put to sea, you will be governed in communicating an account thereof to me, from the circumstances above stated, sending a Vessel on the East and West side of Corsica to fall in with me, in case the Squadron should have left the Madalena Islands, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 10th May, 1804. Sir, I have received your letter of the 4th ultimo, with a copy of the letter therein mentioned, which has been written by the Secretary of State to Sir Alexander Ball, respecting the appropriation of the Palace of Bugia for the service of a Naval Hospital; and you will please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that I have sent Doctor Snipe to Malta to consult with Sir Alexander Ball, and to assist in forming an estimate of the expense attending the same for Lord Hobart's information. You will, at the same time, acquaint their Lordships, that the additional building to the said Palace mentioned by Doctor Snipe is absolutely necessary, for the convenience and comfort of a Naval Hospital, and that a certain space of ground attached to the said building is also indispensably necessary for a garden, a place for the convalescent Seamen and Marincs to enjoy a little exercise and fresh air. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, at Sea, 10th May, 1804. Sir, I have received your letter of the 16th March, together with a copy of the one therein mentioned from the Secretary to the Board of Ordnance, respecting the negotiation for arms at Vienna having failed, and signifying their Lordships' direc tion to me to recall the Ships named in the margin' from the Adriatic; In answer thereto, you will please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that the Monmouth proceeded direct for England, and that I have ordered the Agincourt, after receiving her guns at Gibraltar, and escorting the Argo and such Trade as may be under her protection, twenty or twenty-five leagues to the Westward of Cadiz, to return to Malta (calling in her way at Gibraltar for any Vessels which may be desirous of proceeding with her to Valetta Harbour) for the purpose of being joined by the Thisbe, and convoying our Trade from the Archipelago and Adriatic to England. I am, Sir, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE PRINCIPAL OFFICERS AND COMMISSIONERS OF HIS MAJESTY'S NAVY, LONDON. [Letter-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 10th May, 1804. Gentlemen, I have received your letter of the 14th February last, acquainting me that his Majesty's Store-ship Diligent is ordered to be loaded at Woolwich with stores for Gibraltar. As my letters of the 10th January last have reached your Board, as acknowledged by yours of the 6th March, I must request that you will reply to my letter under the first-mentioned date, inclosing a copy of one from Commissioner Otway, together with Vouchers for caulking his Majesty's Ship Victory, as therein set forth, in order that the Carpenter of the said Ship, and people employed on the occasion, may be satisfied that the discontinuing this necessary remuneration (should such be the case) for their extra labour, does not remain with me. It is to be lamented that the Carpenters and their Crews are not apprised of any circumstance of this nature, to prevent murmur or discontent amongst them. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. Monmouth, Agincourt. Vide vol. v. p. 358. TO CAPTAIN GORE, H. M. SHIP MEDUSA. [Letter-Book. Friday, 11th May, 1804. "At 10 A.M., shortened sail, and came to [in the Madalena Islands.] Superb, Triumph, Leviathan, Niger, and the Bombs with their Tenders, anchored here. Royal Sovereign, Canopus, Belleisle, and Donegal anchored in the Eastern Bay; Renown and Excellent in the Western Bay."-Victory's Log.] Sir, Victory, Madalena Islands, 12th May, 1804. I have received your letter of the 20th ultimo, and copies of the ones therein-mentioned, addressed to the Captains of the Orpheus and Amphion, which, from the reasons stated in your said letter, I very much approve of. I am sorry to find that the main-keel of the Medusa is so much injured, and hope an opportunity may soon offer for heaving down that Ship, and effectually repairing the damages she has sustained. It is rather unfortunate that the Maidstone should at this time have sprung her foremast and bowsprit; but I am satisfied that every exertion will be used in making good her defects, after the Halcyon is ready for sea. You have done perfectly right in anchoring the Maidstone off the Mole-Head: her apparent readiness for sea may check the Privateers from any depredation on our Trade. I must request, the moment the Halcyon is ready for service, that you will keep Captain Pearse on the alert, as I am sorry to observe that the Service has not derived that benefit from her which might have been expected from so fine a Vessel. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO CAPTAIN GORE, H. M. SHIP MEDUSA. [Letter-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 12th May, 1804. I have received your letter of the 12th ultimo, acquainting me with the loss of the Apollo, and Merchant-vessels therein mentioned, on the Coast of Spain. I approve of the order you have given Captain Pearse to proceed to Gibraltar for In a subsequent Letter, Lord Nelson said he was mistaken on this point, and expressed himself fully satisfied with Captain Pearse's exertions. Vide p. 137, post. the purpose of being repaired, but am sorry to find that the Halcyon is constantly in want of something done to her. It is unpleasant that any differences between our Boats' Crews and L'Aigle's' should have taken place; but I am glad to find the circumstance should have been so amicably settled between you and the French Captain, and that their Seamen in future are prevented from wearing arms. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO SIR ALEXANDER JOHN BALL, BART., MALTA. [Letter-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 12th May, 1804. I beg leave to enclose you a copy of a letter from Mr. Secretary Marsden, dated the 4th of April, together with a copy of the one therein referred to, from Mr. John Sullivan, communicating Lord Hobart's directions on the subject of converting the Palace of Bughay, in Malta, to a Naval Hospital, lest the original of the last-mentioned letter should not have reached you. I have also thought it proper to send Doctor Snipe, Physician to the Fleet under my command, to Malta, on this occasion, in order that he may consult with you, as to the necessity of wings being built to the intended Naval Hospital at Bughay, or any other circumstance which may relate thereto, and assist in forming the estimate alluded to in the said letter. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN PHILIP LAMB, AGENT FOR TRANSPORTS, MALTA. Sir, [From a Copy in the Admiralty.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 12th May, 1804. I herewith transmit you a copy of a letter from Mr. Secretary Marsden, together with the lists No. 1 and 2, therein referred to, directing that the Transports on the highest terms of hire may be sent home as soon as possible after the arrival The French Line-of-Battle Ship at Cadiz. of those which are now about to sail, according to the lastmentioned list. I must, therefore, refer you to my letter of the 20th March, with its inclosure, on the subject of sending all the Transports to England without delay, except those absolutely wanted for the service of Malta and the Fleet under my command; and desire that the most strict attention is paid to their Lordships' instructions contained in the copy of Mr. Secretary Marsden's letter above-mentioned, as well on the present as on all future occasions, that Government may not be put to unnecessary expense by the detention of Transports in the Mediterranean, which may not be wanted. The moment the two coppered Transports, under the charge of Lieutenant Woodman, return from the Black Sea, (provided neither of them are wanted to bring the residue of the provisions or Naval stores purchased by Mr. Eaton at Odessa for the Fleet in these seas,) you will send them also to England, under the first Convoy. I must also desire that you will communicate to MajorGeneral Villettes the orders you have received to send all the Transports which are not wanted for the immediate service of this Country to England; and, at the same time, beg of the General to inform you whether the Transports now at Malta ready to embark Troops, are wanted for that service? otherwise, that you will include them in the number for England. I am not aware that there are Troops at Malta intended for distant service at this moment; but should that hereafter be the case, I trust the transportation of them will not be difficult, as I presume a sufficient number of Vessels will soon be procured to answer the purpose. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN STEPHEN PETER MOUAT, AGENT FOR TRANSPORTS Sir, ETC., MALTA. [Letter-Book.] Victory, Madalena Islands, 12th May, 1804. I have received your letter of the 21st ultimo, with the list of Transports that arrived at Gibraltar, under convoy of the Leviathan therein mentioned, and a daily account of Prisoners |