there is deep water on both sides close to it. The rest of the mole is perfectly open, and presents no obstacles or difficulties to prevent fire-ships sailing right in among the ships, which are ranged abreast of each other with their bowsprits over the wharf. Fire-ships attempting this service would be but little exposed, as the width of the bay will allow their keeping well to the eastward of the wharf until they are above it; the batteries, supposing any to exist, at the head of the bay and on the eastern side of it, the only ones which would then be able to fire at them, being at a great distance, could not prevent them, and the guns on the ramparts of the town could not be pointed at them when in the mole, and previous to their getting there they were too far off, without firing into their own ships, which from the manner they are placed in order to be in the deepest water, could only fire stern chases at fire-ships approaching them from the head of the bay. "Supposing your Lordship might wish to cut the ships out of the mole, permit me to say, it appears to me that if the guns on the wharf were silenced, which might be facilitated by ships flanking them from the eastward and southward, in which situation they would only be exposed to the distant fire of the batteries at the head of the bay, and on the eastern side of it, men might be landed on the wharf and from thence board the ships and burn them, or get them out if the wind was favourable; for the guns which could be brought to bear on them from the town are but few, and at a considerable distance, and the batteries in the different parts of the bay are still farther off, and a ship placed close to that part of the wharf which joins the shore might prevent any fresh troops from coming on the wharf, to oppose the landing or to assist the enemy's ships. Should your Lordship be already acquainted with the above particulars, I beg you will have the goodness to excuse my troubling you with them, which I have only done because I have heard different opinions given to Sir Hyde Parker respecting the practicability of attacking, with success, ships at Revel. "I have the honour to be your Lordship's "Most obedient humble servant, "J. WOLLSTONECRAFT." Upon his arrival in the Bay of Revel, he made application. for pilots to come on board, and give the British ships a safe anchorage, and he immediately received the following reply : ADMIRAL SPIRIDOW TO LORD NELSON. "Sir, 66 'Revel, 30 April, 1801. Agreeably to your Excellency's wish, I send two pilots who will point out a good place for anchorage in the Bay of Revel. I have the honour to be, with great consideration, your very humble and very obedient servant, He also applied to obtain fresh meat and vegetables, which was thus responded to : GOVERNOR OF REVEL'S DISPATCH TO LORD NELSON. "May 12th. (Received 13th do. off Revel.) "Sir, "In reply to the letter with which your Excellency has honoured me, I have the honour to inform you that an unarmed sloop may come to Revel for the purchasing of provisions when you think proper; but that his Britannic Majesty's squadron, commanded by you, must not approach our shores within range of cannon shot, until orders have been received respecting it by General the Baron d'Often Sacken. "Your Excellency's dispatches were forwarded immediately to St. Petersburgh. "I have the honour to be, with the greatest consideration and profound respect, "Your Excellency's very humble, 'Right Hon. Lord Nelson." "And very obedient servant, 66 "A. BALASCHOFF, Military Governor of Revel. On the 9th of May, Lord Nelson acquainted Rear-Admiral Totty that he was desirous of keeping his squadron strong enough to master the Swedes, should they put to sea, and gave him directions to that effect as well as to the obtaining of provisions. The following is from Rear-Admiral Totty : "My Lord, "Zealous, off Bornholm, the 15th May, 1801. "I have the honour to acquaint your Lordship, that I passed over the Grounds with the squadron under my orders, on the evening of the 13th instant, and I joined Captain Murray upon his rendezvous off the north-east end of Bornholm last night; and agreeably to your Lordship's directions I have given orders to Captain Murray to take the ships and vessels named in the margin under his orders, and proceed with all possible dispatch towards the Gulf of Finland, and endeavour to join your Lordship, agreeably to the best information he can obtain respecting your situation. "I have sent some of the small fast sailing vessels with Captain Murray, as I think they may be useful to your Lordship. I have