TO LADY NELSON, BATH. [Autograph in the possession of Peter Smith, Esq.] April 1st, 1798. My dearest Fanny, We put to sea this morning with the Convoy, but the wind at noon came to the Westward, which obliged us to return to St. Helen's: thus have I lost the finest East wind that has blown this year, and there can be no guess when we may have another; so much for Admiralty delays: however, I shall not go out of the Ship unless upon duty, and get off as soon as possible. My place is tolerably comfortable, but do not shine in servants. A Captain Peyton, a fellow-traveller of yours, is a passenger with me, as are two Land Officers for Gibraltar. Captain P. is going to the Defence in the room of Captain Wells. The Matchams, I think, are getting to Bath sooner than they first intended; but whatever may be other people's opinions, I am clear it is right you should be in your own cottage. May God Almighty bless your most affectionate you, will ever be the fervent prayer HORATIO NELSON. husband, of TO LADY NELSON. [Autograph in the possession of the Editor.] My dearest Fanny, St. Helens, April 3rd, 1798. The wind still continues as foul as it can blow, but as I am now fixed on board, it is my intention not to move out of the Ship, to which I begin to be reconciled. As to news, you look I cannot tell you a word beyond my own Ship. If at Queen Square Chapel, it will tell you to write or not, but on the sealed side of the letter write,-If the Vanguard is sailed, to be returned to Lady Nelson, Bath.' I can only, my dear Fanny, repeat, what I hope you know, that you are uppermost in my thoughts.-With my kindest love to my father, believe me your most affectionate HORATIO NELSON. I cannot find my black stock and buckle. weights for your scales are on board this Ship. Kitty, my Sister, Mr. Matcham, &c. I find the TO LADY NELSON, BATH. [Autograph in the possession of the Editor.] St. Helens, April 5th, 1798. Pray, my dear Fanny, did you put up the three Portugal pieces-joes? for if you did, they cannot be found. If they are not sent, so much the better. My black stock and buckle has not vet appeared, nor are the keys of my dressing-stand sent. If they were left with the stand in London, the man has neglected to park them up. I can do very well without these things, but it is a satisfaction to mention them. All my passengers are gone on Shore till the wind comes fair; but I shall, if possible, remain fast on board. We have had very blowing weather, and there seems no prospect of a chance of wind. My barometer told me the weather would be bad. So far it answers, and I find an amusement in attending to it. A gentleman is just going on shore, who takes this letter: therefore I can only say, God bless you, my father, &c.-Your ever affectionate HORATIO NELSON. TO LADY NELSON, BATH. (Autograph.] My dearest Fanny, St. Helens, April 76., 1798, Wind S.W. I have looked over my linen, and find it very different to your list in the articles as follows:-thirteen silk pocket handkerchiefs: only six new, five old. Thirteen cambric ditto: I have sixteen. Twe're cravats: I have only eleven. Six Genoa velvet stocks: I have only three. You have put down thirty huckaback towels: I have from 1 to 10. Eleven is missing from 11 to 22. that is. Nos. 12 and 21; therefore there is missing No. 11-22, and to 30:-Ten in all. I only hope and believe they have not been sent. I do not want them. Have you the two eld pieces of gold which my father gave me, for I have them not? and yet I am pretty positive I brought them home: if you have them not, they are lust. When my print comes out, you must send one to Captain James Macnamara: if directed at Sir Peter Parker's, be will be sure to get it, and he is very anxious about it. My health never was better, and only wishing for a fair Wind. God bless you. HORATIO NELSON. Have received only one letter: love to all. TO THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT. Aztograph in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bar, G.C.B. This Letter is imperfectly printed in vol. p. 13.) My dear Lord, Vanguard, 6th May, 1798. This Ship is complete, as is Orion. Alexander will be ready to-morrow at noon, and the Terpsichore and Bonne Citoyenne, who arrived this day, will be ready by to-morrow night; that is, I have ordered them to weigh with me on Tuesday morning. Thompson regrets not going with me. he is an active young man. Sir John Orde will know by his eye what Ships go with me, therefore I shall show him the list. I do not believe any person guesses where I am going. It shall go hard but I will present you at least with some Frigates, and I hope something better. I shall pick up Caroline off Cape Palos, round Minorca, get in sight of the Coast towards Barcelona, and get in the straight line between Cape St. Sebastian's and Toulon; there I shall get information enough to regulate my further proceedings; and as I take Frigates, shall send one to have charge of each, and keeping the large Ships complete, to fight, I hope, larger ones. God bless you. Ever your most affectionate HORATIO NELSON. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. [Autograph in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B.] My dear Lord, Be assured I will fight the French Fleet the moment I can find them: till then adieu, yours truly, 17th May, 1798. HORATIO NELSON. