TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE HON. LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FOX.

[Letter Book.]

Dear Sir,

Palermo, 14th December, 1799.

I send your Excellency Colonel Graham's letters, both from Messina and Malta, where, thank God, he landed on the 10th. We shall now be able to hold our own, till a sufficient force can be collected to attack La Valetta. Graham

wants many stores, as, I dare say, he tells you, and I am sure your Excellency will afford every assistance to get this very long business to a close. The Austrians are calling out for a Naval co-operation on the Coast of Genoa. It is my wish; for no man knows more the necessity than myself having this war served with the Austrians, when they were on that Coast. They complain that the Russian Ships never come near them. Our Government think, naturally, that eleven Sail of the Line, Frigates, &c., should do something: I find they do nothing. On the 17th of November-at latest, the 19th, the Admiral was to sail from Naples with the troops for Malta; but, alas! on the 9th of December, it was said it would be five or six days. The troops are represented by those who have seen them as a very fine body of men; and as I feel confident that you will have orders to send more troops to Malta, we shall soon find our Squadron liberated, and on other service; for at this moment I have not a Ship to send on the North Coast of Italy.

I send you Mr. Wyndham's letter and enclosures. I have directed the Convoy for England to sail the moment the Speedy appears off Mahon, with the trade from Messina. Captain Louis is directed to proceed to Malta, with stores for our Ships, which are in a truly miserable state. In In everything I shall be truly happy in meeting your wishes: my only desire is to know them; for believe me, with the greatest respect, your Excellency's most obedient servant,

BRONTE NELSON.

TO CAPTAIN LOUIS, H. M. SHIP MINOTAUR.

[Letter-Book.]

Palermo, December 14th, 1799.

My dear Sir, You will receive the orders for the sailing of the Convoy for England, which you will give the necessary direction for being carried into execution. You must load your Ship with stores for our Ships off Malta. Cables, sails, [they are] in very great distress for, particularly the Lion. If you cannot carry all which the Yard can give, take one of the Frigates to assist. You know from experience the want of cables and sails, with every other store-therefore you will have a fellow-feeling. In case the Princess Charlotte should not be arrived in time for the Convoy, I would not have them kept one moment for her. We must take care that they are seen in safety past Cape de Gatte, and not left but with a levanter. I am called on for a Naval force on the Coast of Genoa, but, at this moment, I have not the means in my power; for I wish to leave General Fox every means to keep up a constant communication with Leghorn. If you want to send this Cutter to Gibraltar with the letters of the General, do so, directing her not to stay more than forty-eight hours, and to return with the Garrison letters for Minorca and for ours. If the St. Vincent Cutter is gone on that service, I wish L'Entreprenant returned to me. Trusting to your activity, believe me ever your obliged humble servant,

BRONTE NELSON.

If this letter should find you at sea, if not far advanced, I would have you return for the stores; but if well on your way, to proceed direct for Malta, and Troubridge will send either Audacious or Lion to Mahon.

TO THE OFFICERS OF HIS MAJESTY'S DOCK-YARD,

Gentlemen,

PORT MAHON.

[Letter-Book.]

Atty Transport, Palermo, 14th December, 1799.

I have received your letter of 26th November, enclosing a list of stores wanting for re-fitting his Majesty's Ships at

Mahon, and the necessity of purchasing them, if no supplies were expected from England; and as his Majesty's Ships now cruizing off Malta must all, or the greatest part of them, shortly go down to Mahon to refit, and they being in want of stores of every kind, you will, therefore, cause to be purchased at Leghorn, or wherever else they may be procured, such stores as are absolutely necessary for refitting the Ship that may be sent to you, as there are no stores at present expected from England; and it is my positive direction that no Captain whatsoever, who may occasionally become senior Officer in the Port of Mahon, do in future attempt to order the purchase of stores of any kind, and that you do not purchase them by such order. I am, &c.,

I am this moment honoured with your Excellency's letter, putting to me several questions from Admiral Ouschakoff, which, I am happy to say, it is in my power to answer in a very few words-viz., that, by order of my Royal Master, every exertion in my power is to be made, (which is done,) and I hope that also every exertion from the Officers of his Imperial Majesty will be made, to place the Flag of the Order of Jerusalem in La Valetta. I have the honour to be, &c. BRONTE NELSON.

