the different Pursers for what you may supply, and vouchers from the proper Officers, that it was good in the kind, as well as a certificate from some of the most respectable merchants, that all your purchases were made at the cheapest rate, and bills drawn at the proper Exchange. I am, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. My dear Sir, TO REAR-ADMIRAL TOTTY. [Letter-Book.] St. George, Bay of Rostock, May 29th, 1801. This morning, the Ganges, London, and Hyæna, sail for Dantzic; for I find that supplies of bread, flour, cheese, and beef, can be procured for very near half the price which they can be purchased for at Rostock, for a most wicked combination is entered into against us; but I shall match them by buying scarcely anything. The Ships, Russell and Veteran, will join you in four or five days, and then I would have you send to Dantzic two other Ships, to receive provisions from Mr. Booth, who, if he will accept it, I have appointed to purchase the articles. before mentioned; and I desire you will direct any Ships you send, for the Surgeons and Pursers to complete their necessaries. Mr. Booth is very pressing for the hides and tallow to be returned as expeditiously as possible, as the loss on these articles will fall upon Government. The Gun-brigs have nothing else to do, and the best sailers of them must be employed on this service. When Captain Murray joins, if you are disposed to go to Dantzic yourself, leave the Squadron to his charge with a copy of your orders; for Rear-Admiral Graves is not in a condition to undertake business. Captain Inman, with part of his Squadron, will go from here in about three days, as complete for six weeks as I can make them; therefore, some of the other Bombs and Small-craft may go to Dantzic directly, and get supplies. I wrote to Mr. Booth yesterday by the Fox Cutter; therefore, (although I hope he has not,) if he has joined you, I wish him to return to Dantzic, and fulfil my instructions to him. The Ramilies having been represented to me as having the appearance of scurvy on board her, I desire she may be sent to join Captain Fremantle at Dantzic Bay. Whenever the Squadron with you can average six weeks bread with flour at whole allowance, then I wish the Ships to be put at full allowance, serving half a pound of flour. I send you a copy of my letter to Mr. Booth. I am, &c., NELSON AND Bronte. MEMORANDA. [Letter-Book. No date is given to these Memoranda, which are inserted as they occur in the Letter-Book; but they would seem to have been written before the end of May 1801.] That in all places of the King of Denmark's Dominions, they should perfectly understand our right to have the free use of the markets, and the liberty to obtain whatever refreshments are wanted for the health of the crews. That Vessels will be sent to Moen Island, Holstein, Jutland, &c., in order to purchase supplies, as we have a right to do by the fourth article of the Treaty. To obtain a general order to the Governor and Head Officers of the Government in each place, to conform to the article, and not to throw obstructions in the way of our free communication with every part of the shore. I am answerable that no breach of the Treaty shall take place, in the first instance, from me; and it is my duty to take care that it is fully complied with, on the part of Denmark. The Officers will, in future, be permitted to go on shore, to walk, and take other recreations necessary for their health, and as Lord Nelson holds himself responsible for their good conduct, he expects that they are not to be annoyed by guards, which Lord Nelson is sorry to observe has been the case at Kioge. As Lord Nelson hopes that the ancient amity between the two Countries is on the point of being restored, Lord Nelson expects that the most generous conduct will be pursued on the part of Denmark towards all the Officers and men of the British Fleet. TO CAPTAIN GEORGE MURRAY. [Autograph, in the possession of George Murray, Esq.] My dear Murray, June 1st, 1801. Although you like to be a Commodore, I find you have no inclination to be a Contractor. Now as I find no honest men but Commodores, you must necessarily, if you will be a Commodore, become a Contractor. Myself and Hardy are Contractors; Lord Henry' is just established a Commodore and a Contractor; only I charge you, being a brother Contractor, not to let the world know how much you make by it! Be that as it may, ever believe me, my dear Murray, your obliged and faithful friend, NELSON AND BRONTE. Pylades goes for England the moment any news comes from Lord St. Helens. Graves has the Red Ribbon, I a Viscount. Sir, TO EVAN NEPEAN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Letter-Book.] St. George, Rostock Bay, 1st June, 1801. I herewith enclose a translation of two letters, and a Declaration received from the Swedish Admiral. I beg you will assure their Lordships that I should have forwarded them sooner, but could not get them translated before yesterday. Their Lordships must not be surprised at seeing my letter to the Swedish Admiral, of the 8th ultimo, and his answer thereto, inserted in the papers, as they were in the Hamburgh Gazette,' a few days after my receiving the answer. