of an Enemy, but also to protect the Commerce from being captured by their numerous Gun-boats in the Straits. You are to consider the limits of your command from Old Malaga to ten leagues to the Westward of Cape Spartel, that our Trade coming from Malta, &c., may have certain security from your Cruizers on their arrival off the former place, and the Commerce from the United Kingdom, bound into the Mediterranean, may be sure of meeting some Vessel of War, on its approaching the Straits' Mouth. The recent capture of two valuable American Ships from Liverpool in the Gut, laden with English property, strongly points out the very great necessity for the most active and zealous exertions being used to prevent the capture of our Trade; nor is it, I trust, (from your zeal, and perfect knowledge of the important service committed to your charge,) necessary for me to do more than observe, that there never was a season when more constant and active attention was Guerrier, Phoebe, Decade, Martin, Termagant, Halcyon, Dexterous Gun-Brig, Fervent Gun-Brig. required at Gibraltar, and in the Straits, than the present, in order to prevent our Trade from being captured. I, therefore, shall only add, that I consider the Garrison and Commerce, within the limits of your command, as properly protected and freed from annoyance or capture by the Enemy's Gun-boats, as is possible for a Naval force to accomplish. I have also the most full confidence in your indefatigable exertions to frustrate the intentions of the Enemy on all occasions. You will, in addition to these important services, bear in mind their Lordships' intentions relative to the sending and bringing the mails to, and from Lisbon; and so soon as a greater force can be spared, I shall place them under your command, for the more perfect protection of our Commerce, and for securing supplies of provisions from the Coast of Barbary, intended for the comfort of the Garrison, and also for the purpose of getting the mails to and from Lisbon, or communicating with the Squadron off Carthagena. Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton, who, it is probable, I shall soon leave in the temporary command of the Mediterranean Fleet, (under whose command you will, of course be,) will do everything in his power to strengthen your force, and enable you to carry my instructions into full effect. You are at liberty to shift your Flag from the Guerrier on board any of the Ships or Vessels under your command; and it is recommended by their Lordships always to have one in the Bay ready to man the Gun-boats. You will inform Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton of your proceedings, from time to time, during my absence from the Mediterranean, in order that he may be a judge of what further force may be necessary, or for changing any Ships or Vessels under your orders; and you will also, when it may be necessary, communicate with the Admiralty direct, as it might very much retard your correspondence to send your letters through the Rear-Admiral; but you will, as early after as possible, transmit Sir Richard copies thereof, that he may be in full possession of every information relative to Gibraltar. must also desire to recommend that you frequently consult with General Fox, the Lieutenant-Governor, in what manner the Squadron under your command may be made most serviceable for the real comforts of the Garrison, and to prevent I |