TO VICE-ADMIRAL LORD KEITH, K.B. [Letter-Book.] My Lord, Foudroyant, Malta, 12th May, 1800. Lieutenant Harrington of his Majesty's Ship Alexander, who commanded that Ship in the absence of Captain Ball, for some time past hath been in a bad state of health, and is now so ill that he hath been obliged to go to sick quarters; and Captain Ball not thinking the next senior Lieutenant capable of such a charge, I have, in consequence, appointed Captain George Ormsby, a Commander, serving as volunteer on board the Penelope, to command the Alexander for the present, as Captain Ball cannot, at this crisis, be absent from his duty on shore, which I hope your Lordship will approve. I purpose going in the Foudroyant, in a few days, to Palermo, as I am under an old promise to her Sicilian Majesty, that whenever she returned to the Continent, I would escort her over. Her Majesty has now made application to me for that purpose; and, as it may be necessary to take another Ship for the escort, I purpose taking the Alexander with me. The Lion is perfectly refitted, and in as good a state as before the action, in every respect; and Lord William Stuart hath joined her, a few days since, in the Champion, who brought up two Transports with powder, shot, mortars, &c., from Gibraltar; and in which Ship Captain Dixon goes to the Généreux at Mahon, having directed Captain Hamond3 to convoy to that Island the three Transports having on board the crew of Le Guillaume Tell, the French Admiral and Officers being on board the Champion. I have the honour to be, &c., BRONTE NELSON OF THE NILE. • Younger son of John, first Marquis of Bute: he died, a Post Captain, in July 1814. Now Vice-Admiral Sir Graham Eden Hamond, Bart., K.C.B., then Captain of the Champion. TO THOMAS LEMPRIERE, ESQ., AGENT FOR PRISONERS OF WAR, MAHON. [Letter-Book.] Foudroyant, Malta, 12th May, 1800. Sir, In addition to my former directions to you of the 5th instant, respecting the French Admiral and Officers taken in Le Guillaume Tell, being kept at Minorca, and not exchanged until you receive orders from the Commander-in-Chief to that effect, I do further require and direct that not one of the Officers taken on board the French Ship Bellona, by the Success, and sent with the others, be exchanged or suffered to depart from Mahon, as they have pledged themselves to return to the relief of Malta, and perfectly know all our stations and posts. I am, &c., BRONTE NELSON OF THE NILE. TO EVAN NEPEAN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Letter-Book.] Foudroyant, Malta, 16th May, 1800. Sir, I herewith enclose you a list of the Captains and Officers of the Navy, as well as the Officers of the Marine Forces, who were landed from the Squadron under my command at Naples, and as the Officers of the Marine Corps have been ordered by the Lords of the Treasury to have bat and forage money paid them, I think it but justice that the Officers of the Navy should be paid also, according to their respective ranks. I have, therefore, to request that you will be pleased to solicit their Lordships for an application to the Treasury, on behalf of the Sea-Officers landed at Naples from the Squadron under my command, that they may be allowed bat and forage money according to their several ranks, as they were at as much expense as the Officers of the Marines were, and the Marines were commanded by the Sea- Officers. I have the honour to be, &c. BRONTE NELSON OF THE NILE. TO COMMODORE SIR THOMAS TROUBRIDGE, BART. [Letter-Book.] My dear Troubridge, Foudroyant, 22nd May, 1800. I herewith enclose you Lord Keith's letters of the 29th, respecting the promotion of Captain Broughton' and Lieutenant Thompson; of 6th May, respecting my taking Culloden to England; of the 9th of May, respecting the Pursers of the Princess Charlotte and Peterel, and of the 10th May, respecting the Northumberland and a Frigate being sent to Alexandria when Valetta falls; as also Lord Keith's Memoranda respecting the seizure of all French Ships coming from Egypt, with my remarks and memoranda thereon, which you will please to order to be carried into execution. At the same time, as the Transports are all gone to Sicily, I do not see the necessity of any Ship of War remaining in Marsa Sirocco Bay, but this you will judge of, and leave such directions as you think necessary. At the same time you will give the most positive