the King and Queen's letter by a Corvette of my own, which I have not been able to do till last night. Doctor Scott is translating my letters into Italian for the King, and French for the Queen.

My health has been, latterly, but very so-so, and I wish the French Fleet would give me an early opportunity of finishing my career; for I do not believe it possible for me to stand the hard service of another winter. I am ever, with the highest respect and esteem, your Excellency's most obedient servant, NELSON AND BRONTE.

Pray keep the Bomb as short a time as possible; for I am distressed enough by the non-arrival of the Termagant. You will, I am sure, take care that my letters get to the King and Queen without being opened. There is one for Acton in the King's, as he desired. William is very well on board the Amazon.

TO SIR JOHN ACTON, BART., NAPLES.

[From Clarke and M‘Arthur, vol. ii. p. 372.]

18th June, 1804.

The great change of Ministry cannot, unless it gives us Peace, which I think by no means improbable, make any alterations respecting Russia, and the assistance which our Country is in duty and honour bound to give Naples. I trust that Austria will also assist in preventing this new Charlemagne from possessing the old Empire. Monsr. La Touche came out on the 14th. I was off the Hières with five Ships; he had eight of the Line and six Frigates. In the evening he stood under Sepet again; and, I believe I may call it, we chased him into Toulon the morning of the 15th. I am satisfied he meant nothing beyond a gasconade; but am confident, when he is ordered for any service, that he will risk falling in with us, and the event of a Battle, to try and accomplish his orders. I am, &c.

NELSON AND BRONTE.

TO NATHANIEL TAYLOR, ESQ., NAVAL OFFICER, MALTA.

[Letter-Book.]

Sir,

Victory, at Sea, 18th June, 1804.

As it is impossible that any general order can apply itself to all circumstances, or shut the door of purchases when they are, from unforeseen causes, absolutely necessary, I must therefore desire that you will regard my order and letter of the 20th March last, as meant only to preclude the unnecessary purchase of stores, and to prevent any Senior Captain arriving at Malta, from giving orders to purchase stores, either for his own Ship, or general service, to which there would be no end. But I wish it to be perfectly understood, that whilst I desire the utmost regard to be had to prevent the unnecessary purchase of stores, his Majesty's Ships or Vessels arriving at Malta in want of repairs must not be delayed on any account. You will, consequently, after having acquainted the Senior Officer with the deficiency of the Stores under your charge, procure his approbation for the purchase of such articles as may be absolutely wanted for the particular service of the moment, till the arrival of Store Ships, which order I will approve of, upon its being transmitted to me for that purpose. I am, &c.,

NELSON AND BRONTE.

N.B.-If you will specify the quantity of canvas purchased for the repairs of sails, as mentioned in your letter of the 17th March, an order shall be transmitted you for that purpose.

TO NATHANIEL TAYLOR, ESQ., NAVAL OFFICER, MALTA.

[Letter-Book.]

Sir,

Victory, at Sea, 18th June, 1804.

For the very great want of slops for the different Ships of the Fleet under my command, I must desire, as there is none in the stores under your charge, that you will purchase a sufficient quantity of Malta cotton, of the quality and width

of the enclosed pattern, to make five thousand banyans, and five thousand pairs of trowsers. The quantity required to make each banyan and pair of trowsers to be cut out at Malta, and the necessary quantity of thread, with four moulds for each, put up with them; and I must also desire that you will send a particular account of the price of each banyan and pair of trowsers, including thread, (of which plenty must be sent,) and moulds, to me, that the distinct charge of each article may be entered on the respective Ship's Books. It must be remembered, that if the cotton so purchased is not agreeable to the pattern, it will be returned, without any allowance being made for it. I am, &c.

NELSON AND BRONTE.

TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY.

[Letter-Book.]

Sir,

Victory, at Sea, 20th June, 1804.

As there is doubt that the late Private Signals, established for his Majesty's Brigs, Cutters, Luggers, &c., on this station, commanded by Lieutenants, were taken in the Swift Cutter, I herewith transmit you a Sheet of Signals altered on the 10th instant, and issued to the different Ships under my command, which you will please to lay before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, in order that their Lordships may direct Lieutenants commanding Vessels of the above description sent to this Country, to be furnished with them previous to their leaving England. I am, &c.