received a copy of the orders which your Lordship gave to Captain Murray for the government of the squadron stationed off Bornholm, and your Lordship may rest assured that I shall strictly regulate my conduct thereby. "So soon as the Dart returns from Dantzick, and I receive any information of the terms upon which fresh beef can be supplied for the use of the squadron, if the price does not exceed the sum your Lordship has stipulated, I shall send the Alkmaar thither for a cargo of bullocks; and as I find many of the squadron are short of bread, I shall therefore give directions to the ships which came with me to go to twothirds allowance of that article, as I find Captain Murray gave similar directions to the squadron left under his orders. As it was necessary to keep the ships as light as possible, in order to pass over the Grounds, they could not take any supply of water in Copenhagen Road, but I understand they may readily be watered at Bornholm. "The Zealous and Powerful have each of them eight guns in their holds, with a proportion of ammunition for the use of the gun-vessels under your Lordship's command. Fourteen of the guns are eighteen pounders, the other two twentyfour's. "Having so lately transmitted to your Lordship the state and condition of the ships and vessels under my orders, and as Captain Murray will deliver those of the ships and vessels that were stationed off Bornholm, I do not trouble your Lordship at present upon that head. "I have the honour to be, with the highest respect, "My Lord, "Your Lordship's most obedient and humble servant, "THOMAS TOTTY. "P.S.-Since writing the above, the Alecto fire-ship, Captain O'Brien,' has joined me from Leith. He brings no intelligence. Captain Inman has also just been with me, and he gives a sad account of the wants of the gun vessels, &c. under his orders; many of them are in want of fuel, and cannot purchase any, as their bills are not negotiable. "T. T." Lord Nelson remained in Revel Roads until the 17th. On the 16th he received the following from Admiral Spiridow : "Your Excellency's letter to Count Pahlen shall be forwarded immediately, and the lugger Skylark shall receive from me all the assistance and attention in my power, whilst she remains in the port of Revel. "Accept, my Lord, our best wishes for the accomplishment of your objects, to the real merits of which we can render justice, as they are not opposed to Russia. You carry with you our regrets that circumstances prevent our further cultivation of your acquaintance. I write in the name of the civil and military Governors as well as my own. I fail in expressing the sentiments of esteem with which you have inspired me. "I have the honour to be, with great consideration, "Your Excellency's very humble, "And very obedient servant, "SPIRIDOW." 1 Captain Edward O'Brien attained the rank of Rear-Admiral, and died in December, 1808. On the 15th and 17th Lord Nelson wrote to Lady Hamilton: "My dearest Friend, "St. George, Revel Bay, May 15th, 1801. "The Harpy brig sails to-morrow for England. You will not receive this line for a fortnight after her arrival. I cannot say a word on politics. I expect to find a new Admiral on my return, which will be in a very few days. "Yours, &c. "NELSON AND BRONTÉ. "Most probably you will never receive this letter. I have three wrote for you now lying by me. Finish of eight lines to Lord St. Vincent :-'I expect to find a new Admiral when I return off Bornholm, or most probably you will never see again "Your affectionate, "' N. & B.'" "St. George, May 17th, 1801. 7 o'clock in the Evening. "My dearest Friend, Last letter. "I sailed from Revel this morning, and feel I am now steering for England for the recovery of my health. I expect to be there a few days after this letter; for if the Admiralty have any bowels of compassion, an Admiral must have long since sailed to supersede me. I have wrote a very strong letter to the Board in case none is sailed. I shall keep by Rostock and Lubeck in case I am to go by land; it is only one day's journey to Hamburgh. This day I reckon, if Sir Hyde Parker had not been ordered home, I should have arrived perhaps in London. What a thought! but the time shall soon come in spite of all the world, and all my enemies, damn them. I cannot obey the Scriptures and bless them. "I am rather inclined to believe that the Emperor of Russia had some fears for his fleet of forty-three sail of the line, for he seemed very anxious to get rid of my small squadron. I have much to tell you the boat is waiting-night coming on. Adieu. "Yours, &c. "NELSON AND BRONTÉ." |