every impression, which would militate for a moment against the returning peace and harmony between our august Masters, and which, from the bottom of my heart I hope, never again to see interrupted. With every sentiment of respect, believe me, your Excellency's most obedient Servant, NELSON AND BRONTE. MANIFESTO. [Letter-Book.] Admiral Tchitchagoff having declared to me this day, that His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, has the greatest desire to return to his amicable Alliance with the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, my most gracious Sovereign, I have, therefore, the pleasure to say, that I can declare the wishes of my Sovereign to return to His ancient friendly Alliance with the Court of Russia, and that my orders,' on such a Declaration being given on the part of His Imperial Majesty, are clear and decisive to commit no act of hostility against anything appertaining to the Emperor of Russia. And I likewise declare, that the wishes of His Imperial Majesty respecting the freedom of the trade, both of Denmark and Sweden, in the Baltic, have been fully complied with. Given on board His Britannic Majesty's Ship, St. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO LADY PARKER. [Autograph, in the possession of Mrs. Ellis.] My dear Lady, St. George, Baltic, May 21st, 1801. It was only when Admiral Totty joined me that I received your most truly kind and affectionate letter of April Believe me, when I say that I am as sensible as ever that I owe my present situation in life to your and good Sir Peter's partiality for me, and friendly remembrance of Maurice Suck 1 Vide p. 349, ante. ling. I am sorry to hear you so complaining, but I trust the summer will completely repair your health. The air of the Baltic has completely done me up, and I have my serious doubts, if Lord St. Vincent do not very soon send out an Admiral to supersede me, that I never shall leave this Country. Pray remember [me] most gratefully to dear Sir Peter, affectionately to Admiral Parker and all your family; and believe me, as ever, your obliged and grateful, NELSON AND Bronte. Murray, Foley, and Fremantle, are now on board: they desire their kind thanks and best regards. TO ALEXANDER DAVISON, ESQ. [Autograph, in the possession of Colonel Davison.] My dear Davison, St. George, May 22nd, 1801. By a letter from Sir Andrew Hamond, given to Lord St. Helens, I first heard of the death of my dear brother Maurice. As the dead cannot be called back, it is of no use dwelling on those who are gone. I am sure you will do everything which is right for his poor blind wife. I hope he has left her well provided for; if not, I beg you will take the trouble to arrange a proper and ample subsistence, and I will make it up.' It is the only true regard I can pay to his memory. He was always good and kind to me; but enough on this subject: I know your sincere friendship for him. Your letters are on board Admiral Totty, with Parker, and I have not yet joined him. I shall see you in a very few days; till then I shall only say God bless you. I am very unwell. unwell. Since April 27th, I have only been once out of my cabin. Ever yours affectionately, NELSON AND BRONTE. Pray send the enclosed. Mr. Maurice Nelson lived many years with a Miss Sarah Ford, who accidentally lost her sight, and became a cripple. Mr. Nelson was supposed to have married her from compassion for her helpless condition, and she bore his name. Lord Nelson, who always treated her as his brother's widow, allowed her an annuity; and after his death, she received assistance from Lady Hamilton. She died in 1810 or 1811. Captain Edward Thornborough Parker, who is frequently mentioned in subsequent Letters. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 286. About this time Lord Nelson received Secret Orders, addressed on the 6th of May to Sir Hyde Parker (though he had been superseded by Lord Nelson,) conveying the King's pleasure, that, as it appears possible the Swedish Squadron, taking advantage of the return of the Fleet under your command to Kioge Bay, may entertain an intention of forming a junction with the Russians, either at Revel or Cronstadt, or with the Danish Fleet at Copenhagen, you should be directed, either with the whole, or with such part of the Fleet as may be adequate to the purpose, to take such a position as you may conceive best calculated to prevent such a movement on the part of the Swedish Squadron. You are, in pursuance of his Majesty's command signified to us, hereby required and directed to place yourself in such a position, either with the whole or a part of your Fleet, as you may judge best adapted to that purpose accordingly, subject, however, to the restriction of your not going to the northward of Carlscrona, so long as the Swedish Fleet shall not proceed up the Baltic; and, with a view to remove any anxiety that may be felt by the Swedish Court with respect to your intentions, you are to take the earliest opportunity of communicating to that Court, that you are expressly instructed to commit no act of hostility whatsoever against the Ships of his Swedish Majesty, provided that he shall direct his Fleet to remain in the Port of Carlscrona; but that, in the event of its leaving that Port, you have received orders to use every means in your power to prevent its junction with the Naval forces either of Russia or Denmark. "In the event of the Swedish Fleet having already sailed to Revel or Cronstadt before you shall receive these orders, you are, in such case, to take such a position