NELSON AND BRONTE.

TO CAPTAIN RICHARD HUSSEY MOUBRAY, H. M. SHIP ACTIVE.

[Order-Book.]

Victory, at Sea, 20th June, 1804.

Whereas it is my intention to intercept and cut off all commerce between Italy and the Enemy's Ports at Marseilles

On the 23rd of June, Captain Donnelly, in the Narcissus, was ordered to relieve the Active on this service; and that Ship was directed to join Lord Nelson immediately.-Order Book.

and Toulon, You are hereby required and directed to take his Majesty's Ships named in the margin under your command, and proceed with them immediately to the Hières Islands, where you will anchor, or cruise between that and Cape Taillat, as you may from circumstances judge most likely to fall in with and destroy the Enemy's commerce, or any of their Vessels of War which may accompany it. The strictest attention, however, must be paid, and a good lookout kept on all occasions upon the Enemy, that you are not surprised by a superior force; and I must also desire that you endeavour to keep the Squadron, which I am about to proceed with off Toulon, as much as possible in sight, and endeavour to communicate with me by Boat, or otherwise send a Brig, once in forty-eight hours, at least; and should the Enemy come out in force, and you judge that they intend to bring on an Action, you will immediately join me with the Ships under your command.

NELSON AND Bronte.

TO HIS EXCELLENCY MR. JACKSON.

[From Clarke and M‘Arthur, vol. ii. p. 373.]

[About 20th June, 1804.]

I have been favoured with your account of what had passed at Cività Vecchia, respecting a Spanish Vessel detained by an English Privateer. The conduct of all Privateers is, as far as I have seen, so near piracy, that I only wonder any civilized Nation can allow them. The lawful as well as unlawful commerce of the Neutral flag is subject to every violation and spoliation; but I do not believe that any Foreign Power can make itself a judge, whether the detention be legal or not. The Spanish Consul, if he thought the conduct of the English Privateer wrong by an unjust detention, had only to apply to the Court of Vice-Admiralty at Gibraltar or Malta. You know, my dear Sir, that no person in our Country can interfere with the laws. I am always sorry when unpleasant circumstances arise. You will see by the enclosed papers, the supposed improper conduct of the Papal

Amazon, Maidstone, Thunder, Childers, Cameleon.

Government at Ancona; but I do not enter into the subject, for I cannot be a judge by only hearing one side. I admit the very unpleasant situation of the Papal Government; for I am well aware, if they were just in their Neutrality, that Buonaparte would take Rome from his Holiness, as he has done before: I have always directed the Neutrality of the Papal State to be attended to. I am, &c.

NELSON AND Bronte.

DISPOSITION OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS AND VESSELS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN STATION, UNDER THE COMMAND OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD NELSON, K.B., DUKE OF BRONTE.

[Letter-Book.]

Victory, off Toulon, 21st June, 1804.

Victory, Royal Sovereign, Canopus, Donegal, Belleisle, Triumph, Leviathan, Renown, Seahorse, Active, Amazon, Maidstone, Childers, Cameleon, Thunder-Bomb-Cruizing with the Commander-in-Chief off Toulon.

Medusa, Amphion-Cruizing outside the Straits for the protection of our Trade bound into the Mediterranean, and the destruction of the Enemy's Privateers and Cruisers, to continue on this service until further orders, under Captain Gore.

Halcyon, La Sophie-Ordered to cruize between Ceuta and Cape Spartel for the protection of our Trade in the Straits of Gibraltar, and destruction of the Enemy's Privateers and Cruisers-affording Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Trigge every assistance he may require for the health and comfort of the Garrison. To continue on this service till relieved, under the Senior Officer's orders.

Anson, Arrow, Bittern, Morgiana, Jalouse-Cruising from the mouth of the Archipelago along the Adriatic, as far as Ancona, for the purpose of keeping the Adriatic open to the Trade of his Majesty's Subjects, and to prevent the Enemy from sending Troops into the Morea: to afford every protection to our Trade, and to appoint Convoys, not only from Malta up the Adriatic, but also to bring the Trade from