going to make a truce with the French, and wishes to keep all Italy himself. We are anxious to hear from you, for I have my fears that your personal bravery will one day end in some accident. You have gained credit enough in that way, and you must now take care of yourself for other occasions. I am, &c., BRONTE NELSON. TO CAPTAIN SIR WILLIAM SIDNEY SMITH, K.S. [Letter-Book.] My dear Sir, Palermo, 8th December, 1799. The Lords of the Admiralty have directed me, in their letter of October the 22nd, to signify to you, and the Officers and Men under your command, the very high sense they entertain of your very meritorious services on the several important occasions to which your letters relate, as also of the several Officers and Men whose conduct you have particularly mentioned. And their Lordships also inform me, that a Commission is prepared for promoting Lieutenant Canes' to the rank of Commander. It gives me real pleasure to communicate these orders of the Board, and nothing shall be wanting on my part to reward the merits of those who distinguish themselves; for believe me, dear Sir, your faithful friend, BRONTE NELSON. TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ. [Letter-Book.] My dear Davison, Palermo, December 9th, 1799. Reports are here prevalent that the Ethalion, Alcmene, and Naiad have taken some very valuable Prizes off Cape Finisterre. The two former belonging to the Mediterranean command, devolved upon me by the return to England of all my Senior Officers, some of whom have struck their Flags, and others gone under the command of other Admirals, I there Vide vol. iii. p. 450. fore, although the orders for those Ships cruising may have been given by my Seniors at that time in the Mediterranean, yet consider myself from the time (I think, of their quitting the Station, but most assuredly from either their Flags being struck, or having passed under the command of other Officers,) entitled to the emoluments arising from Prizes taken by Mediterranean Ships, as much as if I had a Commission as Commander-in-Chief. I therefore desire, in case any difficulty arises from improper claims, that you will lay in my claim as Commander-in-Chief for all Prizes taken; and if this is not authority enough for you to act, pray beg Messrs. Marsh and Creed to do it. I am cut short enough by having no other emoluments. I, as the King gives me this, am determined no power shall take it from me. I consider my right for the Ethalion and Alcmene, as two-thirds of one-eighth, and Duckworth for the other. Ever, my dear friend, believe me your obliged, BRONTE NELSON. TO LIEUTENANT PHILIP LAMB. [Letter-Book.] Dear Sir, Palermo, 11th December, 1799. I have received your letter of November 21st, relative to the propriety of Admirals sharing prize-money for a Ship under the circumstances of the Dover. Although it is not in my power to give up without the consent of Admiral Duckworth, yet from the circumstances as stated by you, and the accompanying paper, I have no scruple of declaring that, in my opinion, the Admirals have no right to share for the Vessel taken by the Dover. Having given this as my opinion, I cannot but highly reprobate the measure of granting a Letter of Marque to the Transport-Board, as an act highly detrimental to the King's service, by holding out a reward for the searching for Prizes, instead, probably, of pursuing the voyage, and of giving to the Board a part of the profit arising from the cruizing of the Store-ships. Here let me be clearly understood, that although I reprobate the idea of prizemoney for the Board in all cases, yet it should be held out to the Commander and crews of such Store-Ships, that if they are attacked by any armed Vessel of the Enemy, in case of capture, they should not only be entitled to whole profit, but also, that if they beat off any armed Vessel, they should be entitled to a reward equal to the magnitude of the service. I would recommend your keeping back the claimed one-eighth, but of sharing the other, and also that you send a copy of my letter to the Transport Board. Believe me, dear Sir, with real regard, your sincere friend, BRONTE NELSON. TO HIS EXCELLENCY LIEUTENANT-GENERAL THE HONOURABLE EDWARD HENRY FOX. [Letter-Book. From Sir Thomas Hanmer's Correspondence, p. 424.] Palermo, December 13th, 1799. Dear Sir, I have received a letter from the Transport Board, of which I send you a copy; and I am of opinion that a strong letter should be wrote to the Governor of Barcelona, or whom else it may concern, our determination to comply with the orders of our Government. I venture to send your Excellency a letter signed by me, if you approve of it—if not, I beg you will either send a letter without my name, or put my name to it, as you please. I send orders to the senior Naval Officer at Mahon, not on any account to send a Cartel, without your concurrence. I think, Sir, you will