TO SIR ALEXANDER JOHN BALL, BART., MALTA. [Autograph in the possession of Sir William Keith Ball, Bart.] Victory, October 11th, 1805. My dear Ball, From the tenor of the letter addressed to you, you will see that I have had much communication with His Majesty's Ministers upon the subject of preventing Sardinia from falling into the hands of the French, which will be a severe blow upon us, for in that case, if the Enemy's Fleet get into Toulon, all the British Force in the Mediterranean must be occupied in turning them out of it, that our Fleet might have a place to resort to in order to watch Toulon, but I much fear that at this moment it may be lost. I hope something permanent may be soon, in concert with Russia, settled about that most important of all stations. I want that we should have a great weight in the Mediterranean; and although I believe I have made a very considerable impression on the minds of Mr. Pitt, Lords Mulgrave and Castlereagh, of the very great importance of fixing ourselves in the Mediterranean, yet perhaps that may wear off by absence; however, I must say they received all my little knowledge with much. attention. The sum entrusted to my disposal is small, but perhaps enough to show the Country that a British Admiral can assist them if they are disposed to resist the French, but at this distance I may never have occasion to use any of the money; but as I wrote to His Royal Highness the Viceroy by the Thunder, telling him that I had mentioned his want of money to His Majesty's Ministers, I shall hear what he says when that Vessel returns, and communicate it to you. And believe me ever, with the highest respect and esteem, my dear Ball, your most faithful and obliged friend, NELSON AND Bronte. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original in the Admiralty.] Victory, off Cadiz, 11th October, 1805. You will be pleased to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that His Majesty's Ship Renommée joined the Fleet under my command yesterday evening, and that the moment L'Aimable joins, I shall order the money on board the Royal Sovereign and Defiance to be put on board the said two Frigates, and direct them to proceed to Gibraltar, where a proportion of it will be put on board the Aurora, and the said three Frigates be directed to proceed to Malta with the Convoy under their charge. I shall, the moment they are ready, order an Admiral with a Squadron of the Line to see them safe past Carthagena, when I shall consider them perfectly free from all danger of capture by the Enemy; and the instant the money is landed at Malta, I shall direct Sir Thomas Livingstone', with the Renommée and L'Aimable, to return and join me immediately, bringing with him any Trade that may be ready, within two or three days, under his protection to Gibraltar. I am, Sir, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original in the Admiralty.] Victory, off Cadiz, 12th October, 1805. You will be pleased to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that in consequence of the Britannia and Prince having left England a Lieutenant short of their complements, I have appointed Mr. John Barclay to the former and Mr. John Bingham' to the latter; and in consequence of my having appointed Lieutenant Moubray (who was intended for the Colossus) to the Polyphemus in the room of Lieutenant Alexander Gordon invalided, as mentioned in my letter to you of the 5th inst., I have given an order to Mr. William Forster', Midshipman of this Ship, to be Acting-Lieutena in the Colossus; and as those three gentlemen are Admiralty recommendations, I hope their Lordships will be pleased to Vide p. 84, ante. 7 Captain Sir Thomas Livingstone, Bart., now a Vice-Admiral of the White. • Mr. John Barclay, now a Retired Commander. 9 Lieutenant John Bingham, now a Retired Commander. 1 Mr. William Forster, a first cousin of Captain Sir Edward and Lady Berry : he died of wounds received at Trafalgar ; vide vol. v. p. 259. VOL. VII. I approve of and confirm their appointments. I have likewise, at Captain Fremantle's wish, and the request of Lieutenant Green' of the Eurydice, removed that Officer into the Neptune, she being also a Lieutenant short of her complement, and given Mr. Henry Jones, Master's Mate of the Victory, an order to act in the Eurydice in his room; and as this is a very valuable Officer of great abilities and merit, I venture to solicit their Lordships' attention to him, and to request that you will be pleased to move them to confirm his appointment. I am, Sir, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO VICE-ADMIRAL COLLINGWOOD. [Autograph in the possession of the Hon. Mrs. Newnham Collingwood.] My dear Coll., Victory, October 12th, 1805. Sir John Thomas Duckworth comes out in the Acasta Frigate, to hoist his Flag, of course in the Prince of Wales, which Ship was ordered for Sir Richard Bickerton. I have wrote fully to Sir Robert on the subject, and have begged Commissioner Otway to carry it, in case Sir Robert chooses to open: he has an ordeal to pass through which I