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. 5 Lord Henry Paulet, Captain of the Defence: he was second son of George, 12th Marquis of Winchester, and died a Vice-Admiral and a Knight Commander of the Bath, in January 1832. TO REAR-ADMIRAL TOTTY. [Letter-Book.] St. George, June 2nd, 1801. Sir, I have just heard that the Governor of the Island of Bornholm has prevented vegetables and other articles from being sold to the crews of his Majesty's Ships, in direct defiance of the Armistice between the Commander-in-Chief of the British Fleet and the Court of Denmark. I therefore send you an authenticated copy of the fourth Article of the Treaty, which, if the report is true, I desire that you will send on shore to the Governor, and demand his compliance therewith. If he refuses, you are to consider it as a breach of the Treaty on his part, for which he must be answerable to his Government. And you will prevent, until he complies with the Treaty, all Vessels from leaving the Island; for his conduct cannot be justified by his Court, unless it means to break the Treaty. I am, &c., NELSON AND BRONTE. TO ALEXANDER JOHN BALL, ESQ., COMMISSIONER OF HIS [Autograph, in the possession of Sir William Keith Ball, Bart.] St. George, Kioge Bay, June 4th, 1801. My dear invaluable Friend, Although I may not answer letters regularly, or perform many other little acts which the world deem as of the very utmost importance, and for the omission of which, it is necessary to cut each other's throats, although I own I fail most miserably (towards my real friends in particular) in those things, yet believe me, Ball, my heart entertains the very warmest affection for you, and it has been no fault of mine, and not a little mortification, that you have not the Red ribbon and other rewards that would have kept you afloat, and not to have made you a Commissioner; but as, I trust, the war is at a close, you must, like Lord Hood,' take your Flag when it comes Armistice. Vide p. 338, ante. Admiral Viscount Hood was Commissioner of the Navy at Portsmouth in September 1780, when promoted to be a Rear-Admiral of the Blue. to you, for who is to command our Fleets in a future war? for whatever peace we may make under the present government of France cannot be lasting. I pity the poor Maltese; they have sustained an irreparable loss in your friendly counsel and an able director in their public concerns: you was truly their father, and, I agree with you, they may not like step-fathers; however, I hope that you will find as much pleasure in your new office as it is possible for it to afford, although I am sure it will not be equal to your merit. As I know you have always been kind to me, I know you will be sorry to hear that I have been even at Death's door, apparently in a consumption. I am now rallied a little, but the disorder is in itself so flattering that I know not whether I am really better, and no one will tell me, but all in the Fleet are so truly kind to me, that I should be a wretch not to cheer up. Foley has put me under a regimen of milk, at four in the morning; Murray has given me lozenges, and all have proved their desire to keep my mind easy, for I hear of no complaints, or other wishes than to have me with them. Hardy is as good as ever, and with Domett, join their kindest regards. I have also on board Colonel Stewart, who commands our little Army; he remembers you at St. Domingo. I am just returned from the Gulf of Finland, Revel; and met Lord St. Helens at the entrance; by this, I am sure Peace must be signed with Russia, and Denmark and Sweden have so completely lost their consequence by joining against us, that they must submit to what we settle with Russia. The Northern Fleets are only formidable in point of numbers; in every other respect they are insignificant; and, if our Fleet is active, in the spring of the year, may be got at separately; late in the summer they have their numerous Flotilla, who can join in spite of all our efforts to prevent them, for there is a complete navigation inside, and amongst 10,000 Islands. I hope this will find you in England, as I know your American affairs claim your attention; it is, I trust, [needless] my dear Ball, to assure you, that if it ever should be in my power in any way to be useful, that nothing could give me greater happiness; for believe me at all times, and places, for ever your sincere, affectionate, and faithful friend, NELSON AND Bronte. |