I request that your Excellency will, if possible, send off this night to the Emperor of Russia's Admiral a copy of my answer, as the service of the Grand Master of Malta will be seriously affected by any delays; and I have further to observe, that if the Russian troops are ready to go to Malta, and that if Admiral Ouschakoff does not think it right to convoy them, and [will] permit me to embark them, I will make the necessary arrangement as expeditiously as possible.

B. N.

Sir,

TO EVAN NEPEAN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY.

[Original, in the Admiralty.]

Atty Transport, Palermo, 14th December, 1799.

I have received a letter from the Transport Board, enclosing copies of their Lordships' letters to that Board, of the 8th and 11th October last, respecting the exchange of prisoners of war with Spain, and the natives of Minorca in particular; and I beg you will be pleased to inform their Lordships, that all proper steps shall be taken to get exchanged all his Majesty's Minorcan subjects that are prisoners of war in that Kingdom. I have the honour to be, &c.,

BRONTE NELSON.

Sir,

TO EVAN NEPEAN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY.

[Original, in the Admiralty.]

Palermo, December 14th, 1799.

I have this moment a letter from Commodore Troubridge, telling me that the Culloden and Foudroyant arrived with the two British regiments from Messina on the 10th. I trust this force will, at least, hold our present advantageous post till a proper force can be got together to attack La Valetta. The Russians had not left Naples on the 9th, and it was thought it would be five or six days before they sailed for Messina. On every account, I am anxious for this business being finished. Our Ships are torn to pieces; the Audacious has the knee of her head loose, and in a wretched state; the Lion as bad, and the Alexander at present absolutely unable to keep the sea; the Culloden, although my brave friend never complains, is in such a state, that, for the world, I would not send her to sea by herself. I have had yesterday a very strong call for a British Squadron on the Coast of Genoa. I see the necessity of one as strong as any man in Europe, for the Russians do nothing by sea; therefore, if their Lordships expect any active sea operations from them, they will find their mistake. Captain Martin was relieved by an Admiral,

two Sail of the Line, Frigates, &c.: they have never yet been on the Coast since last September; but I will try and get a small Squadron for that service. I was anxious to get more Ships off Cadiz since the departure of Admiral Duckworth; but at this moment it is not possible, from the circumstance of General Fox's orders to Colonel Graham. In addition to my other occupations, I am a Commissary for our Troops. I have pledged Bronté for 12,000 ounces, if any difficulties arise in the payment; and I am obliged to beg, as an individual, of this Government, for those necessary stores, without which, our Troops would stand still, and which are not sent from Minorca, or allowed to be purchased. The Emperor of Russia's magnificent Box is ready to go to market, in order to assist in placing the Grand Master of Malta in his seat of Government. As to myself, I can see, and that is all I can say; therefore, having not been placed in a situation of those who are Commanders-in-Chief, I want many of those helps which they possess, and this must plead my excuse with their Lordships, if I appear wanting in attention. I have the honour to be, &c. BRONTE NELSON.

TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE IMPERIAL AMBASSADOR.

[Letter-Book.]

Palermo, 16th December, 1799.

Lord Nelson, Duke de Bronté, has the honour to inform his Excellency, the Imperial Ambassador, that no Imperial Vessel has been seized by any of the Ships of the Squadron under his command.

The Vessel alluded to, in his Excellency's letter of the 14th instant, was taken under Neapolitan colours, and the cargo shipped in Tunis, by French Agents, for the relief of La Valetta. All the papers and documents respecting her are lodged in the British Court of Vice-Admiralty at Gibraltar for adjudication, therefore Lord Nelson cannot interfere.