directions, that the Northumberland, the only real effective Ship now before Valetta, do not on any account go into the Bay of Marsa Sirocco; but keep her, and all the force you have, off Valetta, except the look-out Ships. But if you think it is necessary for a Ship to remain there, let the Culloden keep that station, until she may be ordered to England, or receive other directions from the Commander-in-Chief. On your passage to Leghorn in the Princess Charlotte, I should be glad if you would call at Palermo, in your route, if you do not find it inconvenient. I am, my dear Troubridge, your very faithful and obedient servant, BRONTE NELSON OF THE NILE. 4 Vide p. 205, ante. 5 Vide pp. 189, 225, ante. TO GENERAL DUGUA. [Letter-Book. The Foudroyant got under weigh on the 20th of May, and continued off Malta until the 1st of June, when she returned to Palermo.] Sir, Foudroyant, at Sea, 22nd May, 1800. As you would certainly have been at this moment on your way to France, could I have prepared a Cartel for your reception, I do not think it fair to make you a sufferer by this accident; and, therefore, have directed the Commodore to send the Cartel, notwithstanding the new orders received in consequence of General Kleber's renewal of hostilities. Wishing you, Sir, a speedy passage, I remain your most obedient servant, BRONTE NELSON OF THE NILE. TO CAPTAIN ORMSBY, ACTING CAPTAIN OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP ALEXANDER. [Letter-Book.] Sir, Foudroyant, at Sea, 22nd May, 1800. I herewith enclose you a letter from the Commander-inChief, conveying his Majesty's most gracious pardon for John Jolly,' Private Marine, late belonging to the Ship you command, and desire that you will make the same known to him accordingly, and give him such admonitions for his future conduct as you shall judge necessary and proper on the occasion, and return the order from the Lords of the Admiralty to me the first opportunity, and enter the said John Jolly on the books of the Alexander, agreeable to the date of his discharge from the Foudroyant. I am, &c., BRONTE NELSON OF THE NILE. In the expedition into Syria, General Dugua commanded the province of Cairo. He afterwards (it is believed) served on the staff in St. Domingo, under General Leclerc; and in October, 1802, shocked at the cruelties perpetrated by his country. men, he quitted the French army, and assisted the Blacks, but being discovered, he was sentenced to death, and became his own executioner. "Vide vol. iii. pp. 401, 402. TO HIS SACRED MAJESTY THE KING OF THE TWO SICILIES. [Letter-Book.] Palermo, 2nd June, 1800. Sire, Your Majesty's most gracious approbation of my conduct, so marked to the world by the most distinguished Honour you have conferred upon me, fills me with sensations which no words I can find will in any manner express. I must, therefore, confine myself to simply assuring your Majesty, that there is not that man living who is more attached to your sacred person, the Queen, and your Majesty's whole Royal Family, than your faithful and devoted servant, BRONTE NELSON OF THE NILE TO HIS EXCELLENCY SIR JOHN ACTON, BART. [Letter-Book.] Palermo, 2nd June, 1800. Sir, I was this morning honoured with your Excellency's letter transmitting a letter from his Sicilian Majesty, also the Statutes of the Order of St. Ferdinand, and, also, such expressions of kindness that has made the most sensible impression on my mind, and filled my heart with affection, pleasure, and gratitude. I beg that your Excellency will lay me at the King's feet, assure him of my gratitude, and that, compatible with the duty I owe my legitimate Sovereign, I will lay down my life for his Majesty, and the Queen, and the whole Royal Family; and allow me to subscribe myself your Excellency's obedient and obliged servant, BRONTE NELSON OF THE NILE. • King Ferdinand wished to confer au Order upon Lord Nelson, and his Cap tains, Troubridge, Ball, Hood, Louis, and Hallowell, but as it was then considered that Protestants could not be admitted into the Order of St. Januarius, his Majesty instituted the Order of St. Ferdinand and Merit, on the 1st of April, 1800. It consisted originally of two Classes only, Knights Grand Cross, and Knights Commanders; but a third and inferior Class was added in 1810. The first three Knights Grand Cross were, Lord Nelson, Field-Marshal Suwarrow, and the Emper r |