March 20th, off the Island of Anholt, wind at W.S.W., blowing fresh. I went on board Sir Hyde yesterday, and staid an hour. I ground out something, but there was not that degree of openness which I should have shown to my Second in Command. Hamond, in the Blanche, is gone with a Flag of Truce, and the dispatches for Mr. Drummond. We shall probably pass Cronenburg to-morrow, therefore I shall close my letters till that event is over, and direct my packet to Sir Thomas Troubridge. I have only to assure you, my dear Davison, that to the end of my life I shall ever remember all your goodness to me; and believe me, with wishing you every happiness in this life, your affectionate friend, NELSON AND Bronte, TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ. [Autograph in the possession of Colonel Davison.] 8 o'clock, March 20th, 1801. My dear Davison, Captains Foley and Hardy desire their names may be put down as subscribers to Captain Miller's monument, the same as the other Captains; for all ranks should subscribe in my opinion the same sum-that is, the Admirals so much each, the Captains so much each; but none to be begged for subscription. We are now twenty miles from Cronenburg, but the wind foul.-Ever yours, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO SIR EVAN NEPEAN, BART., ADMIRALTY. My dear Sir, [March 1801.] Troubridge tells me you will have the goodness to give or lend me a set of Charts of the Baltic. I only now long to be gone; time is precious, and every hour makes more resistance; strike quick, and home, and may we soon return victorious, is the fervent wish and shall be the hearty exertion of your faithful and obliged NELSON AND Bronte. TO CAPTAIN FANCOURT, H. M. SHIP AGAMEMNON. [Autograph in the possession of his nephew, Commander W. Norton Taylor, R.N.] My dear Sir, St. George, August 4th, 1801. You may be assured that I am sensible no blame whatever attaches itself to you or your brave Officers and men; it was an accident which we were all liable to, and I am truly sorry it should have caused you any uneasiness, as far as related to me; for I have the highest opinion of all on board my old and good Agamemnon, and I trust you will have ample revenge on the Russians; and believe me, my dear Sir, your faithful friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ. [Autograph in the possession of Colonel Davison.] My dear Davison, St. George, April 4th, 1801. The job is done, and I know you will not like it the worse for having been done by me. I hope my brother will not still be neglected. I am not well, and fagged to death. Poor Thompson has lost his left leg, but is as well as can be expected. In poor dear Riou the Country has sustained an irreparable loss. Captain Moss has left a wife and six children to mourn his fate. Providence, as usual, has been good to me beyond measure.-With kindest regards to all friends, believe me ever your obliged and affectionate friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. Subscribe for me £100 for the widows of the killed, and for the wounded. Sir Hyde having sent me on shore to talk with the Prince, I was received in the most flattering manner by all ranks, and the crowd was, as is usual, with me. No wonder I am spoilt. All my astonishment is that my head is not turned. TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ. [Autograph in the possession of Colonel Davison.] April 13th, 1801. My dear Davison, Many kind thanks for your letter of the 4th. I only by the post barely thank you, as I shall write by the Brig, who will probably be in England as soon as the post. Sir Hyde tells me he shall send me to England as soon as we are over the Grounds, my health is so indifferent-for I have a fever every night from fretting all day-that if the Admiralty would send me a commission as Commander-in-Chief, I would not now accept it. You know my business in England requires 3 The Agamemnon was prevented from taking part in the Battle of Copenhagen by having grounded. (Vide vol. iv. p. 305.) in honour to make it up to the brave fellows who have fought for her; and if ever a case called for the consideration of the Country, surely this is the most prominent. I shall talk more on this, and many other subjects. The Danes being all landed, without any declaration as to numbers, but I fancy this can be easy got over by a dispensing order, which the Admiralty cannot refuse, they must be sensible the Ships could not fight without men. Not less than six thousand can be allowed, and that is under the number, I am sure; for, all the Action, boats loaded with men and Officers were sent from the shore to make up for the killed and wounded. The powers of attorney, &c., are making out.