we shall have Peace, or such an universal War as will upset that vagabond Buonaparte. I have been tolerably well, till this last bad weather, which has given me pains in my breast; but, never mind, all will be well when I get to Merton. Admiral Campbell, who is on board, desires to be remembered to you. He does not like much to stay here, after my departure. Indeed, we all draw so well together in the Fleet, that I flatter myself the sorrow for my departure will be pretty general. Admiral Murray will be glad to get home; Hardy is as good as ever; and Mr. Secretary Scott is an excellent man. God bless you, my dearest Emma! and be assured I am ever your most faithful and affectionate, N. & B. Kiss dear Horatia. I hope she is at Merton, fixed. TO CAPTAIN CHARLES MARSH SCHOMBERG, H.M. SHIP MADRAS, OR SENIOR OFFICER AT MALTA. Sir, [Letter-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 29th September, 1804. my Having ordered his Majesty's Bomb-Vessel Thunder to proceed immediately to Malta, for the purpose of convoying the Victuallers, mentioned in my letter to the Agent-Victualler of the 20th August last, to the Madalena Islands, it is directions that you afford every facility in your power for their quick dispatch; and as their safe and speedy arrival at the Madalena Islands is of the utmost consequence, (as you will observe by Captain Cocks's order,) I am to desire, should there be any of his Majesty's Ships or Vessels in Valetta Harbour ready for sea, that you will direct the Commander thereof, to accompany the Thunder and Victualler to the Madalena Islands; and after having seen them to that anchorage in safety, to return, (if belonging to Captain Cracraft's Squadron, or under Sir Alexander Ball's directions,) and follow their former orders. You will also direct Captain Cocks to receive on board the Thunder such stores, &c., as the Naval Officer may have to send to the Fleet, provided there is not sufficient room for them on board the Victuallers, and cause every possible expedition to be used for their immediate dispatch to the Madalena Islands, as before mentioned. I am, &c. NELSON and Bronte. TO CAPTAIN GEORGE COCKS, H. M. BOMB-VESSEL THUNDER. [Order-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 29th September, 1804. Having directed the Agent-Victualler at Malta, by letter of the 20th August last (a triplicate of which is herewith transmitted) to have Transports laden with provisions for the Fleet, and ready to sail from Valetta harbour by the middle of October, under the protection of any Ship of War which might be leaving Malta to join me about that time, or such Convoy as I should think proper to send for them; and whereas I am apprehensive that no opportunity is likely to offer for that purpose, You are hereby required and directed to proceed in his Majesty's Bomb-Vessel Thunder, under your command, to Malta, with the utmost possible dispatch; and on your arrival there, you will deliver my aforesaid letter to the Agent-Victualler, and also the inclosed one to Captain Schomberg, or the Senior Officer at that place, who is directed to send such Ship, or Vessel of War, as may be there, to accompany you to the Madalena Islands. But should there not be any Vessel of War at Malta, you will take the Victuallers under your protection, and proceed with them without a moment's loss of time, to the Madalena Islands, passing on the East side of Sardinia to the anchorage in Agincourt Sound; and as it is possible that the Enemy may have possessed themselves of those Islands, and the Victuallers being of the utmost consequence to the Fleet under my command, you are to approach the said Islands with great caution, until you have fully satisfied yourself that the Enemy have not taken possession of them; when you will moor the Victuallers in safety in Agincourt Sound, and hold them and the Thunder in momentary readiness to leave that place, on the appearance of an Enemy of superior force; and in order the more effectually to discover their approach, you are to keep a constant watch on Point Leche by day, and a Guardboat rowing in such situation during night, as may be most likely to inform you thereof, and have the Thunder perfectly prepared to defend them, or proceed to sea, should it become necessary. In the execution of this service, the utmost dispatch is to be used, in order that the Victuallers may be at the Madalena Islands by the 20th October, where you will remain (observing the above instructions) till my arrival, or you receive orders for your further proceedings. NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN RICHARDSON, H.M. SHIP JUNO. [Order-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 29th September, 1804. Whereas it is my intention to proceed with the Squadron, the first