1805, continued January 19th

22nd
25th

FACTS.

„VICE-ADMIRAL OF THE WHITE.
Received information that the French Fleet
had salled on the 18th from Toulon, and
immediately proceeded with the Squadron,
on the East side of Sardinia, to the Southern
end of that Island.

Sixteen leagues East of Cape Carbonara.
In the Gulf of Cagliari.

29th......... Passed the Faro of Messina, and, supposing
that the Enemy had gone to Egypt, pro-
ceeded to Alexandria.

February 8th ................. Off Alexandria.

12th ......... Of Candia. Hearing nothing of the French Fleet, proceeded back to Sardinia.

19th ......... Off Malta.

28th

March 4th

Learnt that the French Fleet had

returned to Toulon.

....... Anchored in Pula Roads, Sardinia.

...................... After two attempts to put to sea, sailed from Pula Roads.

Anchored in Pula Roads.
Sailed.

Received intelligence that the Enemy's Fleet
was at sea, having left Toulon on the 30th
or 31st of March. Proceeded to the West-
ward, between Galita and Sardinia.

....Off Toro. Learnt that the French Fleet had passed Gibraltar on the 8th, and proceeded to Gibraltar.

.... Anchored at Tetuan

Sailed from Tetuan.

Anchored at Gibraltar, and sailed in the evening. ... Anchored in Lagos Bay.

.... Proceeded to the West Indies, in pursuit of the

Combined Fleet.

.............. Anchored in Carlisle Bay, Barbadoes, and having heard that the Enemy's Fleet had gone to Tobago and Trinidad, embarked 2000 Troops.

FACTS.

..... VICE-ADMIRAL of the WHITE.

Off Tobago.

Anchored in the Gulf of Paria, Trinidad. .... Sailed. Heard that the French Fleet had arrived at Martinique on the 4th, and was erroneously informed that it was to sail for an attack on Grenada and Dominica. In St. George's Bay, Grenada.

Off Guadaloupe.

Anchored at St. John's, Antigua; disembarked
the Troops, and determined to proceed to-
wards the Mediterranean, believing that the
Enemy had returned to Europe.
Sailed from Antigua.

Off the Azores.

Off Cape Spartel.

Anchored at Gibraltar.

Sailed from Gibraltar, and anchored at Tetuan.
Sailed from Tetuan, and having heard that the
Enemy had been seen on the 19th, steering
for the Northward, proceeded for Ushant.

LETTERS.

1804-ET. 45.

TO REAR-ADMIRAL SIR EDWARD PELLEW, BART.'

[From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 362.]

May 1st, 1804.

You have always, my dear Sir Edward, proved yourself so equal to command a Fleet, that it would be a sin to place you in any other situation, and my services are very nearly at an end; for, in addition to other infirmities, I am nearly blind: however, I hope to fight one more Battle. I am, &c.,

NELSON AND BRONTE.

TO J. B. GIBERT, ESQ., HIS MAJESTY'S VICE-CONSUL,

BARCELONA.

[Autograph draught in the possession of Earl Nelson, and Letter-Book.]

Sir, Victory, at Sea, 1st May, 1804. I am much obliged by your letter of the 25th ultimo, respecting the Hindostan ; but I am afraid that little of value except anchors is unburnt, and, therefore, that it would hardly answer the expense of sending for Neapolitan divers. However, if any person save any of the effects, I am perfectly ready to allow them a most liberal salvage; but, as I said before, unless it is the people who live in the Bay, and watch the opportunity of fine weather, I much doubt if it would pay the expenses of the undertaking. Captain Le Gros certainly

1 Afterwards Admiral Viscount Exmouth, G.C.B., who had then expressed his desire to serve under Lord Nelson.

ought to have directed his letter to you: it would have gone more regularly to the Captain-General. I can only suppose that Mr. Gayner did what he thought for the best. Captain Le Gros has spoken of his kind attention in terms of great praise. I am, Sir, with great respect, &c.,

NELSON AND BRONTE.

TO J. B. GIBERT, ESQ., HIS MAJESTY'S VICE-CONSUL,

BARCELONA.

[Autograph draught in the possession of Earl Nelson, and Letter Book.]

Sir,

Victory, at Sea, 1st May, 1804.

I am much obliged by your letters of the 25th and 27th ultimo. The Englishmen belonging to the Cutter have behaved very ill, in not going on board the Juno; and I desire that you will not, upon any account, forward them to Gibraltar, or pay them, after their refusal to embark, unless they are lodged in gaol, to be delivered to the first King's Ship. I am, &c.,

NELSON AND BRONTE.

TO CAPTAIN SIR WILLIAM BOLTON, H.M. SLOOP CHILDERS.

[Order Book.]

Victory, at Sea, 3rd May, 1803.

Having received information that there are three French Privateers (two of them Brigs) who have taken their station off Tunis, for the purpose of intercepting and capturing our Trade, You are hereby required and directed to take His Majesty's Sloop named in the margin' under your command, and proceed immediately in quest of them, passing the Southwest end of Sardinia in your way; and if the weather be favourable, send a Boat into St. Pierres, in order to obtain information respecting them. Having so done, you will make the best of your way to the Island of Galita, and run close round it, where it is probable you may fall in with the said Privateers. Should you not, you will proceed inside the Cannes, passing between