agree with me, that his Majesty's declaration to Europe had better never be made, unless they are carried rigidly into effect. Believe me, dear Sir, with every sentiment of esteem, BRONTE NELSON. TO THE GOVERNOR OF BARCELONA. [Letter-Book. Inclosed in the preceding. This letter was not sent-General Fox having written another instead of it.] Sir, Mahon. We demand from your Excellency the exchange of all his Britannic Majesty's Subjects, our Royal Master, in which we not only include all Minorquins, but also all those who may have been captured under the British flag, and carried into the Ports of Spain: in particular, we claim the exchange, by this Flag of Truce, of Mr. Jeremiah Motter, an inhabitant of Minorca. In making these just demands, we expect an instant compliance. We announce to your Excellency, that the severest retaliation shall take place; thus your Government will open such a dreadful scene of warfare as has never yet disgraced Europe, for which they will receive the execration of all good men in this world, and eternal damnation in that which is to come. We reserve to ourselves the right of thinking Mr. Jeremiah Motter has been murdered, if he is not returned by this Flag of Truce; the consequences must be dreadful to every feeling heart: therefore, we again warn you not to touch a hair of his head. It has, we assure your Excellency, given us great pain to have occasion to write this letter to a Spaniard whose honour has hitherto been untarnished, and we only hope that it will ever remain so, and are your Excellency's most obedient servants, BRONTE NELSON. TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE HONOURABLE WILLIAM WYNDHAM. [Letter-Book.] Sir, Palermo, December 13th, 1799. I was yesterday honoured with your Excellency's letter of November 30th, sending me two letters from Austrian Generals, calling for a Naval co-operation from Great Britain, as they say the Russian Ships do not approach the Coast, and that they cannot get supplies of provisions and ammunition to take Genoa, without our assistance. There is not that Officer in Europe that knows the necessity of our co-operation better than myself, and you will do me the justice to say that I kept a Squadron for that service, till regularly relieved by the Russians, who it was naturally expected would perform all the necessary services; and our Admiralty at home expect it, as eight Sail of the Line are taken out of the Mediterranean, with a proportion of Frigates and Corvettes; in fact, there are at this moment only two Sail of the Line really fit for service. However, at this moment all our Ships and Troops are employed at Malta, yet I will try on this application of General Klenau, and the other General, to send a small Squadron sufficient to ensure the convoys of provisions and ammunition. In joining in this co-operation, it shall be formally declared by the Austrian General, that no Capitulation, or any terms, shall be entered into with the Enemy, in which the Commanding Officer of the Squadron so employed, shall not be consulted, and his signature made as a necessary measure. If our assistance is necessary, we have an undoubted right to be concerned in every measure, and to give an opinion; and it shall not be considered that if the Squadron is either blown off the Coast, or absent for Convoys of provisions, but in the same manner as if they were actually present, and in all terms entered into with the Enemy, it shall be expressly stated, that the Squadron of his Britannic Majesty acting with the Austrian Army, and in as strong terms as your Excellency can draw it up. This measure, so necessary to his Majesty's honour, I leave in the hands of your Excellency to settle, and the Ships shall call at Leghorn for the determination. The Austrians either want us or not: this is the plain fact. If they do, we have a full right to a share of the honour and profit for our labour: if they do not, the call for our Ships is very great in other parts of the Mediterranean. As to Small craft, if I have not been misinformed, Baron d'Espard fitted out several Privateers for the express purpose of securing the small Vessels from the depredation of Privateers. The garrison of Messina is gone to Malta, and I am in hopes when joined with the Russians, that I shall be able to send a Ship of the Line. We have nothing from England later than October the 24th; of course are very anxious. With every sentiment of respect, I have the honour to be, &c. BRONTE NELSON. P.S.-I am sensible of General Palffy's flattering compliments, but as I cannot be a judge of the movements of an Army, so he cannot of that of a Fleet. He either is ignorant, or appears so, that the greatest Naval force of the Enemy is blocked up in Malta by our Ships; and also that we are trying all our efforts to get possession of that important place, in order for the restoration of the Order of Malta. |