Westerly wind, off Toulon, for the purpose of reconnoitring the Enemy at that Port, and from thence pass through Rendezvous No. 102, to receive any information the Ships there may have obtained of them, You are hereby required and directed to keep on your station, Rendezvous No. 97, and inform any of his Majesty's Ships, Vessels, or Transports arriving on the said Rendezvous thereof, and direct their Commanders to remain there, under Cape St. Sebastians, until my return, as the Squadron will only take the route before-mentioned, and return immediately to Rendezvous No. 97, where the strictest look-out is to be kept for arrivals from England, Malta, &c., daily expected. Having ordered the Thunder Bomb-Vessel to Malta, you will take the Acheron in her room, under your command, and employ her on the service mentioned in my letter to you of the 17th instant. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN LORD MARK ROBERT KERR, H. M. SHIP FISGARD. [Order-Book.] Victory, off Toulon, 1st October, 1804. Whereas I am proceeding with the Squadron to Rendezvous No. 97, under Cape St. Sebastians, You are hereby required and directed to take his Majesty's Ship named in the margin under your command, and station yourself between Rendezvous No. 102 and Toulon, in such position as you may judge best for watching the Enemy's motions in that Port, and for ascertaining with correctness their putting to sea, in case they should do so. In reconnoitring and watching the Enemy as above directed, the greatest care must be taken that you do not approach Toulon, so as to render yourself liable to being becalmed, and consequently to an attack from a superior force of Ships and Gun-boats in such situation. You will occasionally proceed to Rendezvous No. 102, in order to acquaint the Commander of any of his Majesty's Ships or Vessels that the Squadron is gone to Rendezvous No. 97, where they will find me, or intelligence where I am gone to. You will therefore direct them to join me under Cape St. Sebastians with the utmost dispatch. In the event of the Enemy putting to sea, or any important intelligence obtained respecting them, you will join me yourself, or send the Niger to Rendezvous No. 97, with all dispatch. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN RICHARD HUSSEY MOUBRAY, H. M. SHIP ACTIVE. [Order-Book.] Victory, off Toulon, 1st October, 1804. You are hereby required and directed to take his Majesty's Ship named in the margin' under your command, and steer into the Gulf towards Marseilles, and take a sweep of that place, for the purpose of falling in with any of the Enemy's Vessels of War or Trade, which may be cruizing in that vicinity, and join me in three or four days' time from the date hereof, on Rendezvous No. 97, under Cape St. Sebastians, where you will find me, or orders for your further proceedings. NELSON AND Bronte. 9 Niger. VOL. VI. P 1 Ambuscade. TO THE CAPTAINS OR COMMANDERS OF ANY OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS OR VESSELS EMPLOYED IN THE ADRIATIC. [Letter-Book.] Victory, at Sea, 4th October, 1804. Sir, Captain Leake, of the Royal Artillery, who is directed by Government to proceed to Corfu, and may, from the nature of his instructions, find it necessary to remove to the Morea, or Albania, it is my particular directions, should his Majesty's Ship or Vessel under your command be in the environs of either of the before-mentioned places, and Captain Leake make application to be removed, that you comply with his request, provided the more important service which you may be then employed on, will admit of your so doing. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN SCHOMBERG, H.M. SHIP MADRAS. [Letter-Book.] Sir, Victory, at Sea, 4th October, 1804. As Vessels of very valuable cargoes may soon be expected at Malta from England, under the convoy of the Hydra and other Ships of War, for the Levant, Constantinople, and the Adriatic, it is my particular directions that you appoint sufficient Convoys for the protection of any Merchant Ship or Vessel destined to either of the above-mentioned places, in order that they may not be in danger of capture by the Enemy. And I am to desire, on the arrival of the Hero from England, which is freighted by Government, and bound to Constantinople, that you will give the most strict orders to the Officer charged with that Vessel, to see her in safety to her destination. It perhaps may not be necessary to convoy the Ships bound to Constantinople further than the Dardanelles, but of this you will be the best judge, having been more recently there. You will give strict orders to the Officers charged with these Convoys to bring all the Trade from the Ports in the Archipelago in safety to Malta. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. |