-Ever your obliged and affectionate friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. LIST OF THE PRIZES. [The following list, in the possession of Colonel Davison, was written and signed by Sir Frederick Thesiger.] The following is a List of the Prizes; which remained at their anchorage after the Victory of the 2nd of April; and those Line-of-Battle Ships and Floating Batteries within the circumflex were boarded by me in the following order, by the direction of Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson :— Two Ships run towards the harbour, and sunk by the way-one Floating Battery, ditto: one said to be sunk alongside the Elephant, seen by Captain Bligh; and one escaped NELSON AND BRONTE. into Port. TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ. [Autograph in the possession of Colonel Davison.] St. George, April 23rd, 1801. My dear Davison, You will, at a proper time, and before my arrival in England, signify to Lady N. that I expect, and for which I have made such a very liberal allowance to her, to be left to myself, and without any inquiries from her; for sooner than live the unhappy life I did when last I came to England, I would stay abroad for ever. My mind is fixed as fate: therefore you will send my determination in any way you may judge proper; and believe me ever your obliged and faithful friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ. [Autograph in the possession of Colonel Davison.] My dear Davison, St. George, Kioge Bay, April 25th, 1801. The Arrow sails too soon for me to get the power-ofattorney filled up; but you may act from my word. How can I send the subscription-book for Lloyds, if the good folks at home think of our poor fellows who have bled for them? In fourteen days I hope to be with you.-Ever your affectionate NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE REVEREND MR. COMYN, LONG PARISH, ANDOVER. [Autograph in the possession of Page Nicol Scott, Esq.] My dear Sir, Sheerness, July 28th, 1801. Many thanks for your letter, and until you are better provided for on shore, you may rely that I shall not pass you by. When the St. George arrives at Spithead, which may be daily expected, you had better see Captain Hardy, and when he and all your messmates return into the San Josef, you can take your post there again without a new warrant. At present my employment will never get me in a Ship larger than a Frigate. Believe me ever your obliged NELSON AND BRONTE. Parker and Langford are here with me. TO THE REVEREND MR. HOSTE. My dear Sir, Merton, November 13th, 1801. I have to return you many thanks for your very friendly present of game, and Sir William and Lady Hamilton desier VOL. VII, me to say the same for them. I wish I could have congratulated you on your good son's being made Post, but I assure you that I have not the smallest interest at the Admiralty; had I been continued in the Mediterranean command he would have had it long since, but the then Admiralty chose to give it to Lord Keith, and he has made an immense fortune. I beg you will ever believe me, my dear Sir, your most obliged NELSON AND BRONTE. TO WILLIAM HASLEWOOD, ESQ. [Autograph in the possession of William Haslewood, Esq.] My dear Haslewood, 23, Piccadilly, 24th November. I go down to Merton to dinner, and shall be on Friday in Town, as you wish me. I would only have you be assured that although the Cause may be given against me, yet that I am not the less sensible of your care and attention to my interest through every stage of this long trial, and of your personal regard for your much obliged friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. If the cause is given against me, 'tis not worth the trouble of sending to Merton. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD MAYOR. [Autograph in the possession of Dr. Claxton.] London, November 28, 1801. My Lord, I was last night honored with your reply to my letter of the 20th, telling me that the subject of it should undergo an early and proper consideration. By the advice of a friend, I have now to request that your Lordship will consider my letter as withdrawn, as the discussion of the question may bring forward characters which had better rest quiet; but I own my opinion of the services of the Officers and Men who fought on the 2nd of April, is unaltered.-I have the honor to be, with the highest respect, your Lordship's most obedient Servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. TO CAPTAIN SUTTON. [Autograph in the possession of Captain Ives Sutton.] My dear Sutton, Merton, December 12th, 1801-very cold. Lady Hamilton has had a letter from Charles Connor, saying he wants clothes, and shoes, and a hat; will you have |