news is correct from Berlin; but I have my doubts. It would be too much happiness for Europe, which seems bent upon destroying itself. I am ever, with the highest respect, your Excellency's most obedient humble Servant, NELSON AND Bronte. TO HIS EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT, ESQ. [Autograph, in the Elliot Papers.] My dear Sir, Victory, October 7th, 1804. I am truly sensible of the kind concern you express for the state of my health; but you might be sure that if I had not found it indispensably necessary, that I should not have made the application for a few months' rest. If I am able, it is my • On the 8th of September, 1804, Mr. Elliot wrote the following letter to Lord Nelson: "My Lord, I cannot sufficiently express the infinite regret with which their Sicilian Majesties have learnt your determination of quitting your Command in the Mediterranean, and of going to England this winter for the re-establishment of your health. Their Sicilian Majesties are in this not more concerned for your indisposition, than they are anxious from the evil effects which they apprehend must ensue to their interest, in consequence of your Lordship's absence from the Mediterranean. I know it is the King's intention to write to the Prince of Castelcicala, to apply to the British Government for your Lordship's speedy return to these seas, in order to resume the high Command you have hitherto exercised, with no less credit to yourself than advantage to the many Countries, whose future security rests entirely upon the skill by which a British Admiral may be enabled to maintain the superiority of the British Fleet over that of the Enemy in the Mediterranean. When such great interests are concerned, I shall not presume to dwell upon my own feelings, although I cannot but recall to your Lordship, that I only consented to depart as abruptly as I did from England, to undertake this arduous and ruinous Mission, from the expectation that my efforts to direct the councils of this Kingdom would have been seconded by your pre-eminent talents and judgment. Allow me, however, my Lord, in this emergency, to propose to your consideration a plan, concerning which I have already had much conversation with the Queen, and which, if it can be adopted, will obviate many of the misfortunes to which we should be exposed by your absence. As your Lordship's health requires that you should not be exposed to the rigours of another winter's cruize in the Gulf of Lyons, it is the sincere wish of this Court that you would spend the severe months of the year, either here or at Palermo, without abandoning your chief Command in the Mediterranean. I only do my duty in suggesting this idea to your Lordship, without venturing to press upon you the many arguments by which, I think, I could prove its expediency. You must be sensible, my Lord, that no Admiral who is not as well acquainted as yourself with the political state of these Kingdoms, or other wish to return; for where such unbounded confidence is placed, I should feel a beast not to exert myself. Long before this time, Lord Melville has fixed upon whether I am to return; or another Admiral is, most probably, at this moment upon his passage. Being on shore, either in Sicily or Naples, would not relieve my mind of the charge entrusted to me; for my thoughts would always be off Toulon, and I should feel answerable for measures which I do not direct. If the Admiralty choose to leave Sir Richard Bickerton, the Mediterranean cannot be left in the hands of a more correct and discreet Officer. I beg you will express to their Majesties my true sense of all their gracious goodness towards me; and believe me ever, my dear Sir, your most obliged and faithful I have been honoured with your Excellency's letters of August 28th, with the several inclosures respecting the conduct of the Boat of his Majesty's Sloop Bittern, in the Mole of Naples, and of the conduct of his Majesty's Schooner Renard, on the Coast of Sicily, in destroying a Privateer belonging to the Italian Republic. Your Excellency having wrote officially to his Excellency Mr. Elliot upon those subjects, which he has transmitted to me, I have sent my answers to his Excellency, who will regularly communicate them to you. But with your Excellency's leave, I will reply to such parts of your letter as his Majesty's good opinion of my conduct Eastern Countries, and of Russia can possibly act with the same effect that you can do, when there is every reason to expect that the Emperor of Russia, and perhaps even the Ottoman Porte, will utimately co-operate with us in our endeavours to set bounds to the lawless ambition of France. May my representations upon this subject not come too late, as I am certain that your departure from the Mediterranean will not less tend to encourage our Enemies, than to diminish the confidence of those friendly Powers, who look towards your Lordship's abilities as to the surest means of success. I have the honour to be, &c.-H. ELLIOT."