much longer; he will go to the Channel: he will be the richest Admiral that England ever had, and I one of the poorest. Bravo! I can only touch upon different topics; for it would take hours and hours to tell by mouth all I should like to do. Mr. Elliot seems alarmed at Naples, and, I fear, will leave his post. However, I have ventured to touch upon the importance and probable consequences of such a measure; but I have done it with delicacy, and with all the deference and respect due to his rank; but he is got frightened. The loss of the Raven has been great, both as to Vessel and dispatches. I shall have an opportunity of hearing and writing to you once more before my departure; therefore, I shall only assure you that I am ever, my dear Ball, your most faithful and attached friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, in the Gulf of Palma, Sardinia, 30th March, 1805. A report having reached me of its having been stated to their Lordships, that the Ships under my command have been frequently out of the Mediterranean, since the arrival of ViceAdmiral Sir John Orde off Cadiz, I beg to assure their Lordships, upon my word of honour, that no Ship or Vessel under my command was sent out of the Mediterranean, after I received official notice from him on the 15th December last, except the Amazon, which was sent to Lisbon with my seems expected by the Admiralty from me with the small force intrusted to my command. No one, I will venture to say, can have shown more zeal and industry than I have done in the execution of an arduous duty, which, I am sorry, notwithstanding, to say, I now feel myself unequal to perform with satisfaction to my em ployers, and to my own feelings, extremely hurt by recent treatment. 66 May I, then, request of your Lordship permission to retire from a situation I owe to your goodness, and which to hold any longer, would prove me unworthy the protection I have received. In resigning my command into abler hands, possessing the confidence of the Admiralty, I shall have the satisfaction to believe I am promoting his Majesty's Service, at the same time that I am discharging a duty I owe to my Country, and to my own character. I remain, my Lord, with the strongest sense of obligation, of consideration, and esteem, your Lordship's most faithful and obedient servant.-J. ORde." * Vide p. 377, ante. dispatches. A copy of my order to Captain Parker for the performance of this service, is herewith transmitted for their Lordships' information. Not having received intimation from any quarter whatever, of Sir John Orde's being placed in the command of a Squadron off Cadiz, the instant our Minister left Madrid, I reinforced the Squadron then under Sir Richard Strachan, as much as the force under my command would permit, that the operations of the Enemy in that quarter might, as much as possible, be checked and frustrated. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND Bronte. TO COMMISSIONER OTWAY, GIBRALTAR. [Autograph, in the possession of Rear-Admiral Inglefield, C.B.] Victory, March 30th, 1805. My dear Commissioner, I received, on the 26th, all your kind communications from Malta, for which I sincerely thank you, and I am very sorry that Captain should have so far forgot himself, as to write you such an improper letter; but these young gentlemen sometimes think they have no superiors, and that their mandates are to be a law. I shall write him a public letter upon the subject, and you will receive a public letter also I hope you have had a safe and quick passage to Gibraltar. I hope long before this that the Admiralty have attended to my representations about giving Gibraltar that force, which is absolutely necessary to insure its supply of fresh provisions; and as I have not the pleasure of being known to General Fox, I wish you would tell of the absolute want of Small Craft at Malta, and that I have them not under my command, or Gibraltar should not have been neglected by me. If Sir John Orde was junior to me, I should instruct him as I have done formerly Sir Richard Strachan and Captain Gore.' I have certainly had a long trip after the French Fleet, and now we have report that their Troops embarked on Thurs day, March 21st. God send it may be true; but if they do not come forth very soon, I shall give up the hopes of meeting them, and then proceed to England. I sincerely hope that Gibraltar will escape the dreadful scourge of last autumn, and I hope General Fox has burnt down all the small houses at the back of the Town; and perhaps if half the Town went with them, it would be better for the Rock. With every good wish, I am ever, my dear Commissioner, your much obliged NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN KEATS, H.M. SHIP SUPERB. [Autograph, in the possession of the Reverend Richard Keats.] Most Private. Victory, March 30th, 1805. My dear Keats, I felt most exceedingly last night, at finding your friend Admiral Murray so exceedingly hurt at