Cutter. Expecting your Lordship's answer, I did not, of course, commence hostilities against the Dey's Cruizers. I meant that the 28th of April was about the time of their sailing, and when an effective blow might be struck. I do not think the Dey has ventured to send his Cruizers to sea.

to measures of decided hostility. By personal communication with Mr. Falcon, the fact of the Moorish women having been found in his house, is clearly established; but from the representation of that gentleman, no doubt can be entertained of their having been introduced without his knowledge. As, however, it is understood that the women themselves, as well as a French servant belonging to Mr. Falcon, have been induced to declare that Mr. Falcon and his Secretary, were the persons on whose account they were admitted into the house of the Consul, the conduct of the Dey, with reference to the prejudices of the Moorish people, may admit of some degree of palliation, although it is not possible for him to justify the insult offered to his Majesty's Representative, by the abrupt manner in which he was sent away from Algiers. Under this impression, and in consequence of Mr. Falcon's representation since his return to England, intimating that many circumstances had occurred, which were calculated to render him peculiarly obnoxious to the Dey; and as the Dey has signified his readiness to receive any other person whom his Majesty might think proper to nominate as his Consul at Algiers, his Majesty's Ministers are of opinion that your Lordship should, with the least possible delay, take such measures as shall appear to you most proper, for causing it to be signified to the Dey that your Lordship might be induced to interpose your good offices with his Majesty's Government, for the purpose of having the appointment of Consul conferred upon some other person, provided the Dey shall, in the first instance, express his concern for the disrespect which had been shown to the accredited Agent of his Majesty, in the person of Mr. Falcon; and provided, likewise, that the Maltese inhabitants captured by the Algerine Cruizers, and held in slavery at Algiers, be restored, as also their Vessels and cargoes, or a pecuniary compensation made for the damages sustained by their detention. If the communication of such a favourable disposition on the part of your Lordship, should fail to produce the effect that might reasonably be expected from it, it will then become necessary that the Dey should be made to feel that the power of punishment for the insult offered by him, is equal to the moderation and forbearance that have been observed towards him; and I have an entire confidence that your Lordship will so regulate your proceedings, as to be able to take the most effectual measures for that purpose. Inclosed I send your Lordship a copy of the Treaty of the 19th of March, 1801, entered into by his Majesty's Agent and Consul-General, Mr. Falcon, and his Highness Mustapha Dey, Bashaw and Governor of Algiers, by which your Lordship will observe that, from the 7th of December 1800, the inhabitants of the Island of Malta are to be treated upon the same footing as the rest of his Majesty's subjects. I have the honour to be, &c.-HOBART."—Original.

Copy of the Treaty enclosed in the preceding Letter :—

"Whereas the Island of Malta, in the Mediterranean Sea, has been conquered by his Britannic Majesty's arms, it is now hereby agreed, and fully concluded, between John Falcon, Esquire, his Britannic Majesty's Agent and Consul-General for the City and Kingdom of Algier, and his Highness Mustapha Dey, Bashaw and Governor, &c. &c. of Algier, that from the seventh day of December last, 1800, the inhabitants thereof shall be treated upon the same footing as the rest of his

TO CAPTAIN ROBERT PETTET, H. M. SLOOP TERMAGANT.

[Order-Book.]

Victory, at Sea, 1st June, 1804. You are hereby required and directed to receive my public dispatches on board his Majesty's Sloop Termagant, under your command, and proceed with them to Naples with as little delay as possible; and on your arrival there, you will deliver them to his Excellency Hugh Elliot, Esq., his Majesty's Minister at that Court, acquainting him that you are directed to wait for his answers, and such dispatches as he may have to forward to me (which I hope will not detain you long). Having received Mr. Elliot's answers to my letters, you will return and join me on Rendezvous No. 102, without a moment's loss of time, where you will find the Squadron, or orders for your further proceedings.

Memorandum.

NELSON AND BRONTE.

If the weather permits, you have my permission to pass on the East side of the Island of Corsica, in your way to Naples, in order to intercept a French twenty-gun Ship, which I have received information is cruizing on that coast.

NELSON AND BRONTE.

TO HIS EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT, ESQ.

[Autograph, in the Elliot Papers. "Friday, 1st June. At 6 A.M., Cape Sicie bore N. b W. W., distant 5 leagues. At 11, a Ship of the Line and one Frigate of the Enemy's under sail, near Cape Sepet."-Victory's Log.]

Victory, June 1st, 1804.

My dear Sir, I was honoured by the Gibraltar with your Excellency's letters of May 6th, and I have read with much interest (now and then with sorrow) their contents. The politics of Europe will probably so completely turn upon a Monarchical Government being again formed in France, that I believe no one can guess what the two Emperors of Russia and Germany will do. If they acknowledge Napoleon as their brother, there is no great honour in being allied to their family; but I think in that case it will give us peace. If they will not call him

brother (Gracious Heaven! thy ways are hid from man!) Jack Corse brother to two Emperors! then I suppose we shall have a general War. Either way, it must benefit both England and Naples. The French papers tell us of the great probability of a change of Ministry. It is certain they cannot carry on the business of the Nation with only a majority of thirty-seven in the House of Commons; and I rather think in the House of Lords they will be in a minority, But most likely you know these matters sooner than we do. I had a line from Mr. Frere of May 2nd. In answer to mine respecting the probability of a Spanish War, he says-viz., 'Not having my cipher at hand, I can only say that I think you need not be influenced by the apprehensions which you mention:' therefore, I should think that Mr. Frere would hardly wilfully lead me into a blind security. He would take a severe responsibility if he did.