-Original in the Elliot papers. demands that I should express that it still, and ever will be, my pride, to deserve his Majesty's continued good opinion, and I shall venture to do it with that openness, which a mind void of offence is able to do; and I rely that your Excellency will approve of what I shall say, and acquiesce in the justness of some of the observations. The trivial, although certainly irregular conduct of the Bittern's Boat, was not worth the time of your Excellency to write to a Public Minister. In the first instance, if the Captain of the Port, or Naval Officer, had gone with the complaint to Captain Malcolm, he would, in the first instance, have not only disapproved the proceeding, but reprimanded the Officer, as he has done when communicated to him, for his conduct. The searching for Deserters, or for men absent from their Ships, has in all Countries been tolerated. If improper conduct is pursued, certainly it is cause for just offence; but none is stated to have happened. All Vessels in the Mole of Naples are Neutrals, as far as relates to any of the belligerent Powers; therefore no offence could be given to either French or Dutch. It may be an irregularity, searching for absent Seamen, but it is tolerated by all Nations. Do not other Nations look for their men every day at Naples? Certainly they do. But it is my wish to have our conduct so correct, that envy and malice itself should not be able to find fault with us, and to contrast our conduct with that of French Armed Vessels, in the Mole of Naples, to the British Officers and Men. I have sent Mr. Elliot the Officer's Report of his destroying the Privateer upon the Coast of Sicily, and I have already directed a strict inquiry into the transaction; for although the conduct of the Enemy's Privateers is so infamous, and in defiance of all laws of Neutrality, yet their doing wrong is no rule why we should. There is a general principle which I have laid down for the regulation of the Officers' conduct under my command-which is never to break the Neutrality of any Port or place. But never to consider as Neutral any place from whence an attack is allowed to be made,-the attacker forfeits all Neutrality. The result of this inquiry shall be sent to Naples as soon as possible; and I beg leave to request that your Excellency will assure his Sicilian Majesty, that the strictest justice shall be done, as far as is in the power of your Excellency's most obedient, humble servant, NELSON AND Bronte. TO HIS EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT, ESQ. [Autograph, in the Elliot Papers.] My dear Sir, Victory, October 7th, 1804. As I send you my answer to Chevalier Micheroux's letter, it will not be necessary to enter into any detail of my opinions to your Excellency. The fault of the Bittern's Officer' was nothing, if he conducted himself properly. It is an irregularity committed by all Nations, every day, in every Port. But certainly Captain Malcolm's reprimand was full and ample for every hurt which the foot of a British Officer could do, in trampling upon the deck of a French or Dutch Ship. I certainly wish nothing to be done, which could in any manner commit the good King of Naples with the French. They wish for nothing better. I send your Excellency Lieutenant Spencer's letter. I have not approved of his conduct; for although I have no doubt but that this Vessel would have committed herself, yet as she does not appear to have done it, under that presumption Mr. Spencer was hasty. This Privateer has before, I dare say, broke the Neutrality; at least, I hope, for Mr. Spencer's sake, that it will appear so in the inquiry I have ordered. The conduct of the French in Sicily, and of many of the Governors, has been shameful. Nothing would prevent their being complained of, but the consideration of the very delicate situation of his Sicilian Majesty. I am, my dear Sir, your most faithful servant, NELSON AND Bronte. With respect to the Neapolitan Vessels taken near Especia, 1 In the afternoon of the 23rd of August, 1804, an Officer and Boat's crew, armed with cutlasses, belonging to the Bittern, went on board of three Dutch Vessels in the Mole at Naples, in search of four deserters; but not finding them, they proceeded to a French Brig, the Master of which having positively refused to allow his Vessel to be examined, without an order from the French Ambassador, the Officer returned to the Bittern for further orders. Nothing more, however, took place. Vide p. 215, ante. it is not the direct road to Barcelona; and how little must the Chevalier know of our just laws, to think that either you, or I, or even the King, dare to communicate with a Judge. Justice will be done, be it for or against the captor of these Vessels. TO HIS EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT, ESQ. Private. [Autograph, in the Elliot Papers.] Victory, October 7th, 1804. Doctor Scott is delighted with your kind attention to him. He joined us, October 3rd. The wind blows [so] strong Easterly, that nothing can leave me. I am very anxious to send your dispatches from the Secretary of State. I have been better than I am, but at this moment I am very unwell. We shall see what the Admiralty will do with me. I beg my respectful compliments to Mrs. Elliot, and believe me ever, yours most faithfully, Turn over. NELSON AND BRONTE. Your son is very well; the Amazon is with us. Pray, forward my letter to Mr. Jackson. TO HIS EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT, ESQ. My dear Sir, [Autograph, in the Elliot Papers.] Victory, October 8th, 1804. Captain Leake, Royal Artillery, who has wrote to you upon the subject of a Draftsman, is anxious that I should write you a line to mention him to your Excellency. Captain L. is very high in the confidence of Government, and employed on a Military mission, and to look about him, that we may know what is really going forward with the Russians, &c. &c. I am ever, my dear Sir, most faithfully yours, NELSON AND Bronte. VOL. VI. |