some conversation which had passed between you and him, about hammocks. I can most solemnly assure you, that so far from Admiral Murray withholding any stores from the Superb, that he would stretch the point to comply with your wishes, well knowing that in our scanty supplies you would take no more than was absolutely necessary for present use. The Superb, upon every consideration, whether I consider the value of her Captain as an Officer, or the importance of preserving her Ship's company, ought to have every comfort which the Service will possibly allow. I have, therefore, desired that Admiral Murray will get from you an account of the number of hammocks wanted to complete the Superb for Channel Service, that I may send to Naples to purchase them; and I again assure you that Admiral Murray would stretch any length which you could desire, to meet your wants and wishes. The situa tion of first Captain is certainly a very unthankful Office, for if there is a deficiency of stores, he must displease, probably, the whole Fleet; for no Ship can have her demands complied with. I wish, my dear Keats, you would turn this in your mind, and relieve Admiral Murray from the uneasiness your conversation has given him; for I will venture to say, that if he could (or ought to) show a partiality, it would be to the Superb, because her Captain husbands the stores in a most exemplary manner. You will readily conceive what I must feel upon this occasion, being most truly your most obliged and faithful friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Victory, in Palma Bay, Sardinia, 30th March, 1805. In I have received your letter of the 31st January, (together with a copy of the instructions therein mentioned,) acquainting me that their Lordships had directed Major James Weir, of the Royal Marines, to proceed to Malta, with the party named in the margin of the said letter, for the purpose of enlisting Recruits towards completing the Detachments on board the Ships under my command, and to send the overplus (if any) to England; and signifying their Lordships' direction to me to give such orders, as I may judge necessary from time to time, to carry their said instructions into effect. answer to which, you will please to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that I shall pay due obedience to their instructions communicated to me in your said letter, and that I have directed Captain Adair, of the Royal Marines, belonging to the Victory, whom I had some time ago appointed Inspecting Officer for the raising Recruits for the Marine Service, to discontinue doing so; but from the reasons stated in his letter herewith enclosed, I have permitted him to receive, from the different parts of the Mediterranean, such Recruits as his agents may have raised by his authority, and must beg you will be pleased to call their Lordships' attention to the very just statement he has made, in order that he may not only be entitled to the usual allowance made to Recruiting Officers in England, but also such remuneration for the loss he is likely to sustain by his prudent precaution, in providing such clothing for the new raised Recruits as they were likely to be in want of, immediately they were found fit for the Service, and attested. The several incidental expenses mentioned in Captain Adair's said letter cannot escape their Lordships" notice; and I must, in justice to this most excellent Officer, acquaint you, for their Lordships' information, that his zeal for the Public Service has been very great, and his exertions indefatigable, the number of Recruits he has raised, amounting to one hundred and eighty-four, as mentioned in the lists herewith transmitted, have been all stout, prime men; and my considering his Appointment as permanent, has no doubt led him to the most lively exertion, and recommended the provision he has made for their future clothing, as necessary. I therefore feel his case particularly hard, and trust their Lordships will take it into consideration, and order him such remuneration and recompence as they shall deem him entitled to. I am, Sir, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Autograph, in the possession of Mrs. Leake.] My dear Sir, Victory, March 30th, 1805. I have had the pleasure of seeing Mr. M—, who seems a well-informed gentleman; but I do not think the situation you have placed him in can be either lucrative or pleasant. The arrival of Admiral Louis will enable me to get a little rest, which I shall take as soon as I am satisfied in my own mind that the French will not put to sea. On March 25th, they either entirely disembarked their Troops, or re-embarked them I sincerely hope the latter, and, if so, I think a few days will settle all my business in the Mediterranean. I am truly sensible of all your kind attentions; and believe me, with the highest respect, your most obliged, NELSON AND BRONTE. I beg my respectful compliments to Lord and Lady Spencer when you see them. |