off Revel as may be best adapted for preventing any further junction being effected by the Ships there with the force at Cronstadt, or vice versá; and if, after the arrival of the Swedish Fleet at either of the places above-mentioned, the Officea commanding it should be desirous of returning to Carlscrona, you are, in that case, upon a proper intimation being made to you, to allow this movement to be made without any opposition; and as soon as it shall have taken place, return to the position you are directed to take in the more probable case of the Swedish Fleet having remained at Carlscrona, instead of proceeding up the Baltic, unless in consequence of any communication from his Majesty's Ambassador to the Court of Russia, you should judge it more advisable to remain in the Gulf of Finland." Sir Hyde Parker was then directed to regulate his conduct according to the information he might receive from Lord St. Helens, Ambassador to the Court of Petersburgh," and to proceed in conformity with your former instructions, and particularly to those contained in our order to you of the 15th of March last, against the Ports, Arsenals, and Shipping of Russia and Sweden, if, contrary to every expectation, you should receive information from Lord St. Helens that every hope of amicable adjustment is at an end." "With respect to Denmark, no step can be taken against her within the limits of the Armistice, but at the expiration thereof, you are hereby authorized and directed to renew hostilities against that Power, unless the grounds of difference between the two Countries shall in the meantime be removed, either by direct negotiation, or through the intervention of the Court of Petersburgh, of which information will be conveyed to you by his Majesty's Ambassador at that Court."-Original.] May 22nd, 1801. I send you a plan of the Bay of Revel, drawn by our friend Colonel Stewart, who is an excellent and indefatigable young man, and, depend upon it, the rising hope of our Army. As there is no other plan in existence, perhaps you will direct a copy to be lodged in the Hydrographer's Office. The Fleet when out of the Mole, always moor on the east side of the Bay, the outer Ship is supposed to be protected by the Fort, which is marked; there are, it is true, a number of guns, but as the Officer who goes there is not to be supposed to mind guns, if he can get in and out again, in my opinion the Revel Fleet, whether in or out of the Mole, would be destroyed by a vigorous attack; and that it may, if the Russians again give us offence, is the sincere wish of your affectionate sick friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. P.S.-You have often spoke of that worthy officer Admiral George Montagu: I own, I long from his character to give up this Fleet to him, or some other good man. May 24th.The death of my dear brother, which I received only yesterday, has naturally affected me a good deal; and if I do not get some repose very soon, another will go. Six sons are gone, out of eight; but I hope yet to see you, and to cheer up once more. TO HIS EXCELLENCY LORD ST. HELENS, AMBASSADOR AT THE COURT OF ST. PETERSBURGH. My Lord, [Letter-Book.] St. George, off Bornholm, May 22nd, 1801. I never before regretted having a fair wind; but your quick voyage is of so much more importance than mine, that I sincerely regret your not having a fair wind. I send your Excellency copies of some letters of mine, which in conversation you may have occasion to refer to. Captain Thesiger, who will have the honour of delivering this letter, has been for many years a Captain in the Russian Navy; but left it two years ago, from the extraordinary conduct of the late Emperor. I have sent a fast sailing Lugger to attend on your Mission, Admiral George Montagu: he was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Bath, on the extension of the Order in January 1815, and died in December 1829. the progress and result of which, as far as may be proper for me to be made acquainted with, I must be in a state of constant anxiety to know, that the Fleet may be collected ready for a push, should the Russian Fleet make any movements indicating an intention of going to sea. I trust to your Excellency allowing Captain Sotheron' to give me notice of it, by one of the small Vessels. I have not a word of news. Wishing your Excellency every success, I have the honour to be, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. Sir, TO CAPTAIN SOTHERON, H.M. SHIP LATONA. [Letter-Book.] St. George, off Bornholm, 22nd May, 1801. I send the Lark lugger with dispatches for Lord St. Helens. The Lieutenant of her has my orders to put himself under your directions, for the purpose of waiting on the Mission. Should the Russian Fleet make any movements indicating an intention of putting to sea, you are immediately to make it known to Lord St. Helens, in order that I may be apprised of their so doing. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO A. H. STEWARD, ESQ., YARMOUTH. [Autograph, in the possession of the Rev. A. H. Steward, of Whitton, near Ipswich.] St. George, May 23rd, 1801. My dear Sir, I have thousands of thanks to give you for the great trouble you have had in receiving my letters and packages, and for many things which you have had the goodness to send me; and if it pleases God, I hope to return you my sincere thanks and to repay you the money you must have laid out for, dear Sir, yours truly obliged, NELSON AND Bronte. 5 Captain Frank Sotheron, of the Latona: he died an Admiral of the White, in February 1839. |