fear he little expects. The Admiralty could not do less than call your conduct judicious. Every body in England admired your adroitness in not being forced unnecessarily into the Straits. I send you the last papers: return them, as I mean to send them to Ball. Sutton is invalided: he is very unwell. Hoste has Amphion, and Sir William Bolton, Eurydice. Amphion will take Royal Sovereign's money to Gibraltar, and put it on board the Aurora, and then proceed to Algiers with the letters and presents. L'Aimable will take the money from Defiance, and with Renommée go to Malta with the Aurora's Convoy; and whatever Admiral is in the Mediterranean will be directed to 2 Now Captain Sir Andrew Pellett Green, K.C.H., Naval Aide-de-Camp to the Queen. This gallant Officer was afterwards Flag-Captain to Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Francis Fremantle, G.C.B., who commanded the Neptune at Trafalgar. 3 Lieutenant Henry Jones was made a Commander in 1809, and died in that rank about 1829. see them safe clear of Carthagena. Defence, if she has done with the Transports, will go and relieve Mars and Colossus. Ever yours faithfully, NELSON AND BRONTE. Signal will be made when Royal Sovereign is to send the money; probably not to-day. If I find Prince and Britannia cannot move faster, I shall direct them to keep to windward, then the Lee Line can be kept up. I am sure you felt for poor Dreadnought's movements yesterday*. TO VICE-ADMIRAL COLLINGWOOD. [Autograph in the possession of the Hon. Mrs. Newnham Collingwood.] My dear Coll., 5 October 12th, 1805. Hope tells me that he has all the provisions except a few casks of oatmeal, which they do not want: therefore I sent him to relieve Mars and Colossus. They have both things in the Belleisle. If you will take the trouble of ordering the tar and blocks to be delivered to the Ships, I shall be glad. The tar may soon be disposed of; and if you find the blocks troublesome to deliver, send them into Gibraltar. There are some ridiculous forms in the Sick and Hurt Department. The Survey may not be necessary, but as the Dispenser has desired it, I think he will not comply with the demand without knowing the remains. I have just received the Surgeon's very improper letter, and I send you a public answer. Ever, my dear Coll., yours faithfully, NELSON AND BRONTE. In reply to this letter, Vice-Admiral Collingwood wrote on the same day :"Dreadnought, October 12th, 1805. "I am grieved whenever I think of Sir Robert Calder's case. I think he must be aware of his situation, and feels more about it than he chooses should appear. I wish he was in England, because I think he wants a calm adviser" In reference to Lord Nelson's disparagement of the Dreadnought, the gallant Admiral, with true nautical affection for the Ship in which he happened to serve, said in her defence :-"The Dreadnought certainly sails very ill, but it is her only fault; for no Ship is better manned, and in every respect better conditioned." * Captain George Hope, of the Defence: he died a Rear-Admiral of the Red, and a Knight Commander of the Bath, in May 1818. TO VICE-ADMIRAL COLLINGWOOD. [Autograph in the possession of the Hon. Mrs. Newnham Collingwood.] My dear Coll., Victory, October 13th, 1805. As Ships go into Gibraltar, their sails and rigging will be made good: therefore, although a few stores may be sent for, sails in particular, for those we cannot do without, yet it is impossible to comply with Ships' demands out at sea. As the Ships arrive, more will be sent in. All French Pilots to be sent to England. The Rochefort Squadron has been seen in Latitude 41° 43′ near Oporto, with several Prizes with them. If they cannot get to Vigo I should not be [surprized] if they push for the Mediterranean, or try to get into Cadiz, unless they go into Lisbon. Upon looking at the chart I see they can get into Vigo. The Oporto Convoy is, I fear, taken, and Agamemnon and L'Aimable had a narrow chance. Ever, my dear Coll., yours most faithfully, NELSON and Bronte. Sails, canvass, and twine is almost the only thing we can desire at the approaching season to be sent out, or some other trifling things. Swiftsure must soon go in to water. Sir, TO WILLIAM MARSDEN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original in the Admiralty.] Victory, off Cadiz, 13th October, 1805. I have received by the Agamemnon your letter of the 1st inst., acquainting me that the Transports appointed to convey the Forty-second and Seventy-eighth Regiments to Gibraltar, are intended to bring back three Regiments at present in that Garrison, and signifying to me their Lordships' direction to furnish a proper Convoy for the said Transports on their return to England. In answer to which you will be pleased to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admi The following note was written on this letter, and apparently by Lord Collingwood:-"A look-out Brig reconnoitered the Squadron while the Rochefort Ships were at no great distance without. They wished to get into Cadiz, but would not venture to pass the Fleet." |