I

I observe what you say about 888. You may safely rely that I never trust a Corsican or a Frenchman. I would give the devil ALL the good ones to take the remainder. am close off Toulon, with Victory, Canopus, Donegal, Belleisle, and Excellent, in hopes to tempt Mr. La Touche out of Port. Sir Richard Bickerton I have sent to another station. The French have eight Sail of the Line in the Outer Road, and six Frigates, and two or three of the Line in the Inner Road. I must try and finish my career before winter; for I have not an idea of being able to encounter such another as the last. You may be assured his Sardinian Majesty shall want no support in my power to give him. The answer of Russia is unworthy a great Emperor to a little King, whom he pretends to protect; but such things are. [Believe] at least, that I am, with the truest respect and esteem, your Excellency's most obedient and faithful Servant,

NELSON AND Bronte.

A change of Administration had taken place on the 12th of May, when Mr. Pitt succeeded Mr. Addington as Prime Minister; Earl Camden became Secretary of State for the War Department; and the new Board of Admiralty consisted of Viscount Melville (First Lord); Sir Philip Stephens, Bart.; Vice Admiral James Gambier; Captain Sir Harry Burrard Neale, Bart.; Admiral Sir John Colpoys, K.B.; Vice Admiral Philip Patton; and William Dickenson, Esq. Of these Members, Sir Philip Stephens and Sir Harry Burrard Neale had belonged to the preceding Board; and the former had been a Lord of the Admiralty since March 1795.

TO HIS EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT, ESQ.

[Autograph, in the Elliot Papers.]

My dear Sir, Victory, June 1st, 1804. I have taken your son William out of the Gibraltar, and Captain Parker of the Amazon has been so good as to take him in that Ship, when she next joins. The Gibraltar is too large for him. I am sure he will make a Seaman : his bent lays that way, and his real good sense is rarely met with in any age of life. Captain Ryves sailed yesterday for Gibraltar -I am sure, fully impressed with the kindness of their Majesties, your Excellency, and Sir John Acton towards him. With respect to the conduct of the Gibraltar, I trust every English Ship of War will conduct herself equally well. I wonder that General Acton should for one moment believe the professions of General St. Cyr, more especially coming through the mouth of Micheroux, who I know of old. Did the French ever appear friendly, but for the purpose of more readily destroying those whom they can cajole? This word is English, although it writes very bad. I have more fears for Naples and Sicily than Malta.

I have not mentioned any time in Captain Pettet's orders, but I rely that your Excellency will not keep him many days. I am so distressed for Small Craft, that I do not know which way to turn to send a letter. I am ever, my dear Sir, your much obliged friend, NELSON AND BRONTE.

When your Excellency sees the Prince Trebbia, pray tell him that I thank him for his polite letter, and that I would have wrote to him, but that my Italian writer (Doctor Scott) is gone to Spain. I beg my respectful compliments to Mrs. Elliot.

TO LADY HAMILTON.

[From "Lord Nelson's Letters to Lady Hamilton," vol. ii. p. 48.]

Victory, June 6th, 1804.

Since I wrote you, my dearest Emma, on the 30th and 31st May, nothing new has happened; except our hearing the

Mr. William Elliot, so frequently mentioned, obtained the rank of Lieutenant, and died young.

feu-de-joie at Toulon, for the declaration of Emperor. What a capricious Nation those French must be ! However, I think, it must, in any way, be advantageous to England. There ends, for a century, all Republics! By Vessels from Marseilles, the French think it will be a Peace; and they say, that several of their Merchant-Ships are fitting out. I earnestly pray, that it may be so; and, that we may have a few years of rest. I rather believe my antagonist at Toulon begins to be angry with me: at least, I am trying to make him so; and then, he may come out, and beat me, as he says he did, off Boulogne. He is the Admiral that went to Naples in December 1792 [1793], La Touche Tréville, who landed the Grenadier." I owe him something for that.

I am better, my dear Emma, than I have been, and shall get through the summer very well; and I have the pleasure to tell you, that Charles is very much recovered. There is no more the matter with his intellects than with mine! Quite the contrary; he is very quick. Mr. Scott, who has overlooked all his things, says his clothes, &c. are in the highest order he has ever seen. I shall place him in the Niger, with Captain Hillyar, when he joins; but, all our Ships are so full, that it is very difficult to get a berth for one in any Ship. Would you conceive it possible! but, it is now from April 2nd, since I have heard direct from Ball. The average time for a Frigate to go and return, is from six to seven weeks. From you, had letters, April 5th, and the papers to April 8th, received May 10th, with a Convoy. This goes through friend Gayner. Sir William Bolton joined last night; and received his letters, announcing his being called papa. He is got a very fine young man and good Officer. Lord St. Vincent has desired he may have the first Admiralty vacancy for Post; but nobody will die or go home. Apropos! I believe, you should buy a piece of plate, value fifty pounds, for our god-daughter of Lady Bolton; and something of twenty or thirty pounds' value, for Colonel Suckling's......

Log.

I

Sunday, 3rd June, 7 P.M. "The Ships in Toulon fired a salute."-Victory's

"The last visit the King of Naples had, was from a French Grenadier belonging to Monsr. Truguet's Fleet, threatening him with War if he did not, within an hour, disavow his remonstrances against the reception of Monsieur Sémonville at Constantinople." Vide Nelson's Letter, 7th-11th September, 1798, vol. i. p. 223.