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. [Autograph in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B.] My dear Lord, Vanguard, May 31st, 1798, continued to June 15th. That the accidents which have happened to the Vanguard were a just punishment for my consummate vanity, I most humbly acknowledge, and kiss the rod which chastised me. I hope it has made me a better Officer, as I believe it has made me a better man. On the Sunday evening I thought myself in every respect one of the most fortunate men, to command such a Squadron in such a place, and my pride was too great for man; but I trust my friends will think that I bore my chastisement like a man; and it has pleased God to assist us with His favour, in our exertions to refit the Vanguard, and here I am again off Toulon. I hope to find the Frigates on the Rendezvous. It is extraordinary that all of them should have parted by accident; but I am afraid it is too common a trick of Officers in Frigates. June 11th.-Mutine joined me on the 5th at daylight, having the flattering account of the honour you intended me of commanding such a Fleet. Mutine fell in with Alcmene off Barcelona on the 2nd. Hope had taken all my Frigates .off the Rendezvous, on the presumption that a Ship, which had lost her fore-mast, must return to an Arsenal. I thought Hope would have known me better. I joined dear Troubridge on the 7th, but it has been nearly calm ever since, which grieves me sorely. Captain Thompson tells me he wrote you a line by Alexander's prize, which parted from Alexander before Ball came down to me. The French have a long start, but I hope they will rendezvous in Telamon Bay; for the 12,000 men from Genoa, in 100 Sail of Vessels, escorted by a Frigate, had not sailed on the 2nd, nor were all the Troops embarked. You may be assured I will fight them the moment I can reach, be they at an anchor or under Sail. Being so close to the Enemy, I take the liberty of keeping Orion for a few days, as the Enemy are eighteen Sail of the Line. You did not give me an order to hold Courts-Martial. I shall be obliged to you to send one, dated either the day I left you, or that Troubridge did. On that presumption, if anything very extraordinary should happen, I shall order Courts to be held, but not otherwise. June 12th.-As I see no immediate prospect of a letter, I shall continue my private one in form of a Diary, which may not be unpleasant to refer to. Therefore to begin :-Passed Cape Corse this morning at 4, a calm: the moment we passed, sent the Mutine to look into Telamon Bay. Intend to pass between Monte Christi and Gulio with the Squadron, and to keep the Continent close on board. June 13th.-Passed between Monte Christi and Gulio. Mutine joined. Nothing in Telamon Bay. June 14th.-Spoke a Tunisian Cruizer, who saw the French Fleet off Trepano in Sicily, on the 4th of June, steering to the Eastward. He thinks about 200 Sail. June 15th.-Off the Ponzo Islands. Shall send Troubridge into Naples in the Mutine to talk with Sir William Hamilton and General Acton; but as it is my intention to make sail the moment Captain T. returns, therefore I must refer you to Sir William Hamilton for what I am ignorant of. I only beg that your Lordship will believe that I shall endeavour to prove myself worthy your selection of me for this highly honourable Command; and be assured that I feel myself your much obliged HORATIO NELSON. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT. [Copy in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B.] (Private.) My dear Lord, Vanguard, Syracuse, July 22nd, 1798. I have very many letters and papers to send you, but as I have no Frigate to send, and at this moment cannot think it right to send Orion, you will feel for my situation. I am as completely ignorant of the French Fleet as the day I left Cape Passaro. This I am clear in, that on Monday the 18th of June, the Fleet began to come out of the harbour of Malta. By Tuesday night they were all out; and on Wednesday morning they were seen with a strong wind at W.N.W. steering before it. This has been proved to me by fourteen persons. Beyond this, all is conjecture. Had they gone to the Westward, I rest confident every Port and point of Sicily would have had information for me. I dare not say more, for I am sure we are betrayed, and it is far from impossible but this letter may never get to Naples. At least, I expect the French Minister will copy it; therefore I here assure him, that if it is possible, I will get at the French Fleet. Ours is without a sick man. I have detailed every circumstance even to my thoughts. God bless you.-Ever your faithful HORATIO NELSON. Our treatment in the Sicilian Ports is shameful. If they had the force, this Governor says they are bound by their orders to prevent our entry. Acton promised to send orders. None has been sent. What [do you] think of this? REAR-ADMIRAL SIR HORATIO NELSON'S RENDEZVOUS. [Copy in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B.] Vanguard, Syracuse, 22nd July, 1798. B. Alexandretta. D. Cyprus. f. Alexandria. A. Rhodes. C. Dardanelles. Z. Smyrna. W. Canea, in Candia. X. Syracuse. M. Naples. N. Towards the Adriatic. O. West End of Sicily. |